Best practices for screenplay writing

If you've written a novel, you already know how to tell a story. That's a real head start when it comes to writing a screenplay. But screenwriting works by different rules, and many of the habits that make a good novelist get in the way on the page of a script.

A novel can spend pages inside a character's head. A screenplay can only show what the audience will see and hear. Here are the best practices that matter most when you make the move from prose to script.

Understanding Screenplay Format and Structure

Screenplays follow a standard format, and it's worth learning properly. Each page works out at roughly a minute of screen time, so a feature film script usually runs to between 90 and 120 pages. Your 300-page novel will need to fit inside that.

A screenplay is built from a few simple elements:

• scene headings, which say where and when a scene takes place
• action lines, which describe what we see
• character names, in capitals above their dialogue
• dialogue
• parentheticals, short notes on how a line is said, used sparingly

Here's how a short scene looks:

INT. SARAH'S KITCHEN - MORNING

Sarah stares at the unopened letter on the table. Her
hands tremble as she reaches for it.

                    SARAH
               (whispering)
          After all these years...

Notice that there's nothing about Sarah's racing thoughts or what the letter reminds her of. If the audience needs to know, it has to come through what she does or says.

Screenwriting software such as Final Draft, WriterDuet or Fade In will handle the layout for you, so you can concentrate on the writing.

Essential Screenplay Writing Techniques

"Show, don't tell" is good advice for any writer. In a screenplay it's the whole job. If a character is grieving, we need to see it: the untouched cup of tea, the coat still hanging by the door.

Dialogue has to work hard too. The best screen dialogue reveals character, moves the story on and carries meaning under the surface, often all at once. People rarely say exactly what they mean, and good scripts let them talk around things.

Keep action lines short and sharp. A few vivid details are worth more than a paragraph of description. Readers skim long blocks of action, so write in short paragraphs that are easy to read quickly.

Three-Act Structure in Practice

Most films follow a three-act shape. As a rough guide for a 110-page script:

• Act One, up to about page 25 to 30, sets up the main character and their world, and ends with the event that turns their life upside down.
• Act Two, up to about page 85 to 90, is the long middle, where things get harder, often with a major turn around the midpoint.
• Act Three brings everything to a climax and a resolution.

It can feel restrictive after the freedom of a novel, but it's what gives films their momentum. Think of it as a shape to work with rather than a formula to follow.

Common Pitfalls for Novelist-Screenwriters

When novelists struggle with screenwriting, it's usually because they're writing a short novel in script format. Watch out for:

• long, detailed action description
• dialogue that reads well but sounds stiff out loud
• too many locations and characters
• voiceover doing the work that the pictures should be doing
• scenes that start too early and end too late

Adapting your own book can also show up weaknesses in its structure that were easy to miss in prose. That's not a bad thing. It's one of the reasons a screenplay can make the story stronger.

Professional Development and Industry Standards

Agents, producers and script readers see a lot of scripts, and they expect the format to be right. One small slip won't ruin a great story, but a script that looks unprofessional makes readers less patient with it. Our guide to screenplay proofreading covers the details.

It also helps to think like the people who'll read your script. Is it clear what genre it is? Could it be made on a realistic budget? Who would watch it? These questions don't come up much when you're writing a novel, but they matter a great deal in film and TV.

The learning curve is steep, but your storytelling experience counts for a lot. Novelists often bring a depth of character to screenwriting that's hard to teach.

Taking the Next Step

Practice is the best teacher. Read produced screenplays in your genre, many of which are available online, and try adapting a single chapter of your book before you tackle the whole thing. Our guide to the 7 common adaptation mistakes will help you avoid the usual traps.

If you'd rather have professionals adapt it for you, our novel to screenplay service is £1,200 + VAT for a manuscript of up to 80,000 words. We'll also adapt a chapter or scene of your choice for free, with no obligation, so you can see how your story looks as a script. Get in touch to claim your free sample.