creative writing script

How to Write a Script: From Idea to Screenplay

What is a script? How long does it need to be, and most importantly, how to write a basic screenplay are some commonly asked questions amongst new, up and coming script and screenwriters.

Well, when we really break it down, a script is simply written work (all in size-12 courier font) of roughly 90 -120 pages which translates your creative word smithing into how the visuals and audio on screen will unfold. 

On the surface, trying to write a script or screenplay is deceptively simple, partially because everybody intrinsically understands the language of cinematic storytelling.  

It is an inevitable (and crucial) byproduct of growing up watching movies – everybody knows the feeling of being able to anticipate a character’s next move, or character dialogue, or scene locations or when the plot will shift directions, or when the monster is about to crash through the window. If you know movies, you know enough to write the screenplay, right?

Another part of the deception is the textual nature of script themselves: the formatting on the page creates a lot of empty space. Anyone who’s spent time in a script editor knows the giddy sensation of typing along and finding themselves suddenly ten, or twenty, or even thirty pages into a script.

Start writing your script today with the Celtx Script Writing Editor – Sign up Here (It’s Free!)

The problem is that screenplays are as much technical documents as they are works of art. You could craft a beautifully heartfelt and original script that will be rendered completely unfilmable by virtue of the way that you wrote it.

You could have a one hundred and fifty page script that would only justify forty minutes of screen time. The margin for error in writing a script is enormous, because a screenplay isn’t a story to be read on its own: rather, it is a blueprint for creating something larger and much more complex.

Consider the Frankenstein metaphor: stitching the creature together is one thing, bringing it to life is something else entirely.

So how do you stitch together a good creature? Wait, I mean, so how does one write a good screenplay? For those new to the craft, here are some simple, helpful directives to get you on the right track.

How to Write a Script – A Basic 5-Step Guide

• Create a Logline & Develop Your Characters
• Write an Outline
• Write a Treatment
• Write Your Script
• Write Your Script Again

Step 1 – Create a Logline & Develop Your Characters

A great way to start the process of writing a script is by coming up with a logline: one or two sentences that will encapsulate your story in an intriguing manner. Once you’re done with that, develop your characters. Write their backstories. Refine their personalities.

Think about what makes them tick. Always make sure that your characters have goals that they need to achieve, and ensure that those goals carry high stakes should your characters fail to meet them. This does not mean that their goals need to be lofty, they just need to be authentic. The stakes can be as high as the end of the world or as personal as the end of a friendship.

The point is that characters having purpose is what makes them interesting. Flat characters destroy scripts. No matter how great your action sequences are or how original your concept is, one dimensional and uninteresting characters will drag your story to a halt.

You’ll find that writing with your characters’ personalities and goals in mind will take your story in unexpected places, and usually for the better.

Step 2 – Write an Outline

An outline (sometimes called a ‘beat sheet’) is a brief synopsis of your entire story. Try to fit it on one to two pages, and be concise. Broad strokes are key here. Think of the outline as the ‘definition’ of your script that breaks down the movement of the story, plot point by plot point. This is where you should begin to think about structure.

Essentially, conventional cinematic storytelling is bound to a classical format of three acts: It’s just how people expect stories to be told. There are many books written on the subject of screenplay structure, but the fundamentals are pretty simple. An average screenplay will be about ninety to one hundred pages.

Divide those pages by three. There’s your acts:

The 1st one should introduce your characters and setting and feature an inciting incident that gets the story underway.

The 2nd act is where your characters encounter obstacles as the story escalates into a crisis.

The 3rd act is where the crisis becomes climax (think victory or defeat), after which the story slows down and resolves itself. Don’t think of it as a paint by numbers approach – there’s plenty of room for experimentation and subversion.

Step 3 – Write a Treatment

Now you get to start flexing your prose muscles and develop your style.

Treatments are effectively a more in-depth version of your outline. Expound upon it and write your whole story scene by scene in a conventional manuscript style. Experiment with dialog, or at least make note of what you want your characters to say. Develop your settings and have fun with descriptions.

The treatment is where you really start building the world that your story takes place in. The length of a treatment is dependant on both the kind of story you’re telling and the length of the intended finished product.

