Hi Everyone,
I posted yesterday about 'What advice would you give to someone just starting out in screenwriting?'
Thank you all for your answers and input!
What I would love to know.... Is what tools or software do you use for your script work? What's your go-to, and what makes it so great? Is it the formatting? The outlining features? Or maybe the collaboration capabilities?
Thanks in advance.
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Final Draft
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Final Draft is generally considered the go-to tool for writing screenplays.
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Hi Sandra Scott, #1) creativity and imagination, and #2) I agree with the others: can't go wrong with Final Draft to organize and file them. They have quick answers and solutions when I send a question. Very helpful :-)
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Scrivener, it's written by writers for writers and it shows.
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Writer Duet because I can write in a browser which helps when I'm in the office for my day job. If I'm at home, I prefer Fade In.
For structure and promotional docs, I use Notion. Again, because I can access it easily on different devices and in the browser.
Scrivener is great too, and I've been using that for a non-fictional piece of writing I'm working on (usually drafted up in Notion on the go but then pasted into Scrivener when I'm at home)
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I originally started by using Word, but that has many drawbacks. Then I used Screenwriter, which at the time was an industry standard because it worked with MovieMagic. But that software, which is still very good, hadn't made an upgrade in many many years. I was invited to an event that was demonstrating FINAL DRAFT, and I liked many of its features. Attendees were given a discount code. When I looked deeper, they also offered a Veterans discount which, when combined with the event discount, made the price great. I haven't had a regret since and understand why FD is now the industry standard.
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My go-to screenwriting software is Final Draft 12, Sandra Scott. It's easy to use and navigate.
And my go-to outlining tool is Microsoft Word because it's easy to outline with it, and I can turn my outline into a treatment in Microsoft Word after I finish a script.
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As a newbie, I use Notebook by Zoho corporation which allows me to access it on any phone and browser. What I like about it is the folders, and the paper can be in different colors. What's important me for me is aside from logging in, you can also lock a file so nobody else can see it.
As for the screenwriter app, I'm using writerduet. But I do plan to get Final Draft in the future. I heard a lot of good things about it.
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Bottle of hard clear liquor and whatever script software & computer I feel like using
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Joining a screenwriting group.
When I joined the Tennessee screenwriting association, it helped me so much. You teach one other and get better.
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I use a notebook to make many pages of all kinds of ideas about the story. I will work on character ideas, plotting, research notes, etc. I love the old fashioned pen and paper for thinking and as a way to get away from my computer screen once in a while. Then I use Google Docs to create a working outline as my way of organizing all those notes ideas and stepping back to see if I actually have a story that works. Currently I am using Arc Studio to write the actual screenplay. I have also used Celtx. Both are excellent. Other writers use similar but different script writing tools which they love.
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Friends, family, & wife. By talking about my idea and verbalizing it I often work through any issues I’m having or roadblocks. Also if their attention wanes, I know I have more work to do.
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Sandra, my go-to writing tool is none other than Final Draft 6. For me, FD 6 takes care of so many issues (such as formatting) so that I can concentrate on actually writing.
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too much to explain in one post.
There’s lots of tools
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if you wish to interview me and ask me questions, I am a moderator here. I do have personal preferences to screen writing in certain tools that I use.
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I use Final Draft 12 because it makes it much easier when working with other people in the industry. Besides it is a pretty good screenwriting program.