scriptwriting

Scriptwriting is the craft of writing scripts for performance and media, including film, television, theater, radio, and video games. A script communicates characters, dialogue, action, and setting, and indicates pacing and tone. Writers translate ideas into a plan that directors, actors, and crews can interpret.

Different media use distinct formats. Screenplays and teleplays guide visual storytelling with scene headings, action lines, character names, and dialogue. Stage plays emphasize dialogue and stage directions for live performance, often structured in acts and scenes. Radio scripts focus on sound and narration, while video game scripts mix dialogue with branching paths and in-game prompts.

Structure varies by medium. Films and TV often follow a narrative arc with setup, confrontation, and resolution. Screenplays frequently use a three-act structure; episodic TV uses act breaks and episode pacing. Stage plays rely on acts and scenes and live performance. Formatting follows industry conventions to support clear collaboration among writers, directors, and crews.

Process and craft. Work typically starts with idea development, followed by treatments or outlines, beat sheets, or synopses. Writers draft and revise, often in collaboration with others in writers’ rooms or with producers and directors. Focus areas include character development, pacing, and visual storytelling.

Tools and practice. Writers use software such as Final Draft, Celtx, or Fade In to format scripts to industry standards, though word processors are also used. Submissions usually include sample scripts and loglines; contracts govern credits and compensation.