For reference, a typical feature treatment will clock in at around thirty pages.

Step 4 – Write Your Script

Time to get to work. 

Go to it, and godspeed. It’s always a good idea to  write in a script editor like Celtx to help streamline the process . Celtx Studio features one that is tried, true, and hugely popular –  and it’s free. 

You’ve developed your characters, structured your plot, and have an inspired treatment. Understand the formatting. Write in the present tense.  Brevity is your friend. Remember to show, not tell: you’re writing for the eyes and the ears. 

Bonus Screenwritng Tip #1: If you’re feeling a little uninspired on the creative direction of your script, then a great trick is to take notes on the go of the interesting conversations, news articles, and people you encounter. This can be as simple as taking notes on your phone or a notepad. 

Step 5 – Write Your Script Again (and again, and again)

Completing the first draft is an accomplishment to be celebrated, but it’s just the beginning. If you think your first draft is perfect, it’s not (sorry).

Go back, read it through, take stuff out, and add stuff in.

Get other people to read it and commit yourself to being open to constructive criticism. Don’t just look for feedback from professionals and editors – lovers of science fiction film, or plain old movie fans can offer advice just as sound as any seasoned screenwriter.

Throw your script out there and surround yourself with the ideas that come back. Always be refining and revising, and just when you think you can’t possibly revise any further, do it again.

It all comes down to practice. Most professional screenwriters complete multiple features before they write a script that sells. A select few hit it out of the park on the first draft. All will agree that you need to be dedicated, and that most of all, you need to love your story. If you don’t, it’ll never be complete.

Script writing software for storytellers – Celtx. Try it Today for Free

7 Screenwriting Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Now that you have your framework lined up, it’s time to dive deeper into what it takes to write the final draft of a script. Below are 7 script writing tips that will help you when writing your first draft.

How to Write a Script – Top 7 Tips

• Do Some Homework and Play to Your Strengths
• Read Scripts
• Watch Your Favorite Films
• Learn How to Write a Script From a Single Sentence
• Learn How To Develop a Beat Sheet and Treatment
• Familiarize Yourself With Scriptwriting Language
• Consider Using a Quality Scriptwriting Software

1. Do Some Homework and Play to Your Strengths

Write to your strengths. Like any new craft, scriptwriting will come with some fresh creative lessons.

Through the process of your first draft, you will learn how to build a script from an infant idea to a finished product, all while becoming familiar with the formatting and terminology along the way. Therefore, for your first draft, writing to your strengths is a great place to start. 

What are you already good at? What do you already have a natural strength or interest in? Is there an area of work or the world that you know well? These questions are not designed to find any expert-level knowledge, they’re designed to probe what your strengths are . 

You may be the comic of your group of friends, so try starting with a comedy. Perhaps you are the family historian, so a historic film or one with investigative themes may come more easily to your skillset. 

Another way to approach writing to your strengths is to set the film in a place you are very familiar with, such as your hometown or country. Also, if you are not sure of your strengths, why not ask the people around you for some help? 

Through conversations with others, you may realize areas of your life that you are passionate to discuss, whether it’s about your childhood, sport, social injustices, work, or family life. 

2. Read Scripts

Many of our most beloved films have their original scripts available online and are easily accessible for us to read and analyze. Try to find even two or three film scripts online for stories you are already familiar with and give them a read. 

This is an enjoyable exercise, and chances are you will be amazed to read how such memorable scenes and movies were once first sketched out in words. You may even be surprised to see how stripped back the visual notes and script cues are that created these entire visual worlds on screen. 

Your script should emulate this neat, efficient writing style when you are translating ideas for visuals into words. 

Bonus Script Writing Tip #2: Writing a script can take as long as you want it to but, assuming this is a part-time project to be done while balancing other commitments, allocating 12 weeks of work should be enough time to complete a solid first draft. 

3. Watch Your Favorite Films

Okay, so let’s say you want to write a movie script , then start by reflecting on why you love some movies and why you hate others. This is one of the best (and most fun) ways to learn how to write a movie script.

