Thread: Tips&Tricks

Hey Everyone,

I have been really tempted to write a script just for fun really, while i am waiting for NaNoWriMo 2007. Anyways, i have never written a script before, sicne im more of a novel person, so i was wondering if there were any tips or tricks you could tell me about? I was thinking it would be a stage play, and i really am interested on learning more about the process.

Any help would be highly appreciated!

Originally Posted by Elysia19

Hey Everyone,

I have been really tempted to write a script just for fun really, while i am waiting for NaNoWriMo 2007. Anyways, i have never written a script before, sicne im more of a novel person, so i was wondering if there were any tips or tricks you could tell me about? I was thinking it would be a stage play, and i really am interested on learning more about the process.

Any help would be highly appreciated!

I don't really write plays, but I know some tips, I suppose.

Keep scene descriptions to an absolute minimum, and only mention specific objects if they actually apply to the scene about to occur. Only tell what can be seen on the stage as well, no insider information.

Always have two characters in a scene, and make sure that no matter what, they disagree with each other. Even if it seems like they agree, make sure they don't.

Make sure each character has a specific "action" or, something they want in the scene. Make sure other character's actions prevent another from getting what they want.

Yeah. That's all I got. You can pretty much make it up from there.

Thanks Eiji!

That really helps, some of those i havent ever heard before, but i will take into consideration!

Not bad at all Eiji for a person who doesn't write plays. I do write plays, my latest is being produced this fall by a professional theater company.

One of the common beginner errors is also to try and direct with the script. Just like in Eiji's comment on descriptions, keep action descriptions to a minimum. The tendency is to want to tell the actors how to act. Leave the action description out unless the action, voicing, who a line is said to, is crucial to the play. For instance JAMES and ANN are alone on stage:

Originally Posted by Bad Example

JAMES - (Walks over to lean against the mantle, takes out his pipe and lights it. Then he say to ANN) We need to talk.

ANN - Yes we do.

First of all, ANN and JAMES are alone, you would not need to say who the line is delivered to. If, however, JAMES, JOHN and ANN are in the room you may need to add, (To ANN) so the actor can tell who the line is meant for.

Originally Posted by Corrected for 3 characters

JAMES - (To ANN) We need to talk.

ANN - Yes, we do.

JOHN - Shall I leave?

Notice that ANN does not have (To JAMES) written next to her. That is because 'To JAMES' is understood; he started the conversation.


Going back to the first example, the action described would only be necessary if referenced in the play, otherwise the director will give stage directions to strengthen characterization. The author should only say what is necessary, as above Corrected for 3 characters. The exception to this is for instance:

Originally Posted by When you need stage direction in the script

JAMES - (Takes out his pipe and lights it.) We need to talk.

ANN - Apparently we do. So why do you insist on infuriating me by lighting your damn pipe, then suggesting that (mockingly) "we need to talk." Then I have to stay in the room with you while you smoke the stinking thing! You know how I hate that disgusting habit!

Notice that the directions are trim, tell the actor and director the author's intent, and add to the story/characterization.

Thanks again! I had alot of trouble with that especially, so this really clears things up!

DON'T get in the habit of including direction in parentheticals like that. Seriously. This is a newbie trap, a quick reject-bait...and limits you.

Use a direction line:

James lights a cigarette.

JAMES
We need to talk.

Use parentheticals very sparingly. There is a beginner tendancy to want to try to get their vision across in detail, but actually that kind of "directing by the writer" is frowned on.

A legitimate use s of parens would be when it's necessary to know that the line is read other than straight. (sarcastically, etc)
Or something like (To Alice) indicating that the character has changed the object of his speech.

MIKE
Alice, I think you know better than that and
(To Jane)
you should, as well.

Keep description minimal. Nobody cares what color eyes your hero has...they'll cast who they want.

Keep action terse and concise. Try to keep it blocks of under 5 lines, break it up to avoid long grey passages.

Don't drive up and go to the door and knock and sit down and tell the news:
start the scene sitting there on the couch telling it. Better yet, start with her crying, then show why in subsequent dialog.
Same way, cut straight out of the scene when the meat is done.

