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How to Write a Script
Getting Started
How to Write a Script
1) Brainstorm
Write up what you want to happen in the
play.
Where will the story take place?
How to Write a Script
2) Characters
You don’t need to develop all of the characters
right away, but you should think about your
main characters and their effects on the story
line.
Make sure that the different characters have
their own “voice” and “persona” based on their
backgrounds, which will affect their attitude,
word choices, and dialect. This will help your
characters from blending into one another.
How to Write a Script
3) Outline
Before you actually begin writing the script,
it might help to create a basic road-map of
what will happen in the story so you don’t
forgot or go off track.
Sketch out a general plan and envision how
events will unfold. This should be told in the
third person.
How to Write a Script
4) Style
Scripts are all about acting and dialogue so
make sure your characters are speaking
realistically.
Try not to mix styles of speech and
vocabulary too much unless you are going
for a specific effect.
How to Write a Script
5) Scene
Don’t forget to include important details
such as time of day, setting, and actions of
characters in the scene.
These are nearly as important as the
dialogue that occurs.
How to Write a Script
6) Dialogue
Make sure the dialogue is important,
relevant, and helps move the story forward.
How to Write a Script
7) Notation
Decide how to notate your script.
Will a narrator introduce the characters, or
will characters set up the scene and other
characters through dialogue or monologues?
How to Write a Script
8) Annotations
Tell the reader what is happening by
annotations (notes) in square brackets if you
will not find out from the narrator or
dialogue.
Example: [Jeff walks off the stage and John
closes the door behind him].
How to Write a Script
9) Rough Draft
Begin to develop a rough draft. Remember to stick to
proper script formatting. (See next page for details on
how to format a script).
Skip lines between different characters speaking. This
will make it easier for people reading the script to
distinguish between speakers more easily, and also
allow space for notes.
Write “INT” when the scene takes place inside and
“EXT” when the scene takes place outside.
Put the characters’ names in capital letters above their
lines.
How to Write a Script
10) Edit
Read over your work, and have your friends
and family read it over as well.
Don’t let yourself be insulted, controlled, too
fragile, upset, or angered by remarks about
your script. They are opinions, not facts.
Remember, you asked for their help!
How to Write a Script
11) Final Copy
Type up your script (Calibri, size 12) to be
handed in. Congratulations, you’re done!
Formatting Your Script
Formatting Your Script
Scene Directions
What is happening as the scene starts. All
the important information you need to
know.
Formatting Your Script
Example of Scene Directions:
Scene 1
[A truck stop diner in late August, 1977. The
place is deserted except for DORA, the
resident waitress in her pink crisp uniform.
She leans on the counter and does a word
jumble in a weathered looking book. She
glances up as WADE, a teenager in a white
tank top and too-big jeans, enters.]
Formatting Your Script
Staging Directions
These describe what happens on stage during the
scene. Entrances, exits, major movements of
characters, etc., are all examples of action that
would require stage directions.
Staging directions show only what is taking place
on stage (what the audience can see or hear).
Stage directions are single spaced when within a
single character’s dialogue, but a blank line is left
when between character passages.
Formatting Your Script
DORA
Sure.
[DORA rings the bell at the pass-through
behind her.]
Order up! French fries.
[She turns back to WADE.]
Is that it?
Formatting Your Script
Character Stage Directions
These are always short and fit right under
the characters name.
These types of directions give a clue to the
style of the line.
These should be used only when a reader
wouldn’t understand what was going on
without them.
Formatting Your Script
WADE
(rubbing his belly)
Um, and a sandwich please.
Putting Your Script Together
Putting Your Script Together
1) Cover Page – the title of your play and your name(s)
2) Characters – a list of all the parts in the script with a short
description
Example: DORA – waitress, 50 years old, greying hair, tired
3) Setting – brief paragraph detailing the setting of the play
including the time period
4) Scene Breakdown – list of the different scenes, where
they are set, and the time as it relates to the passage of
time in the script
Example: Scene 1 – Diner – Late August 1977, noon
5) Page Numbers – start numbering your pages on the first
page of the actual play script
Topic
I will be coming around with the script/skit topics. Pick one group
member to pick the topic.
Guidelines
Your skit must be 3 minutes long
Each group member must have an equal part
Brainstorm
Using the “Brainstorm” Handout, brainstorm ideas with your group
about the script you will write next class. Remember: You must be able
to act it out.