Take note of details you appreciated and try injecting similar elements into your own work. We can all easily sit back and enjoy our favorite films, but consciously analyzing the films we enjoy and taking notes of what elements work is helpful for getting our own scriptwriting and creative hats on.

If you’re not sure how to start picking apart your favorite films, take down notes for each of these categories: sound, dialogue, setting, character, editing, and lighting. These are some of the key script elements which create the mood and atmosphere on screen, so picking apart what you found effective will certainly inform your own script. 

Also, while it is helpful to watch your favorite film (Happy Gilmore for me) to see how well all these things are executed, it can be just as helpful to watch, well . . . bad films too. Seriously! This may sound like an unusual piece of advice, but when you watch a bad movie, it can also quickly show you what elements are not working well. 

Unlike great movies where all the elements flow and work together seamlessly, bad movies make their separate elements easy to spot and analyze. For example, The Room (2003) is a cult-hit “bad movie” which will help you see how key film elements, such as editing and dialogue, are disjointed. 

If watching a great movie is eating an amazing meal at a restaurant, then watching a bad movie is more like stepping behind the scenes and into the chaotic kitchen. 

Also, if you already have an idea for a film, do a little research into this genre. You may find more creative inspiration and wisdom in what the existing genre is doing and, perhaps, how your film could be a fresh take on an angle currently missing in the genre. 

For example, if you want to write a horror film set inside a farmhouse, try watching some horror films and keep an extra eye out for horror films which are set predominantly inside.

While doing some research into films which thematically are similar to what you want to achieve will help you come away with a list of things you were inspired to do (and what not to do!), the possible sources of inspiration for your script are really endless. For another example, you could base your story from your own life, a book you read, a play you saw or a wild dream you just had.

Remember folks, at this stage, before getting into writing your script, you have complete creative license and agency, the creative origin point of this entire project.  Of course, later down the line, scripts will be revised, partly rewritten, and tweaked to accommodate the needs of directors, producers, and the studio’s needs. But, right now, you’re in the creative driver’s seat!

4. Learn How to Write a Script From a Single Sentence

You have an awesome idea, and you know what you want to do with your characters, but are you still wondering how your script will actually get written? This is a great place to be. Before cannonballing into the deep end, take these steps to thoughtfully build up your script like a screenwriting pro. 

The first essential step is to write your script’s logline , also sometimes known as a “slugline.” This logline should be no longer than two sentences or about 50 words in length. Your logline should capture your script’s main obstacles or action into a single-sentence nutshell. 

Of course your entire script cannot be boiled down into one line, but loglines are not designed to be comprehensive and fit your entire story in; they should describe the thrust of action facing your characters and hook the reader’s attention into reading the rest of your script. 

The logline tends to focus on the central character’s mission and contextualizes them in the place they are starting. The logline for documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbour (2019) ,  about the life of TV personality Mister Fred Rodgers reads, “A portrait of a man whom we all think we know, this emotional and moving film takes us beyond the zip-up cardigans and the land of make-believe, and into the heart of a creative genius who inspired generations of children with compassion and limitless imagination.”  

You will notice an effective logline gives us a flavor of the story, a hint at the narrative but continues to leave readers seeking more information and depth. Your logline will be an excellent summary to keep on hand while writing your final script because it anchors your narrative and reminds you of your initial storytelling goals. Think of it as your storytelling mission statement. 

5. Learn How To Develop a Beat Sheet and Treatment

The next key step in learning how to write a script is to make a beat sheet and treatment for your script. You can make your beat sheet and treatment documents in either order, depending on your own preference.

Your beat sheet is essentially a bullet-pointed skeletal version of your script. From beginning, middle to end, all the key moments are jotted down in chronological order. Each “beat” is a sentence or two long and simply states the action taking place. 

Related Article by Celtx: How to End a Screenplay [3 Effective Script Endings]

For example, “Hannah arrives at work and realizes her car is missing”. Again, it is useful in this stage to avoid overly floral and descriptive language so that the action is really laid bare. It’s very common during this stage to identify gaps in your narrative, which is exactly why this exercise is so important. 

