How to write a screenplay
Never written a script before? You're in the right place. This guide walks through what a screenplay is, how a traditional script is structured, every element you'll use, and how Scene Forges handles the formatting so you can focus on the story.
What a screenplay actually is
The format, and why it matters.
A screenplay is a blueprint for a film. It tells the director, actors, and crew what they'll see and hear, all laid out in a rigid, industry-standard format so anyone on a production can read it at a glance. That format comes with rules: Courier 12-point font, specific margins, specific indents for each element, and roughly one page per minute of screen time.
You don't need to memorize any of it. Scene Forges applies the rules automatically as you type, handling the indents, the ALL-CAPS, and the page estimate. Your job is to write the story, and the app's job is to make it look like a real script.
Why the format matters: a reader, whether that's a producer, agent, or contest judge, can spot an unformatted script in seconds and will often stop reading. A correctly formatted script tells them you know the craft. Let the app handle it and you'll always look professional.
The eight elements
A screenplay is built from a handful of repeating element types. Here's each one, what it looks like, and exactly when to use it.
Scene Heading (Slug Line)
INT. KITCHEN - DAYTells the reader where and when the scene takes place. Always in ALL CAPS. Start with INT. (interior) or EXT. (exterior), then the location, a hyphen, and the time of day like DAY, NIGHT, CONTINUOUS, or LATER.
Beginner tip: A scene heading is the only thing that starts a new scene. Everything else lives inside the scene you're already in.
Action
Rain falls on the windowsill.Description of what the camera sees and hears. Write only what can be shown or played on screen, not a character's inner thoughts. Keep paragraphs short, around three or four lines.
Beginner tip: The first time a character shows up, write their name in ALL CAPS with a quick age or description, like 'VINCENT (30s) enters.'
Character
VINCENTThe name of whoever is speaking. Centered, in ALL CAPS, and indented from the left margin.
Beginner tip: Spell the name the same way every time. Scene Forges remembers your characters and suggests them as you type.
Parenthetical
(quietly)A short note on how a line is delivered, placed under the character name. Use them sparingly and let the dialogue carry the emotion.
Beginner tip: Don't use a parenthetical to describe action. That belongs in the Action element.
Dialogue
I remember this room.What the character says. Indented and narrower than action so it reads as a spoken block.
Beginner tip: Keep lines natural. Read them out loud, and if you stumble, rewrite.
Transition
CUT TO:How one scene moves into the next. ALL CAPS and right-aligned. Common ones are CUT TO:, FADE OUT., DISSOLVE TO:, and SMASH CUT TO:.
Beginner tip: Modern scripts use transitions sparingly. A new scene heading usually does the job on its own.
Shot
CLOSE ON THE RINGA specific camera direction, in ALL CAPS. Use it rarely, since most directors ignore heavy camera direction in a spec script.
Beginner tip: Save it for moments where the shot itself is the story, like a close-up on a key object.
General
NOTE: This scene is unfinished.Free-form text that doesn't fit the standard elements, like production notes, reminders, or title card text.
Beginner tip: General text isn't part of the formatted screenplay body. Use it for working notes to yourself.
How a traditional script is structured
The elements above are the vocabulary. This is the grammar, how scenes, sequences, and acts fit together.
The Three-Act Structure
Most screenplays follow three acts. Act 1 is the setup, roughly pages 1 to 25, and it introduces the world before ending when the hero commits to the story. Act 2 is the confrontation, the longest part, where obstacles pile up until you reach the lowest point. Act 3 is the resolution, the climax and the new normal. The Story Board tab lets you lay beats across these acts and even apply a ready-made template.
Scenes and Sequences
A script is a chain of scenes. A scene is one continuous block of action in a single place and time. It begins with a Scene Heading and ends when the location or time changes (a new Scene Heading) or a Transition. A sequence is a handful of scenes that build a mini-story of their own, like a training montage or a heist setup.
Opening and Closing
Most scripts open with FADE IN: and end with FADE OUT. followed by THE END. These are transitions. A cold open, a scene before the title, is common in TV because it hooks the audience before the main story begins.
What a Page Represents
One page in proper screenplay format is about one minute of screen time. A feature usually runs 90 to 110 pages, a short stays under about 40, and a TV pilot is around 55 to 60. The page count in your status bar gives you a running estimate of runtime.
Show, Don't Tell
A screenplay describes what the audience will see and hear, not what a character is thinking. If it can't be filmed, it doesn't belong in the action. Reveal inner life through behavior and dialogue instead.
Anatomy of a scene
A scene is the basic unit of a script. Here's the flow you'll repeat hundreds of times.
- Scene Heading: INT./EXT., location, time. This starts the scene.
- Action: set the stage, who's there and what's happening.
- Character: the name of who speaks.
- Parenthetical (optional): how the line is said.
- Dialogue: the line itself.
- Repeat steps 3 to 5 for each exchange, then add more Action until the scene ends.
- Transition (optional) or a new Scene Heading: this ends the scene.
How to use Scene Forges
Every tab and feature in the editor, explained.
