Free Screenwriting Software

What is proper screenwriting format? How can I write a script and format it for free? What screenwriting software is free?

The best answers to these questions are use Fountain Syntax, use Fountain syntax, and WriterDuet Celtx or other free software that lets you import Fountain Syntax files and export to PDF.

Writing a script (for TV or film) can absolutely be done for free. For Beginners, there are several websites that can show you proper Hollywood screenplay or TV formats, but realistically, if you learn the Fountain syntax completely and read scripts/screenplays you’ll know how to write a script in any format because free screenwriting software will format the text data you write into the proper PDF format.

Learning Fountain syntax 100% could probably take you five hours of studying and trial and error to become an expert. But in twenty minutes you could probably get to writing whatever you want. Here’s their website homepage:

Homepage: https://fountain.io/

Fountain Syntax: https://fountain.io/syntax

Screenwriting Software: https://fountain.io/apps

Wait, but when do I use Fade In, or INT. or EXT.? The fountain website and others can give you guidance, but your goal is to write for free, so let me continue with the software you’ll need.

How do I make my .fountain file look like a screenplay or TV Sitcom?

You’ll need formatting software for that. The great thing is that .fountain can be formatted to look like screenplays, sitcoms, theater, or other nuanced formatting styles with the click of a button. Once you learn .fountian, you won’t need to learn the ins and outs of each style. Of course, you will as a professional, but you can pick that up along the way as you read more scripts.

Which Screenwriting Software should I use? You can pay a child’s arm or toddler’s leg for FinalDraft ($200USD+). Or try free tools like WriterDuet or CelTx. My favorite right now (2020) is WriterDuet because it formats extremely well and uses a font like Courier Prime to make it look legit while Celtx used Courier New which made it look unprofessional, even if it contained the proper character size and widths. Others are listed on the fountain website at the link above.

Of course WriterDuet wants you to pay monthly eventually, so the free option only gets you one free script. Celtx allows several free scripts, but if you have the discipline, use WriterDuet’s free account just for exporting but not for writing. Write and store your revisions in .fountain files or Word files with track changes.

If you have Word (which is not free), and wish to write for free, I recommend downloading my template below. Of course, with anything downloaded off the internet, scan it for viruses. But this document is intentionally script-free (it does not have macros enabled), which means it can’t run code. The only thing I’ve done is format certain styles for you. You must write in fountain syntax and format paragraphs manually by clicking a paragraph then clicking the style you want. To export to PDF, you’ll need to copy and paste your work into WriterDuet or other fountain format enabled software.

I prefer writing this way because I can write faster while still getting a feel for page count. I can also manage revisions better, use track changes, save new files, and write stuff I won’t use in the final export (like extra dialogue, beats, and bullet point outlines).

I can also write in free form style: | Where are you going? / To the shop. / Haven’t we already been to the shop? / I was thinking of a different shop. | Then format the dialogue later. I can also sort my beats using bullet points and also using headers so they appear in a table of contents.

Here’s the TV Script template which is not an actual Word Template file (.dotx), but a normal Word file (.docx). It also requires the free font Courier Prime which is linked to in the next section.

Since this was made for free and intended to save people money, please share this page, plagiarize its contents, and use it as long as you keep it free and warn people to verify downloads, links, and virus-scan stuff.

If downloading files scares you (which it always should!) then start a new word document and do the following.

Create Your Own Word Template for a Screenplay Format (or TV Single Cam)

Note that this is close to a screenplay format, but not perfect. This file should be for ballparking only.

You will also need to install Courier Prime on your computer first:

Word Formatting: In a new file do the following.

