It is an irony—comic or tragic, depending on your point of view—that almost all writers dislike writing. They like “having written”—but writing is often compared to purgatory. In fact, writers are well-known procrastinators, and they will do almost anything to avoid the act of putting words on the page. This is especially true in the film world, because writing is the loneliest profession in the industry. Every other filmmaking craft has strong elements of teamwork and collaboration, whereas the craft of writing is solitary. Many successful screenwriters work in teams, or have groups of other writers who form a core support group, in an effort to ameliorate this inherent dilemma. You may be able to work with a writing partner in your class, but even if not, you can still cheer one another on as you work your way through the writing process.

Writer’s block is a common term used to describe the difficulty of writing. Writers confront the blank page in different ways. Techniques include keeping a strict schedule of “writing hours” or requiring oneself to produce a certain number of pages each day. In addition, many writers develop a highly ritualized set of activities that allow them to get their writing to flow, whereas others adopt more prosaic approaches. More often than not, the best course is simply to jump in and start writing. A writer’s draft is a purely personal experience until he or she chooses to share it with a reader—a thought that need not be foremost in anyone’s mind when the writing process begins. Once a writer has produced a first draft, it is much easier to revise and turn it into a workable draft.

Each project has its own rhythms and writing requirements, which affect the writing process. Refer back to the number of pages in each act. Next time you watch a feature film, take a brief look at the time when you think each act ends. You will be surprised to see that the first act ends at about one half-hour into the film and the second act ends at about an hour and a half in to the film.

Always remember that writing is a craft that improves with practice and can be taught and studied. (See Action Steps: How to Get Started Writing Your Script, below.) Though the “right” way to write is the way that works best for you, screenwriters over the years have developed a conventional formatting style that best expresses characters, dialogue, action, and visual descriptions. Because scripts are not ends in themselves—rather, they are like the architect’s drawings that describe a building—these formal conventions help readers visualize what the writer imagines.

Most screenwriters use free specialized writing software called Celtx, a free online program called Scripped, or Final Draft, which has a cost. These and other programs come with templates that automatically format for movies, television, animation, and other presentation requirements. However, since movies are a visual medium, and a good rule of writing is “show, don’t tell,” let’s illustrate what the screenplay form looks like.