Editor
The writing surface. Just type and the formatting handles itself. Use the toolbar to change element types, color-code lines, find and replace, and track changes when revisions are on.
Outline
A high-level view of every scene. Drag to reorder scenes, and write a one-line summary for each so you can see the shape of your story at a glance.
Story Board
A card board for your beats, the key moments of your story. Group beats into sections like Act 1, Act 2, and Act 3, drag them around, and apply a structure template like the Three-Act Structure to get a head start.
Characters
Lists every character who appears and how often. Rename a character here and every mention in the script updates instantly.
Comments
Leave notes anchored to specific lines for yourself or collaborators. Threads can be resolved once a note is addressed.
Bible
A guided Show Bible for series work, with a series logline, tone, world rules, and a character roster with images and side-by-side comparisons.
Revisions
Turn on revision mode to track every insert, edit, and deletion in a production color (Blue, Pink, Yellow, and so on). Accept or reject changes line by line or all at once.
Reports
Breakdowns of scene lengths, character dialogue counts, and location usage. Pro adds detailed production reports and advanced analytics.
Stats
Daily word count, a daily goal tracker, and a writing sprint timer. Pro adds writing history, streaks, and session analytics.
Title Page
Edit the title page: title, 'written by', your name, contact, draft date, and copyright. It's included in your PDF export.
Versions
Save a named snapshot of your script at any point and restore it later, a safety net before a big rewrite.
Settings
Per-project options like script type, font, editor theme (paper, sepia, or dark), scene numbers, locked pages for production, watermark, and more.
Vault
A private workspace for reference files like notes, images, PDFs, and documents, organized into folders.
Writing Assist
A light touch-up tool for when you're stuck. It can tidy the grammar on a line or pull a character name from the ones you've already used so you don't break flow. Nothing writes the scene for you.
Keyboard shortcuts
The fastest way to write is to keep your hands on the keyboard.
Your first script, step by step
From a blank page to a finished scene.
- 1
Create a project
From Projects, hit New Screenplay, or start from a template in the Template Library (a feature, a short, a TV pilot, or a blank page).
- 2
Write your first scene heading
Type INT. or EXT. followed by the location and time. Scene Forges auto-formats it as a scene heading and adds it to the Scenes list on the left.
- 3
Press Enter and write action
After the heading, press Enter and you're in Action. Describe what we see, and keep it visual and brief.
- 4
Add dialogue
Press Tab until you reach Character, type a name, press Enter, and write the line. Press Enter again to go back to Action.
- 5
Start a new scene
Type a new INT./EXT. line whenever the time or place changes. Each scene heading starts a fresh scene in the navigator.
- 6
Sign in to save
Your work autosaves to your account. Sign in to keep drafts across devices and invite collaborators.
- 7
Export
Hit Export to download an industry-standard PDF, a Final Draft (.fdx) file, or a Fountain (.fountain) text file, ready to print or send.
Formatting do's and don'ts
- One page is about a minute on screen. A feature usually lands somewhere between 90 and 110 pages.
- Write what the audience can see and hear. If it can't be filmed, it probably doesn't belong in the action.
- Keep action paragraphs short. Three or four lines is plenty before you hit Enter.
- The first time a character shows up, write their name in ALL CAPS with a quick age or description so the reader can picture them.
- Parentheticals are seasoning, not the meal. Trust the dialogue to do the work.
- You don't have to worry about capitalizing scene headings, character names, or transitions. Scene Forges handles that for you.
- A new scene only starts with a Scene Heading. Everything else, like action, dialogue, and transitions, lives inside the scene you're already in.
- Get the first draft down fast. The real writing happens in the rewrite, so snapshot a Version before you tear into it.
Glossary
Terms you'll run into as you read about screenwriting.
Interchange formats: Fountain and FDX
Moving scripts between Scene Forges and other tools.
Fountain (.fountain) is the recommended simple interchange format and is free on every plan. It's plain text, human-readable, and round-trips cleanly with most screenwriting tools. Use it as your default when moving a script in or out of Scene Forges.
Final Draft FDX (.fdx) is a Pro convenience for writers already in a Final Draft workflow. For a reliable cross-tool round-trip, prefer Fountain.
Best for: core screenplay element exchange, including scene headings, action, character, dialogue, parentheticals, transitions, shots, and dual dialogue.
Currently not guaranteed to preserve: title-page metadata, MORE/CONT'D metadata, detailed revision-set colors, and other Final Draft production metadata.
Recommended simple interchange: Fountain
Production tools are designed for professional revision workflows. Always review a locked-page PDF before distributing a production draft.
If a file doesn't import cleanly, export a Fountain copy as a fallback and let us know. Interchange fidelity is something we actively maintain.
Offline writing
What happens when your connection drops.
If your connection drops while you're writing, Scene Forges keeps a local recovery copy on this device and syncs changes when your connection returns.
Offline recovery does not automatically sync to another device until this device reconnects and saves to your account.
Deep-dive guides
Step-by-step guides for every screenplay element and format.