Suddenly you may find yourself with some creative gap-filling and work to do, and that’s great. This is the ideal time for you to spot untethered parts of your story and fix them into place. There are two common and constructive methods for crafting a beat sheet: using a Word document to bullet point these action beats or using index cards with a sentence on each and ordering and reordering them as needed. 

If running through your script in chronological order is proving too difficult for now, try starting at the end or the middle and working backwards. Most scripts are structured in a tripartite way, meaning you will have one third dedicated to the beginning, a middle third with a focus on the action, and the last third for the dramatic final act. 

This storytelling structure follows a “set-up, confrontation, and resolution” approach. Splitting-up your bullet points over three pages, with approximately 30 points on each, will be roughly enough beats for a 90-minute movie. Whether you have a bullet pointed list or ordered index cards on a board, your finalized beat sheet should make it clear how your script’s action unfolds from beginning to end. 

Bonus Script Writing Tip #3: A useful measure of your script’s length is the same way most writers and producers calculate your script length – one page of your script equating to one minute of the film on screen. Simple, right? 

Next, with your logline and beat sheet completed, it is time to write your script’s treatment. This is a 3 to 5 page document which uses descriptive language and brings your lean beat sheet into a short story format which more vividly brings your story and characters to life. 

This is the perfect opportunity to highlight your character profiles in detail by describing their characteristics and motivations. A script treatment is often used as a kind of marketing tool which would accompany your script when being sent to potential buyers or producers, therefore it is important to have a strong treatment which actively portrays the themes, visuals, and overall tone of your script. 

Writing your treatment is like writing a descriptive and polished blurb for your film.

Now, it is time to open your scriptwriting software , jump to the first page, set yourself a realistic deadline for completing this script and get writing. Start by writing your script’s title page – this includes the film’s title, your name and contact email on the title page, and then get into the script!

Get Started with Your Script Today (FREE to Sign-Up)

6. Familiarize Yourself With Scriptwriting Language

It’s essential to familiarize yourself with scriptwriting language before writing your script. 

Most scripts are considered to be a “spec script”, as a short way of saying “speculative script.” Later in the creative process your script would need to be iterated by directors and producers into a “shooting script” to get the script camera ready. 

A shooting script contains more detail for editing purposes and camera angles for the purposes of filming, which directors will infuse based on their own visions. Remember, while you are writing your ‘spec script’, you do not need to include details on camera angles or how scenes will transition at this stage. Stick to the story.

Don’t worry, you won’t have to learn a whole new scriptwriting language to write. However, there are a handful of terms which you should learn because you’ll employ them constantly while writing. By writing your screenplay with a baseline familiarity or, better yet, a firm grasp of these terms, then your work will just continue to flow more easily. 

These terms are the fundamental building blocks of scriptwriting language and will come up in every script you read or write!

Scene heading : This heading signifies the beginning of every scene and is placed at the very top of each in ALL CAPS. It will either say: “EXT.” or “INT.” These abbreviations are simply short for “exterior” and “interior” to describe the location of the action in your scene. This is followed by the name of the location itself, as well as the approximate time of day in which the scene takes place. For example, “INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT” or “EXT. GARDEN – DAY”

Action Descriptions : This is one of the easiest terms to pick up and start using. Action lines are describing the action of your characters in any scene. It may be tempting to write long descriptions, but keep these sentences as neat as you can. Remember: you’re not writing a novel or poetry; you’re describing the literal action as it appears on-screen.

Characters . When introducing characters for the first time within an action description, capitalize their name and include 10 or so words that describe their main attributes. When they speak, their character name is centered on the page with their dialogue immediately following.

Dialogue . This goes in the center of the page beneath the name of the character speaking. To make your dialogue as authentic as possible, focus on understanding your characters as if they were real people. Subconsciously writers often project their own voices or world view; make sure to avoid this common trap!

Parenthetical : A parenthetical is one of the ways scriptwriters can add performance or action details related to lines of dialogue. These provide helpful texture but make sure to use these sparingly. For example, (begrudgingly), (emphatically), or (excitedly) would go before a character’s line of dialogue, as could (scrunches nose), (scoffs), or (points)

With all these scriptwriting phrases and abbreviations under your belt, you’ll find it easier to write and make sense of the scriptwriting software you decide to use. Almost all scriptwriting software today intuitively formats your script out for you – meaning it will add details like parentheticals and formatting conventions like capitalized scene headings wherever  appropriate, which makes your life easier and script better. 

