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Jumping from the world of writing fictional stories to fictional scripts was like going from driving a car to riding a motorbike. Both are vehicles, but driving a car is a whole different beast compared to riding a motorcycle. Both tell stories, but the way you write both are… well, you get the point. It’s an interesting and possibly scary transition, especially if you don’t know much about the basics of screenwriting. It’s true, you’re still telling a story, but movies and books have their differences. Many differences.

So if you want to start screenwriting but have little to no clue where to start, check out these recommendations! I was once in the same spot, and while my knowledge is still limited, is much better than it was when I started. The following are some books and a program that really helped ease me into understanding the ins and outs of screenwriting.

Celtx

Celtx is a simple to use screenwriting program you can download or use online. It is possible to pay for extra features, but I’ve never needed to use them. Just sign up and download it. The program will format the script for you, all you have to do is hit tab or enter, and it will properly place the slug line, character name, dialogue, etc. Celtx has multiple script formats you can pick from, including theatre and audio plays. When you’re done you can export the PDF or print it. Way easier and friendlier than trying to format a script yourself on Microsoft Word or Google Docs. You can sign up and download the program on their site.

Screenwriting for Teens: The 100 Principles of Screenwriting Every Budding Writer Must Know

Hey, it’s right there in the title! This book starts at the very basics. From how film differs from books, story v.s. plot, all the way to pitching scripts and screenwriting competitions. This books is written with us teens specifically in mind. The author Christina Hamlett covers every genre, every question, every tip out there for us film kids. A great resource for all of us who want a clear explanation of screenwriting and what we’re capable of! The book can be purchased on Amazon here.

Now Write! Screenwriting

This book features a different chapter written by different screenwriters, each with their own advice and tips for specific parts of the process. From choosing a story, to writing, structure and theme, scenes, and character development, this book has it all. Some of the notable movies the authors worked on include Chicken Run, Terminator 2, Hook, Muppet Treasure Island, and much more. The book also includes helpful writing exercises and advice that pushes your creativity and helps you grow in your ability and understanding of screenwriting. I really recommend this one to a teen who wants to go into screenwriting. The book can be found on Amazon here.

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Crafty TV Writing: Thinking Inside the Box

This book is written by Alex Epstein and gives fantastic tips on (surprise) writing TV scripts. If you want to write something episodic versus a feature film, check this book out. It covers how to handle things like exposition, structure, and dialogue in a shorter time slot. Also, just a warning, if you read this, you’ll start picking up different writing tricks in TV shows a lot more. Which is fun, except solving murder-mystery shows becomes a lot easier and less fun. But then again, you get a better handle on what the writers are doing. The book is great at expanding the understanding of how TV shows are structured and what makes a great episode. I especially love the tips on exposition and dialogue, and the book has information still useful for full length scripts. The book can be purchased on Amazon here.

I hope those are helpful! My final tip would be to read other scripts. Find the scripts of your favorite movies and read them. Read a lot of them. If you start to understand the writing process behind the final product, you’ll get a better handle on how transition from paper to the screen.

That’s all for now! If you want to contact me, I’m on Twitter @ejLadd. You can also send me an email addressed to [email protected]. See you around the campus, and Soli Deo Gloria!