Writing a Screenplay 101
Writing a Screenplay 101
If you’ve written short stories, poems, or essays, you’ve controlled every word on the page. But in a screenplay, your words are just the blueprint.
Unlike other forms of writing, a screenplay is meant to be:
Performed, not just read. The audience will never see your descriptions—they’ll only hear the dialogue and watch the action.
Collaborative. Directors, actors, cinematographers, and editors will all shape the final product.
Focused on what can be seen and heard. No internal monologues. No long paragraphs of description. Everything must be visual or spoken.
The biggest difference? You are not telling the story—you are showing it.
A screenplay has three key elements on the page:
Scene Headings (Slug Lines) – Where and when is this happening?
Action Lines – What is happening? What do we see?
Dialogue – What are the characters saying?
That’s it. No long descriptions, no thoughts, no literary flourishes.
Every scene begins with a scene heading that tells us:
Interior (INT.) or Exterior (EXT.) – Are we inside or outside?
Location – Where is the scene happening?
Time of Day – DAY or NIGHT (no need to be specific).
Example:
INT. CLASSROOM – DAY
A screenplay jumps from place to place quickly. Each scene heading tells the crew where to set up the shot.
This is where you describe what’s happening in real time.
Always write in present tense.
Only describe what the camera can see and hear.
Keep it short and direct.
Example:
INT. CLASSROOM – DAY
Mr. Tretyak paces in front of the whiteboard, marker in hand. He underlines the word "screenplay" twice, tapping it for emphasis.
What not to do:
INT. CLASSROOM – DAY
Mr. Tretyak was once a promising young writer, but life pulled him into teaching. He wonders if his students will understand the importance of structure or if they’ll just wing it.
The audience can’t see his thoughts. If it can’t be acted, heard, or visually understood, it doesn’t belong.
Unlike in a novel, where you can describe how someone speaks, a screenplay only presents the words they say.
Character names are in ALL CAPS and centered above the dialogue.
Dialogue is centered on the page.
Parentheticals (small notes under the name) can clarify tone or action, but should be used sparingly.
Example:
MR. TRETYAK
(smirking)
Well, I hope you’re all paying attention.
STUDENT
(raising hand)
What if we don’t follow the format?
MR. TRETYAK
(dead serious)
Then Hollywood will never call.
Good dialogue is short, natural, and drives the story forward.
Descriptions
Novel: Long, detailed paragraphs about setting, mood, and inner thoughts.
Screenplay: Short action lines—only what the audience can see.
Internal Thoughts
Novel: Can be written directly: She felt nervous.
Screenplay: Must be shown visually: She taps her fingers against the desk.
Dialogue
Novel: Can include inner monologue and detailed speech tags.
Screenplay: No tags. only the words spoken and occasional tone indicators.
Pacing
Novel: Can slow down for reflection or backstory.
Screenplay: Moves fast. Each scene must keep things moving.
Reader Experience
Novel: The audience reads everything the author writes.
Screenplay: The audience only sees what’s on screen—so descriptions should be minimal.
A screenplay is a living document—a set of instructions for actors, directors, and cinematographers.
It is not a finished product. It is a blueprint for something that will exist beyond words.
So, when you write a screenplay, ask yourself:
Can this be seen or heard?
Is this scene moving the story forward?
Am I trusting the actors and visuals to tell the story, instead of over-explaining?
Google Doc Sample of Screenplay (Link)
A screenplay has strict formatting rules to make it easy to read and industry-standard. Here’s how to format yours properly in Google Docs.
✅ Font: Courier New, Size 12
✅ Line Spacing: Single (1.0)
✅ Margins: 1-inch on all sides
Why? Screenplays are always written in Courier 12 because it keeps spacing uniform; one page roughly equals one minute of screen time.
Each part of a screenplay is formatted differently:
SCENE HEADINGS (SLUG LINES)
✅ ALL CAPS
✅ Always starts with INT. (Interior) or EXT. (Exterior)
✅ Includes location + time of day
📌 Example:
INT. CLASSROOM – DAY
ACTION LINES (What We See & Hear)
✅ Normal sentence case
✅ Always in present tense
✅ No inner thoughts—only what can be seen or heard
✅ Short, direct, no paragraphs longer than 4 lines
📌 Example:
Students shuffle into the room. Mr. Tretyak taps the board twice, his expression unreadable.
CHARACTER NAMES (Before Dialogue)
✅ ALL CAPS, centered on the page
✅ No descriptions here—just the name
📌 Example:
KALEEB
(grinning)
Oh, you were serious about this?
DIALOGUE (What They Say)
✅ Centered under the character’s name
✅ No quotation marks
✅ Each character's lines stay short—long speeches are broken up
📌 Example:
YASMUN
(shaking her head)
I love this. I really, really do.
PARENTHETICALS (How They Say It – Optional)
✅ Used under the character name, before dialogue
✅ Lowercase inside parentheses
✅ Only for tone or small actions, not full sentences
📌 Example:
MR. TRETYAK
(dead serious)
Then Hollywood will never call.
TRANSITIONS (Optional, Used Sparingly)
✅ ALL CAPS, right-aligned
✅ Most common: FADE IN: (beginning) and FADE OUT. (ending)
📌 Example:
FADE TO BLACK.
Step 1: Set the Font & Spacing
Click Format → Paragraph styles → Normal text → Update ‘Normal text’ to match
Click Format → Line & paragraph spacing → Single
Step 2: Create a Centered Style for Character Names & Dialogue
Type a character’s name, select it, then click Format → Align & indent → Center
Do the same for the dialogue under it
Step 3: Use Keyboard Shortcuts for Speed
ALL CAPS Quickly: Ctrl + Shift + U
Center Text: Ctrl + Shift + E
Right-Align Transitions: Ctrl + Shift + R
✔ Everything is left-aligned except for character names, dialogue, and transitions.
✔ Use short paragraphs and avoid over-explaining.
✔ Dialogue should sound natural—read it out loud to check.
✔ If it’s not something that can be seen or heard, it doesn’t belong.