7. Consider Using a Quality Scriptwriting Software for Your First Spec Script

There are a bevy of professional, quality, and affordable scriptwriting softwares available online. Not only will investing in scriptwriting software make it easier to format your work, but it will also teach you a great deal about the correct, standardized script format used throughout the entire entertainment industry. 

Scripts have a rigid and strictly adhered-to format, and the sooner you become fluent in this scriptwriting language, the better. 

Having a reliable and intuitive screenwriting software used to assist you through the screenwriting process will make your life much easier, and instead of being bogged down with formatting, you can focus your energy and attention into the storytelling.

If you haven’t yet, you should try using a script writing software like Celtx. This will automatically format your script in Hollywood style format, which is often considered as “industry standard“.

Like any new challenge or project, there will be ebbs and flows of inspiration and willingness to see your screenplay through to the end.

It’s useful to anticipate difficult moments where you feel at a loss as to how to continue and finish this massive endeavor.  That’s ok! And what every writer on the planet experiences regularly.

Don’t worry about finding a blockbuster-worthy moment straight away; often the best insights and creativity are found in day-to-day encounters. Keep an eye out, take note, and switch on your creative antenna in the process.

If you prepare for moments of “ writers’ block ”, then you’re better preparing yourself for successfully overcoming that hurdle.

Also, if you hit a writers’ block then you’re in good company as countless notable scriptwriters experience this too. Recently Taika Waititi reassured an audience that opening your laptop, staring at a blank document, feeling sad, and then closing your laptop is “still classified as writing”. 

Writing an amazing script will require constant dedication – be patient with yourself and stick at it! 

Andrew Stamm is based in London with his wife and dog. He spends his working time as Partner and Creative Director at Estes Media, a budding digital marketing agency, and performs freelance scriptwriting services on the side. Off the clock he loves to bake, hike, and watch as many niche films as possible.

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Screenwriting Basics: A Beginner's Guide

If you're starting out, here's the basics to help you succeed..

'The Worst Person in the World'

Welcome to the captivating world of screenwriting! This post is deWhether you're a budding filmmaker or an enthusiast dreaming of seeing your stories come alive on the big screen, understanding the basics of screenwriting is crucial. This guide is designed to walk you through the fundamentals, offering both insight and practical tips to kickstart your screenwriting journey.

Understanding the Essence of a Screenplay

A screenplay is more than just a story. It's a blueprint for a film. It combines narrative, dialogue, and visual instructions to guide directors, actors, and the entire film crew.

Unlike a novel, a screenplay focuses on showing, not telling, and is written in a present-tense, concise style.

The Structure: Building Your Story's Skeleton

One of the first lessons in screenwriting is mastering the three-act structure:

• Act One – The Setup: This act introduces the main characters, setting, and the story's primary conflict. It often culminates in a 'turning point' that propels the story into the second act.
• Act Two –The Confrontation: The longest section of your script, this act deepens the conflict and develops your characters. It's filled with obstacles and often ends with a climax or a major setback for the protagonist.
• Act Three– The Resolution: This final act resolves the story's conflicts and questions, leading to a satisfying conclusion. Whether it's a happy ending or a tragic one, it should feel earned and true to the story.

Character Development: The Heart of Your Screenplay

Great films are driven by compelling characters. Your characters should have distinct personalities, desires, and flaws. A well-developed character arc , where a character evolves in response to the story's events, adds depth to your screenplay.

Dialogue: Giving Voice to Your Characters

Dialogue in screenplays serves multiple purposes. It reveals character, advances the plot, and delivers exposition. Strive for natural, engaging dialogue that reflects each character's unique voice.

Remember, less is often more. Avoid unnecessary exposition.

Show, Don't Tell

Screenwriting is visual storytelling. Instead of describing what's happening, illustrate it through actions and dialogue.

For instance, instead of writing "John is sad," show John looking at an old photo and wiping away a tear. This "show, don't tell" principle is key to engaging the audience.

