Frame One

How to format a screenplay is the first practical question every new writer meets, and the answer is shorter than most guides suggest. A screenplay uses six elements, one font and a fixed page layout. Once those are clear, formatting stops being a worry and the story gets the attention.

This guide explains each element, shows a full example page, lists the mistakes that mark a script as written by a beginner, and compares the free and paid software that does the formatting for you.

Why format matters

Screenplay format is a working tool, not decoration. It lets a reader judge the length of a film at a glance, because one page equals roughly one minute of screen time. A 100-page script suggests a film of about 100 minutes.

It also tells the reader something about the writer. A script in clean standard format signals that the writer knows the craft. A script with odd margins, bold text or camera instructions signals the opposite, often within the first page.

Page setup

• Font: Courier, 12 point. Free Courier fonts made for scripts exist, such as Courier Prime.
• Page size: US Letter.
• Margins: set by screenwriting software, so there is no need to adjust them by hand.
• Title page: the title, the writer’s name and contact details. Nothing else.

Courier is the standard because every page takes about the same time to read. That consistency is what makes the page-per-minute rule work.

The six elements

1. Scene heading

Also called a slugline. It tells the reader where and when the scene happens. It has three parts: INT. or EXT., the location, and the time of day. It is always written in capitals.

INT. KITCHEN - MORNING

INT. means interior and EXT. means exterior.

2. Action

Action describes what can be seen and heard on screen. Write it in the present tense, in short paragraphs of three or four lines at most. A character’s name is written in capitals the first time they appear, followed by a brief description.

3. Character name

The name of the speaking character, in capitals, placed above their dialogue.

4. Dialogue

What the character says. It sits directly under the character name, in a narrower block than the action.

5. Parenthetical

A short note on how a line is delivered, placed in brackets under the character name. Use it rarely, and only when the line could be misread without it.

6. Transition

Instructions such as CUT TO: or DISSOLVE TO:. Most modern scripts use very few. FADE IN: at the start and FADE OUT. at the end are often the only ones needed.

An example page

FADE IN:

INT. CITY BUS - NIGHT

Rain streaks the windows. MARA (30s, damp coat) sits
alone, counting coins into her palm. Not enough.

The DRIVER watches her in the mirror.

                    DRIVER
          Last stop is the depot.

                    MARA
          I know.

                    DRIVER
                (gently)
          You could stay on. It's warmer.

Mara closes her fist around the coins.

                                        CUT TO:

The scene heading sets place and time. The action shows only what the camera could capture. Dialogue is kept short, and the one parenthetical is there because the line would read differently without it.

Common extensions

Three short notes can be added beside a character name:

• (V.O.) voice over. The voice is heard, but the speaker is not in the scene, or is narrating.
• (O.S.) off screen. The speaker is in the location but not visible.
• (CONT’D) continued. The same character keeps speaking after an action line interrupts.

Six mistakes beginners make

1. Camera directions. Terms like CLOSE ON or ANGLE ON describe how a scene is shot. A script written to be read describes what is seen, and leaves the camera to the director and the cinematographer.
2. Scene numbers. These are added later, when a script is prepared for production.
3. Unfilmable text. Thoughts, memories and backstory cannot be shown. “She remembers her childhood” gives the audience nothing to see.
4. Long action blocks. A dense paragraph slows the read. Break it up.
5. Overusing parentheticals and capitals. Both lose force when repeated.
6. Decorative formatting. Bold text, colors, special fonts and images do not belong in a script.

Screenwriting software

Dedicated software formats the six elements automatically, so the writer only chooses the element and types. A word processor can work, but every indent must be set by hand, and small errors add up across 100 pages.

Every link below goes to the official site of the program. Plans, features and prices change, so check the site for current terms before you commit. Details were checked in October 2026.

Free options

• Writer Solo: free screenwriting software that runs on the web, on desktop and on mobile. It is the version of WriterDuet that does not sync to servers, so there is no cloud account and no real-time co-writing. A good first choice for a writer working alone.
• WriterDuet: runs in the browser, with apps for desktop and mobile. Its strength is real-time co-writing. According to its site, the free plan covers three scripts with no page limit and no watermark, and some features need a paid plan.
• Arc Studio: a modern app with a free plan that, according to its site, lets you write a full screenplay with industry formatting, with some tools kept for paid plans. It includes beat cards for outlining, real-time co-writing and Final Draft import and export. A desktop version is available from the download page.
• Celtx: runs in the browser. You create a free account and get a 7-day trial of the paid features, then you can stay on the free plan or upgrade. It also covers pre-production, such as breakdowns, shot lists, schedules and budgets, which suits writers who direct.
• Trelby: free, open-source program for Windows and Linux. It enforces correct format and pagination, imports Final Draft and Fountain files, and exports to PDF and Final Draft.

Paid options with a free trial or demo

• Final Draft: the long-time industry standard, and the company says 95% of film and TV productions use it. Final Draft 13 runs on Windows and Mac, and the Suite subscription adds Final Draft Cloud. It can be bought as a one-time purchase or as a subscription. Get the free trial or the download page. Its FDX file format is common when scripts are shared inside a production.
• Fade In: desktop software for Windows, Mac and Linux. The demo is free and has all key features except online real-time collaboration, but it places a watermark on printed and PDF output. The full version is paid. Its site lists professional writers among its users, including Craig Mazin (The Last of Us, Chernobyl).
• Movie Magic Screenwriter: sold by Write Brothers as a download for Windows and Mac. Trial versions are listed on the demos page.
• Scrite: desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, with a 30-day free trial and a subscription after that. It organizes the script by scenes instead of pages, and supports several languages.

Plain-text option

• Fountain: not a program but a free, open plain-text format for screenplays. You write in any text editor, and apps turn the text into a formatted script. The site keeps a list of Fountain apps.
• Highland Pro: a paid writing app for Mac, iPad and iPhone, made by screenwriter John August, who also helped create Fountain. Check its page for current terms.

How to choose

• Starting out: try a free option first, such as Writer Solo, the Arc Studio free plan or Trelby. The format is the same in every program, so the choice does not change what ends up on the page.
• Writing with a partner: WriterDuet or Arc Studio, both built around real-time co-writing.
• Writing and directing: Celtx, for its pre-production tools.
• Sharing the script: readers normally receive a PDF. Before you pick a program, check that it exports PDF and, if a production asks for it, Final Draft (FDX) files.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need special software to format a screenplay?
No, but it is strongly recommended. Screenwriting software handles margins and element spacing for the writer, which removes the most common source of formatting errors. Several good options are free.

Which free screenwriting software is best for a beginner?
Writer Solo, the Arc Studio free plan and Trelby are three free options. The best one is the one you will actually open every day, because the formatting rules are the same in all of them.

Is the one page per minute rule exact?
No. It is a rough guide. A page of mostly dialogue plays differently from a dense page of action, but across a full script the average holds well enough to estimate running time.

Should a screenplay include camera directions?
Generally not. A script written to be read describes what happens on screen, and leaves shot choices to the director.

What is the difference between a slugline and a scene heading?
Nothing. They are two names for the same line: INT. or EXT., the location and the time of day.

Go deeper

Formatting is one part of a larger method. Chapter 5 of The Screenwriting Series, Formatting a Screenplay, covers it in full. For the shape of the story the format carries, read Screenplay Structure: The Complete Guide.

Which formatting rule took you longest to get right? Share it in the comments.