How to Write a Screenplay

7 Steps to Create a Marketable Script

by Screenwriter Simon J. Michael



STEP: 1 IDEA



Screenwriting begins when you write down your story idea in as much detail as you can the second you get it! Worry about the screenplay format later. For now concentrate on the story. The story itself is simple. The complications come from how the characters react to what's going on. To sell a screenplay you'll need a story filled with conflict.

Note: You may have specific scenes pop into your mind immediately after you've written down your story idea. If this happens write down these scenes right now, again don't worry about script format, the point is to capture those images right away. No matter how vivid they may seem to you right now if you wait to write these scenes down later you will lose important and careful details you had in mind. In a way this is your heart of the movie - it's what matters most to you (what people in the movie business call the theme of the film). You'll have time later to perfect the details in your re-writes.



Read Step 2





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This Website was Last Updated on: May 27, 2009
You can E-mail Simon at: author@simonjmichael.com