Screenwriting : Guidelines for writing a script by Simangele Lekhuleni

https://www.oscars.org/sites/oscars/files/scriptsample.pdf

Hi John thanks for your reply. What you sent is more for formatting. I'd like guidelines on what you do before a script is written, the development phase and while you write the script.

Ahhh. Try John August. https://johnaugust.com/2010/10-hints-for-index-cards

The summary of my long research on how to write a script is "read other scripts".

Thanks John, this helps

"Save the Cat" by Blake Snyder was invaluable to me when I was starting. That's a fantastic book for everything you're asking about, and there's actually a couple free versions online (though I would feel uneasy about directly posting the links). Just google "Save the Cat" by Blake Snyder, you won't regret it! You don't have to follow it to a T, but it will give you some excellent tools.

I would listen to all the draft-zero podcasts. They are long but not a lot of them.

As others have said “read scripts”. Even this is a skill because you have to read them to learn. See how things are done and not for enjoyment.

You’ll have to develop an eye for what is a movie and what is a story. I have some great stories that are not the type that would make a movie.

Dunya and Craig good suggestion about reading other scripts. I've started a writers group and want us to review scripts it's for emerging writers.

Ryan thanks for recommending the book, I've downloaded it.

Lilith, thanks for suggesting Scriptlab, I'm sure I'll find scripts for my favourite movies

Great question There are loads! It's worth setting aside a day to fall dow the rabbit hole of google and soak in the wealth of information. It's an amazingly generous community. I'd recommend https://www.scriptrevolution.com/ for a great place to start and spend a few hours browsing. Best of luck and happy virtual wandering :)

Here's a free guide from scriptlab at https://thescriptlab.com/features/screenwriting-101/8886-15-simple-scree.... Hope this helps.

I would check out www.scriptrevolution.com Great resource for new and seasoned writers. If you're looking for a great book to help you along, I cannot recommend Writing the Script by Wells Root enough! It's an old book but still used by many top writers today as a resource. Wells co-founded the Writer's Guild and knew his stuff. Good luck, you've got this!

As mentioned, I share my full outlining process here on Script Revolution and many people have told me it's transformed their approach. Pretty much all my methodology is distilled from reading tonnes of books on the craft.