  1. Double Click your Ruler and change the Margins: Top: 1″ Bottom: 1″ Left: 1.44″ Right: 1″. Can also be found by Menu > Layout > [Page Setup] Margins > Custom Margins. Note: Officially it’s 1.5″ left margin, but due to font placement and stretch in Word, it’s different. But the character count width should be accurate.
  2. In the Styles Panel (in Menu > Home Tab), Right-click “No Spacing” . Select “Modify”. Change the following:
    1. Name: “Action”.
    2. Style Type: “Paragraph”.
    3. Style Based on: “(no style)”.
    4. Style for following Paragraph: “Action”.
    5. Font: Courier Prime. 12.
    6. Then click the “Format” button on the bottom left.
    7. In Paragraph: -Spacing- Before: 0 pt. After: 0 pt. Line Spacing: Multiple. At: 0.8. Click OK.
    8. Then click the “Format” button on the bottom left again.
    9. In Font: In the “Advanced” tab. Scale: 101%. Click OK.
    10. Click OK to exit “New Style” window.
  3. Write some text and change it to the “No Spacing/Action” style you just created.
  4. Expand the Styles Ribbon/Panel into a Window by clicking the icon on the bottom right of the Styles Panel that looks like an arrow pointing to the bottom right.
  5. In the Styles Window, click the “New Style” button that looks like *Aa. Create the Scene Heading Style. Be sure to have the “No Spacing/Action” style selected before clicking New Style, so your new style is based on that style and auto populates several fields from it. Change the following:
    1. Name: “Scene Heading” (or “Slugline” if you prefer)
    2. Style Type: “Paragraph”
    3. Style Based on: “Action” (may still be called “No Spacing”)
    4. Style for following paragraph: “Action”
    5. For TV: Check on the Underline field. (for Screenplays I prefer Bold instead)
    6. Click the Format button then select “Font” and in the “Font” tab, check on “All Caps”. Click OK.
    7. Click OK to exit “New Style” window.
  6. Select a “No Spacing/Action” paragraph style, then create a New Style for Dialogue.
    1. Name: “Dialogue”
    1. Style Type: “Paragraph”
    2. Style Based on: “Action” (may still be called “No Spacing”)
    3. Style for following paragraph: “Action” / “No Spacing”.
    4. Click the Format button then select “Paragraph” and in the “Indents and Spacing” tab, Change -Indentation- Left: 1″ Right: 1.5″. Click OK.
    5. Click OK to exit “New Style” window.
  7. Select a “Dialogue” paragraph style, then create a New Style for Characters.
    1. Name: “Character”
    2. Style Type: “Paragraph”
    3. Style Based on: “Dialogue”
    4. Style for following paragraph: “Dialogue”
    5. Click the Format button then select “Paragraph” and in the “Indents and Spacing” tab, Change -Indentation- Left: 2″ Right: 1.56″. In the “Line and Page Breaks” tab -Pagination- check ON “Keep with next”. Click OK.
    6. Click the Format button then select “Font” and in the “Font” tab, check on “All Caps”. Click OK.
    7. Click OK to exit “New Style” window.
  8. Select a “Dialogue” paragraph style, then create a New Style for Parentheticals.
    1. Name: “Parenthetical”
    2. Style Type: “Paragraph”
    3. Style Based on: “Dialogue”
    4. Style for following paragraph: “Dialogue”.
    5. Click the “Format” button then select “Paragraph” and in the “Indents and Spacing” tab, Change -Indentation- Left: 1.5″. Click OK.
    6. Click OK to exit “New Style” window.
  9. You’re all set. To modify a style, right click it in the Styles Panel and select “Modify…”

Add Header and Footers

  1. Menu > Insert Tab > [Header & Footer Panel] Page Number > Top of Page > Plain Number 3.
  2. Menu > Insert Tab > [Header & Footer Panel] Page Number > Bottom of Page > Plain Number 3.

Add a Table of Contents on the first page.

  1. Click the “Table Of Contents” button. Menu > References Tab > Table of Contents. Choose “Automatic 1” or “2”.
  2. Then hit Enter a few times and insert a new Section by doing the following: Menu > Layout Tab > [Page Setup Panel] Breaks > [Section Page] Next Page.
  3. On the next page, double click in the margins to enter the Header editor. Once here, you should see “Header -Section 2-” and on the previous page: “Footer -Section 1-“. On the -Section 2- Header, right click the number field and select “Format Page Numbers”. In the -Page numbering- section change from “Continue from previous section” to “Start at” and “1”. Click OK.

Now you can use Header 1 to format your act breaks. And header 2+ to organize your plot beats. Then they’ll show up in your table of contents at the top.

Cool huh?

Warning, printing directly from this document can now be confusing since the page number of the document differs from the page number of the new section. So I suggest exporting to PDF first then printing the desired PDF page numbers.

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