The Importance of Format

Professional screenwriting demands adherence to a specific format. This includes using a 12-point Courier font, correct margins, and proper scene headings.

Software like Final Draft raft or Ce ltx can help you maintain the standard format.

Writing Your First Draft

Begin with an outline or a treatment, which is a narrative description of your story. Then, start writing your first draft.

Don't worry about perfection. The first draft is about getting your story down. Editing and polishing come later.

The Art of Rewriting

Screenwriting is as much about rewriting as it is about writing. Once your first draft is complete, take a break, then come back with fresh eyes. Look for plot holes, character inconsistencies, and opportunities to sharpen your dialogue. Feedback from trusted peers can be invaluable during this process.

Breaking Into the Industry

As a beginner, your focus should be on honing your craft. However, it's never too early to learn about the industry. Participating in screenwriting contests, workshops, and networking events can provide exposure and learning opportunities. Online platforms like The Black List or Inktip can be avenues to showcase your work.

Continuous Learning and Adaptation

'The Devil Wears Prada'

Credit: 20th Century Fox

The world of screenwriting is dynamic. Keep learning by reading screenplays, watching films, and staying updated with industry trends. Adaptability and a willingness to learn are key.

Embarking on a screenwriting journey is both exciting and challenging. Remember, every great filmmaker and writer started somewhere. Your unique voice and stories are what the film industry needs. Embrace the process, keep writing, and who knows–your screenplay might just be the next big hit on the big screen!

This beginner's guide is just the starting point. Screenwriting is a craft that takes time and practice to master. Stay curious, stay dedicated, and most importantly, keep writing.

Your journey in the world of screenwriting starts now!

Now go get writing.

• Learn Script Formatting (& Why Screenplay Format Matters) ›
• Writing 101: A Simple Breakdown of How to Structure Your Screenplay ›
• Need to Improve Your Screenwriting? Check Out Screenwriting Fundamentals Course (for Free) ›
• How to Write a Screenplay / The Basics — nycmidnight ›
• How to Write a Screenplay: Script Writing Example & Screenwriting ... ›
• Screenwriting Basics — Slugline ›

Winnie Liu: A Maestro of Multimedia Sound Design and Music Composition

You need both to succeed in this industry..

The mesmerizing world of music and sound has always had an enigmatic allure for Winnie Liu (劉蕙雯 Hui-Wen Liu) , Taiwanese media composer, sound designer, and multi-instrumentalist. From her early years in Taiwan, where she was immersed in a rich cultural tapestry of sounds, Winnie discovered the profound impact that music can have on our emotions and perceptions.

With a formal education in music composition and cello performance, she has continually pushed the boundaries of sound design, weaving intricate auditory experiences that enhance visual media.

Winnie's career is marked by an impressive array of projects and affiliations. Her memberships with organizations such as the Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL), the Alliance for Women Film Composers (AWFC), Composer Diversity Collective (CDC), and the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC)-- reflecting her passion for music and composing.

Winnie’s versatility extends to a diverse range of genres—from video games to dance performances to film projects. Read our interview below to learn more about the incredible work and creative journey of Winnie Liu and to see what’s next in store for her.

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Editor's note: the following interview is edited for length and clarity.

No Film School: What initially drew you to the field of composing and sound design?

Winnie Liu: Ever since I was young, I've been fascinated by how music and sound can profoundly influence our emotions and perceptions.

Growing up in Taiwan, I was surrounded by a rich cultural tapestry of sounds and music, from the intricate melodies and sounds of traditional Chinese orchestras to the harmonies of Western classical music, which sparked my curiosity. I found myself drawn to the idea of using music to tell stories and evoke emotions, whether through film, theater, or games. This passion led me to pursue formal education in music composition and cello performance, where I realized the immense potential of sound design in enhancing visual media.

NFS: As a member of several professional organizations like SCL, AWFC, CDC, and ASMAC, how have these affiliations impacted your career?

Liu: Being a part of these professional organizations has been incredibly beneficial. They provide a platform for networking, mentorship, and continuous learning, which are crucial in a field that is constantly evolving. For instance, through my membership with the Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) and the Alliance for Women Film Composers (AWFC), I've had opportunities to connect with industry veterans who have shared invaluable insights and guidance. In Composer Diversity Collective (CDC), I’ve been able to meet composers with similar cultural backgrounds and share our insights from the industry.

