Writing Your Screenplay - Show Don't Tell by Susan Hart

As you sit down every day to work on your screenplay, the foremost thought in your mind should be -- write what is to be seen on the screen. There is no point in putting down "Her inner turmoil reminded her of a lost childhood". All that's needed is "She looks at the old photo and starts to sob".

Write your screenplay as if you are in the audience, watching the movie. Every word in a script should advance the story. There's no need to add fluff. If the storyline is not viable and complete, then the screenplay won't fly.

When I write a screenplay I usually see scenes whole, like little vignettes. They could have been inspired by things I've observed, or remembered. Once the main story is down, properly formatted as you go along (and you don't need expensive screenwriting programs to get started), then you can grab other scenes and ideas and plot points from your everyday life and add those to the people and places in your story.

It's best to have a story idea in mind before your start, or else you may get part of the way through the screenplay and get stopped. Scenes can come to you by sight or sound or photos, or even smells. When you are writing a screenplay open up your mind and let the ideas flow.

I've found that a drama or comedy screenplay is best at ninety to one hundred pages and an action or adventure or Sci-Fi screenplay turns out great at one hundred and twenty pages, or two hours of screen time. If you are great at stories but not so great at spelling or editing or grammar, then there are writers and editors out there who can help.

Remember, the play's the thing (according to Shakespeare!)

Susan Hart is a former literary agent, born in England, with the majority of her clients being screenwriters. After many years of helping others get their work published or up on the big or small screen, she is concentrating on her own writing in the areas of articles (of many kinds), short stories, novels and screenplays plus editing and proofreading, Some samples of her work can be found on her website at: http://www.ifreelance.com/pro/49442