Question for the esteemed screenwriters here: What software do you use to write your scripts? I've heard Final Draft 11 is the industry standard? Can anyone speak to this?
Hi Jodi (same as Maurice), I currently use WritersDuet. It does allow you to download in different formats (e.g. PDF and .FDX). It also allows real-time collaboration.
I have tried KitScenarist whose developer is also in stage32 to help with.
Scrievener free version for my Linux operating system which I use to build story and novel too.
I also have Trelby, WriterSolo(Writerduet), DramaQueen, Fadein in my old laptop which I work on.
But mostly I use Scrievener, KitScenarist and at times I use Fountain or Dramaqueen or WriterSolo.
Whatever software you can use which feels good for your mood I feel. There is another new software called Scrite which is free too.
Try anything which works for you. I feel if you have PDF every studio is fine with that. If a studio really asks for FD itself that one can buy it later. Just my view is, concentrate on whatever free thing is available and more towards writing the script rather than which software one uses to write. For that reason I just go with whatever I feel good for that day, and I keep changing it so that I don't be stuck/hooked to one software and keep me adapting to the changes. I also have a vintage typewriter lol you see. So i don't mind if I would type in that if I want to.
My philosophy is simple, concentrate on writing and keep other things at ease to try new things. If any studio asks for FD only format, than you can ask someone from stage32 to help with formatting the script and pay some money for them. Simple! This would help not only to connect, but get a feedback too.
I use Scrivener for drafting and then I begrudgingly fire up Final Draft 11 and travel back in time to what feels like the mid-nineties era of software development for collaboration. I also have the FD app on an iPad for on-set rewriting. The app is actually quite nice.
There are A-list writers who use Scrivener, Fade In, Highland 2, Movie Magic, Slugline, and Writer Duet.
Smart creatives use what works best for them and smart professionals gain the skills they need to deliver.
Thank you all for your insight and for sharing different software. I am a higher ed prof and I see FD 11 has a discount for educators. I've written and published several novels and so I have Adobe for covers and Jutoh and Scrivener as well for writing, organizing and formatting books. The discount is pretty good for educators with FD 11. I think I'm going to dive in!
I used to use Celtx but they went cloud based; monthly subscription, ok if a team, or production co., but as a solo writer not so useful. I looked at Movie Magic, Fade in, Truby etc.. Fade in I liked for something more simple, and cheaper at around $80, it was flexible file imports too. I settled on Final Draft 11 because of its story ribbon and beat board tools, which I find useful. FD 11 on Mac has speech to text, windows version, not yet.
Hi Jodi I use Final Draft, and I have to say its amazing. It really puts things in order, its sets up Beats, and allows you to create character backgrounds. Its is a great investment in my opinion.
Thank you for posting the question, Jodi. I'm getting ready to take the FD plunge as well. As I was about to hit the button of no return, I decided to first tap into the collected wisdom on Stage 32, where I'm never disappointed. I didn't even have to type out the question.
Wardaan T Check Scrite software. It's Indian developers made and it got all Indian and foreign languages available as well as it's free. Even your resource is great.
3 people like this
Hi, Jodi. I use WriterDuet. There is a free trial. It's easy to use.
2 people like this
Final Draft. Only software really. The rest are make do.
4 people like this
Hi Jodi (same as Maurice), I currently use WritersDuet. It does allow you to download in different formats (e.g. PDF and .FDX). It also allows real-time collaboration.
3 people like this
I have written an answer on what process and software I use https://www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Anyone-use-digital-index-ca...
I have tried KitScenarist whose developer is also in stage32 to help with.
Scrievener free version for my Linux operating system which I use to build story and novel too.
I also have Trelby, WriterSolo(Writerduet), DramaQueen, Fadein in my old laptop which I work on.
But mostly I use Scrievener, KitScenarist and at times I use Fountain or Dramaqueen or WriterSolo.
Whatever software you can use which feels good for your mood I feel. There is another new software called Scrite which is free too.
Try anything which works for you. I feel if you have PDF every studio is fine with that. If a studio really asks for FD itself that one can buy it later. Just my view is, concentrate on whatever free thing is available and more towards writing the script rather than which software one uses to write. For that reason I just go with whatever I feel good for that day, and I keep changing it so that I don't be stuck/hooked to one software and keep me adapting to the changes. I also have a vintage typewriter lol you see. So i don't mind if I would type in that if I want to.
My philosophy is simple, concentrate on writing and keep other things at ease to try new things. If any studio asks for FD only format, than you can ask someone from stage32 to help with formatting the script and pay some money for them. Simple! This would help not only to connect, but get a feedback too.
2 people like this
I use Drama Queen, and it formats to Final Draft. Simple to use as well.
4 people like this
I use Scrivener for drafting and then I begrudgingly fire up Final Draft 11 and travel back in time to what feels like the mid-nineties era of software development for collaboration. I also have the FD app on an iPad for on-set rewriting. The app is actually quite nice.
There are A-list writers who use Scrivener, Fade In, Highland 2, Movie Magic, Slugline, and Writer Duet.
Smart creatives use what works best for them and smart professionals gain the skills they need to deliver.
3 people like this
Thank you all for your insight and for sharing different software. I am a higher ed prof and I see FD 11 has a discount for educators. I've written and published several novels and so I have Adobe for covers and Jutoh and Scrivener as well for writing, organizing and formatting books. The discount is pretty good for educators with FD 11. I think I'm going to dive in!
2 people like this
PDF is the industry standard. A few bits of software (used in production) will read a FDX file which is a file format of final draft.
I used writerduet. It is great on an ipad which is my main weapon of choice.
3 people like this
I used to use Celtx but they went cloud based; monthly subscription, ok if a team, or production co., but as a solo writer not so useful. I looked at Movie Magic, Fade in, Truby etc.. Fade in I liked for something more simple, and cheaper at around $80, it was flexible file imports too. I settled on Final Draft 11 because of its story ribbon and beat board tools, which I find useful. FD 11 on Mac has speech to text, windows version, not yet.
2 people like this
Hi Jodi I use Final Draft, and I have to say its amazing. It really puts things in order, its sets up Beats, and allows you to create character backgrounds. Its is a great investment in my opinion.
1 person likes this
Thank you for posting the question, Jodi. I'm getting ready to take the FD plunge as well. As I was about to hit the button of no return, I decided to first tap into the collected wisdom on Stage 32, where I'm never disappointed. I didn't even have to type out the question.
3 people like this
These days I am using MS Word for my script writing. It is easy to format your MS Word into a Script Writing program using this link: https://www.awn.com/blog/how-turn-microsoft-word-terrific-screenwriting-...
In MS Word, I can use Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, etc whatever fonts you like, using Google Input tools, and you can easily save it as a PDF.
3 people like this
Wardaan T Check Scrite software. It's Indian developers made and it got all Indian and foreign languages available as well as it's free. Even your resource is great.
3 people like this
Marli J Monroe you're welcome--if you are a student or educator you can get an educator discount on FD--just FYI!
4 people like this
I use Fade In. Very easy to use and collaborate.