Writing a script for a movie or a television or web series sounds exciting and challenging. You have to think of brilliant plots and subplots and let your creative juices flow. However, it is only when you sit down to start writing that you realize it is much more than just writing.
The creative process may be free-flowing, but the scriptwriting process is not. You need to write it in a specific format in addition to keeping track of the story and characters. It can become an exhausting and draining experience. But it doesn’t have to be.
Scriptwriting or screenwriting software can make life infinitely easier for you. It is a word processor designed to keep the needs of a scriptwriter in mind. It also offers various other features that can make it easier for you to write scripts.
What are these features? How can you select the best scriptwriting software for your needs? Read on to find out more!
What to Look for in Scriptwriting Software?
You can use any processing software to write your scripts. All word processing software will allow you to format as you need. However, with generic word processing software, you would end up spending a significant amount of time formatting the script.
With software designed specially to write scripts, you get the following features that make it infinitely easier for you to go about your creative process without having to worry about formatting.
Ready to Use Formats
Writing is a convoluted task that requires a lot of concentration. When you have to keep formatting and to edit the document while writing, it disrupts your creative process. You may lose track of the story or even forget an idea.
When you have a scene in mind, all you want to do is put it on paper immediately rather than wonder about how to format a screenplay. A scriptwriting software lets you do just that. It offers many ready to use formats and outlines. You can pick the one that suits your needs and start writing immediately.
Whether it is comedy, drama, or any other genre, you can get an outline fit for it. Similarly, you can use the formats available for writing screenplays for web series, TV series, movies, plays, etc.
Story Board or Organizer
There is a misconception among people that scriptwriters write the story in the same order that it appears on the screen. If you are a scriptwriter, then you may have chuckled reading that. Many scriptwriters follow a non-linear writing process.
Many famous writers even start by writing the ending first and then proceeding with the rest of the story. The drawback of writing haphazardly is that you often lose track of what you have written.
Did you write chapter 2? Have you already written the introduction of the main character? Sifting through everything that you have already written can be a headache.
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Software designed for scriptwriters will include a storyboard or an organizer of some form. You can place the chapters you have written in the order you want them to come and leave the unwritten space blank.
You will get a visual representation of how the story is progressing, and this will make it immensely easier for you to write the rest.
In-Built Grammer Check
When you are in the heat of the moment while writing, spell check and grammar often take a back seat. The aim is to write down everything in your head and keep the creative process going. However, checking the whole document for errors once you have finished writing is equally tedious.
The software comes with an in-built grammar check that checks and offers suggestions or corrections while you are writing. Correcting on the go saves time and increases your productivity. It also saves you from presenting an error-ridden script to a producer.
Track Revisions
What makes sense the first time you write it, doesn’t have to hold up at a later stage when other story elements are added. You have to re-read the whole script or portions of it again and make corrections.
But what if you make a change and later decide that the earlier version works best? What if you are working on the script with others, and you need to ensure that everyone is working on the same version?
It is here that you need a GitHub level version control. Many scriptwriting software creates new versions rather than deleting or rewriting the same versions.
It makes tracking the versions a smoother process that is free from any confusion. It also ensures that everyone can easily find out if they are working on the same version.
Sync With Cloud
Have you ever written something and then shut down the laptop or PC without saving it? Have you lost saved documents due to a virus or a malfunctioning of the system? The agony of losing hours of writing can only be understood by those who have felt it.
It is precisely because of such situations that scriptwriting software offers cloud storage. You can instantly save all your documents to the cloud of your choice. Your work will never be lost again.
Saving the documents to the cloud also ensures that you can access it from anywhere. You can write on your phone during your commute and pick up exactly where you left off from your home or office computer. The flexibility to work from anywhere is an invaluable benefit.
Enable Writer Collaboration
Scriptwriting is often a collaborative process. There are multiple people working on a script. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone could collaborate and work on the same document?
The industry leaders recognize that there is a need for a feature that enables constant real-time collaboration between writers on a script. The scriptwriting software comes with a feature that lets you share the script with multiple users, who can then add in their input in real-time.
Combined with the feature that enable tracking revisions and cloud storage, you can now take a step into the future and collaborate from remote locations. It increases the productivity of the team.
To Conclude
Every craftsman needs the best tools to truly showcase their talent. The scriptwriting software is the perfect tool for a master storyteller. Start working on it today to notice an instant improvement in your creativity and output.
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