Remember to STAY GENERIC
This is a common beginner problem.
EXT. PENNSYLTUCKY STATE COLLEGE, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE BUILDING - NIGHT
is useless...they will film it where they want to.

Hero drives up in 1978 Camaro with headers and the DynoPack. is out, they wil do the car. You just tell us if it's an old wreck or a hotrod or luxury sedan or whatever.

Don't use all the camera directions and CUT TO and CU and all that crap you see in the How To books. Your format should be lean and up to date.

Practice writing scenes. Post them for review on screenwriting sites to get the format ironed out early.

Good luck

Always have two characters in a scene, and make sure that no matter what, they disagree with each other.

Ignore this. You have seen lots of scenes (perhaps even entire plays and films) with only one character, haven't you.

The "disagree" thing is a stylized piece of sophistry of the kind that come up around theater. Obviously MANY scenes will involve agreement, consummation, falling in love, etc.

I believe the OP is writing a stage play Lin. Lin's recommendations are screenplay format and will serve you quite well in that capacity.

Originally Posted by Guide To Stage Play Format

DIALOGUE
It’s interesting to note that the dialogue is the only element of a playscript that will run all the way from the left margin to the right margin. See the example pages.

Don’t rightjustify the dialogue text. In fact, don’t right-justify any element of your formatted script. Don’t hyphenate words that are not spelled with a hyphen... move that word down to the next line.

STAGE DIRECTIONS
All stage directions appear in parentheses, 2.75 inches from the left edge of the page. Each line of stage directions on the page should not extend past approximately 2.5 inches before wrapping to the next line.

The above is from the PDF file listed in the format for stage plays post at the top of this forum section. If you follow the guidelines listed, you will be fine for a stage play.

I personally have my own style which conserves paper for the theater groups that I write for. It has not stood in the way of my getting published, and definitely has not stood in the way of my stage plays being produced.

In fact, what I do is contact the publisher I am sending work to and ask for a guide copy of the script format they want to receive and that is what I use for submissions to that company.

In fact, what I do is contact the publisher I am sending work to and ask for a guide copy of the script format they want to receive and that is what I use for submissions to that company.

since there's a lot of variation in theater script format, unlike the more rigid rules established for film/tv, that's not a bad idea, though involving a lot more work, i should imagine, in having to change a whole script over... several times, if you submit to a variety of different style-using publishers... good news i guess is that there aren't that many companies publishing stage plays, vs the countless number that produce films...

elysia...
paul argentini's 'elements of style for screenwriters' has a very good section in back for playwrights... it's what i recommend to aspiring ones who come to me for help... you can get one for a couple of bucks up, used/new on amazon...

Amazon.com: Used and New: Elements of Style for Screenwriters: The Essential Manual for Writers of Screenplays

love and hugs, maia

believe the OP is writing a stage play Lin.

Whoops. Right you are. I'm just use to seeing "writing scripts" apply to screenplays, not plays. Sorry about that. I think some of the dramatic writing principles I mentioned would apply to plays, however. But I don't know for sure because I don't write plays, just movie and TV scripts.

I can't IMAGINE anybody buying a book on how to write scripts, plays, novels ANYTHING. There is SO much available free on the internet.

And with screenplays in particular it's better than books because it keeps changing and the books get obsolete.

Originally Posted by lin

Whoops. Right you are. I'm just use to seeing "writing scripts" apply to screenplays, not plays. Sorry about that. I think some of the dramatic writing principles I mentioned would apply to plays, however. But I don't know for sure because I don't write plays, just movie and TV scripts.

The other dramatic principles you listed still apply.

Actually, Elysia19, for both Stage and screen formating you can use a writing program that automatically sets the margins, ALL CAP areas, Parenthetical statements, etc. for you.

This one is free and quite good:

celtx - media pre-production software.

Post a few pages when you get something started.

Thank you to everyone who posted, im sorry for not responding sooner, i was on vacation. For a newbie this info really helps, thanks for your imput and hints, i will take them all into consideration.

Van,

Sweet! I'll have to check that out! Thanks!

..i read all the advice and even im writing my forst stage play...so thank you...and to elysia...just write!!..that almost always works..hehehe...you can check out my first rough scene for a play...its posted a little before yours..please read and tell me what you think..thanks

sorry..."forst" not, my first play!!