Welcome back! Today I’m going to go over screenplay software. What the heck is that? Settle down I’m going to tell you. Screenplay software is simply a writing tool tailored specifically for writing screenplays and scripts. Microsoft Word works but it can’t cater to the special needs a screenwriter may have. Like when you need to make notes about a character, or when you need to write a quick shortcut for a characters name but Word keeps telling you you spelled the word wrong. Though I’ll be giving different examples of softwares there’s no need to worry. I’ve got you covered with our featured photo of what the software may look like.

There are various benefits to screenwriting software. They are usually easy to use and doesn’t need much training. They have a plethora of templates you could choose from. You have access to story maps (which we discussed in an earlier post on story outlines and if you haven’t read it already. What are you doing? Go read it). These are very helpful when organizing your thoughts. You are able to collaborate with other writers and editors without using an outside tool. As I mentioned earlier if you wanted to take notes about a character, or the setting, or just something you want to add in later you are able to do this with screenwriting software. Some softwares support multiple devices so it’s easier for everyone to access.

There are some features you should consider making sure the software has before you download or purchase it.

Make sure it has a vast variety of templates. The number can vary between softwares from 30 to 300 different templates. Make sure you get as many options you can. Templates provide you with the basic elements of a screenplay which you can edit as you see fit. Most templates are completely labeled for you all you have to do is insert your information.

Try to base part your decision on a software in how easy it is for you to use. As I mentioned earlier one of the benefits to using screenwriting software is that it’s easy to use. If you have to spend hours trying to figure out how one software works, it’s time to move on.

Ensure that you are able to collaborate with others and sharing your work is not a problem. Having a followup pair of eyes on your work is never a bad thing in fact, it’s an even better thing when you have a software that makes it easy to have this.

I found a few softwares that came well reviewed. The first was Squibler. This has a powerful and easy to use text editor for you. It has over 30 templates to guide you and has a collaborative mode so more than one writer can work on the story at one time. You get a free 14-day trial period with minimal features, or you can buy the full version for $9.99 (not a bad price in my opinion).

Another software is Final Draft. This software has over 300 templates and is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Mobile devices. You have access to a mind map tool (which as I mentioned before, we love here). You have a speech-to-script tool which is great for anyone who hates typing and writing. This software is best for those working with film, TV, or gaming. This software is a bit costly compared to our previous price but it’s still manageable. You can get a 30-day free trial or you can buy the full version for $99.99.

I want to include a free option called Trelby. It’s easy to use and has all of the basics you would need, but it’s only compatible with Windows. This is more for anyone on a budget.

If you have any questions please comment below.

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See you next time!