These affiliations have also opened doors to collaborations and projects that I might not have encountered otherwise, helping me grow both professionally and personally.

NFS: The film Pacify explored the concept of self-comforting behaviors. How did you reflect this theme through your music?

Liu: For Pacify , I wanted the music to capture the intimate and sometimes unsettling nature of self-comforting behaviors. I used close-miking techniques to record sounds from various tools and instruments, creating an ASMR-like effect that evokes a sense of intimacy and obsession. This approach allowed the music to mirror the film’s exploration of how we pacify ourselves with different coping mechanisms. The super-sensitive sound effects created a visceral connection with the audience, helping them to feel the complex emotions portrayed in the film.

NFS: Maybe We Saved the World garnered significant recognition this year. Can you talk about your role in this project and what made it unique?

Liu: It was a surprise for me when our game Maybe We Saved the World won the prestigious “Just Play: A Game Jam for Climate Futures” contest and was presented at the Hollywood Climate Summit 2024. The game was showcased at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I joined the Just Play Game Jam during some free time between other projects, not expecting any awards.

My only intention was to meet new developers and continue my creative practice. As the sound designer and composer for this game, I had full control over both worlds, allowing me the freedom to blend unconventional instrument sounds and music for each story event. There is no strict line between the music and sound in this game, creating a seamless auditory experience.

NFS: Can you discuss another project where you used unconventional instruments or objects to create sounds?

Liu: In Pacify , I extensively used unconventional instruments and objects to create unique sounds. For instance, I recorded the sounds of random tools and everyday objects, capturing their natural resonance and textures. These recordings were then processed to create an ASMR-like effect that perfectly complemented the film’s theme of self-comforting behaviors. This approach added a layer of authenticity and intimacy to the sound design, making it a memorable part of the film’s auditory experience.

NFS: What was a project that required extensive collaboration with other artists or professionals, and how did you manage it?

Liu: Maybe We Saved the World was a project that required extensive collaboration. As a game centered on the climate crisis and community action, it involved close cooperation with the game developer and writer, Aric. We incorporated environmental recordings from his organic farm, including the sounds of threatened bird species and other natural elements, into the game’s soundscape.

Additionally, I worked with voice actor Leslie McBay, creating music that complemented her performance and the narrative. Managing this collaboration required regular communication, sharing creative ideas, and ensuring that the sound design aligned with the game’s environmental message.

NFS: Which project has pushed you the most outside of your comfort zone and why?

Liu: Drifting Roots pushed me the most outside of my comfort zone. It was one of the few projects where I served as both co-producer and composer. Unlike scoring for a film with a fixed timeline, the music for this project had to be organic and able to interact with the live performance.

In the 2023 C-LAB Taiwan Sound Festival "Diversonics," it was performed in a 49.4-channel speaker sound lab, requiring me to understand the surrounding system during the creative process. With the support from IRCAM and Taiwan Sound Lab (TSL), this setup allowed for an immersive, real-time audio interaction experience with the dancer and audience. The creative process was truly challenging but also incredibly rewarding.

NFS: What advice would you give to aspiring media composers and sound designers?

Liu: My advice to aspiring media composers and sound designers would be to stay curious and open to learning. The field is constantly evolving, and being adaptable and willing to experiment with new techniques and technologies is crucial.

Building a strong network through professional organizations and collaborations can provide invaluable support and opportunities. Also, always strive to understand the narrative and emotional core of the projects you work on, as this will guide your creative decisions and help you create impactful and memorable work.

NFS: What's next for you? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you're particularly excited about?

Liu: One project I'm particularly excited about is a feature film currently in pre-production titled Days Flow By , directed by Ziyi Yuan, who also directed Pacify .

This film is set in a village in Sichuan, China, a place affected by urbanization and the fading population. The story explores the lives of the elders left behind in the village and the beauty of nature reclaiming abandoned spaces. I'm passionate about this project because it delves into themes of change, memory, and resilience, and it offers a unique opportunity to incorporate local sounds and cultural elements into the score.

In addition to Days Flow By , I'm also working on another feature film titled Sugar in the Water , which explores the concept of waiting, as well as a couple of short films and indie games that are currently in pre-production. I'm also planning to host a concert around next March or April in Los Angeles, gathering composer friends and musicians to celebrate our shared love for music and collaboration.

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How to Write a Script (Step-by-Step Guide)

So you want to write a film script (or, as some people call it, a screenplay – they're two words that mean basically the same thing). We're here to help with this simple step-by-step script writing guide.

Or better yet, use our AI script writing generator -- it's designed to take your idea and flesh out a film script with voiceovers and camera directions for your storyboard. Bring your vision to life.

Lay the groundwork

1. know what a script is.

If this is your first time creating movie magic, you might be wondering what a script actually is. Well, it can be an original story, straight from your brain. Or it can be based on a true story, or something that someone else wrote – like a novel, theatre production, or newspaper article.

A movie script details all the parts – audio, visual, behaviour, dialogue – that you need to tell a visual story, in a movie or on TV. It's usually a team effort, going through oodles of revisions and rewrites, not to mention being nipped ‘n' tucked by directors,  actors , and those in production jobs. But it'll generally start with the hard work and brainpower of one person – in this case, you.

Because films and TV shows are audiovisual mediums, budding scriptwriters need to include all the audio (heard) and visual (seen) parts of a story. Your job is to translate pictures and sounds into words. Importantly, you need to show the audience what's happening, not tell them. If you nail that, you'll be well on your way to taking your feature film to Hollywood.

2. Read some scripts

The first step to stellar screenwriting is to read some great scripts – as many as you can stomach. It’s an especially good idea to read some in the genre that your script is going to be in, so you can get the lay of the land. If you’re writing a comedy, try searching for ‘50 best comedy scripts’ and starting from there. Lots of scripts are available for free online.

3. Read some scriptwriting books

It's also helpful to read books that go into the craft of writing a script. There are tonnes out there, but we've listed a few corkers below to get you started.

4. Watch some great films

A quick way to get in the  scriptwriting  zone is to rewatch your favourite films and figure out why you like them so much. Make notes about why you love certain scenes and bits of dialogue. Examine why you're drawn to certain characters. If you're stuck for ideas of films to watch, check out some ‘best movies of all time' lists and work through those instead.

Flesh out the story

5. write a logline (a.k.a. brief summary).

You're likely to be pretty jazzed about writing your script after watching all those cinematic classics. But before you dive into writing the script, we've got a little more work to do.

First up, you need to write a ‘ logline '. It's got nothing to do with trees. Instead, it's a tiny summary of your story – usually one sentence – that describes your protagonist (hero) and their goal, as well as your antagonist (villain) and their conflict. Your logline should set out the basic idea of your story and its general theme. It's a chance to tell people what the story's about, what style it's in, and the feeling it creates for the viewer.

6. Write a treatment (a.k.a. longer summary)

Once your logline's in the bag, it's time to write your treatment . It's a slightly beefier summary that includes your script's title, the logline, a list of your main characters, and a mini synopsis. A treatment is a useful thing to show to producers – they might read it to decide whether they want to invest time in reading your entire script. Most importantly, your treatment needs to include your name and contact details.

Your synopsis should give a good picture of your story, including the important ‘beats' (events) and plot twists. It should also introduce your characters and the general vibe of the story. Anyone who reads it (hopefully a hotshot  producer ) should learn enough that they start to feel a connection with your characters, and want to see what happens to them.

This stage of the writing process is a chance to look at your entire story and get a feel for how it reads when it's written down. You'll probably see some parts that work, and some parts that need a little tweaking before you start writing the finer details of each scene.

7. Develop your characters

What's the central question of your story? What's it all about? Character development means taking your characters on a transformational journey so that they can answer this question. You might find it helpful to complete a character profile worksheet when you're starting to flesh out your characters (you can find these for free online). Whoever your characters are, the most important thing is that your audience wants to get to know them, and can empathise with them. Even the villain!

8. Write your plot

By this point, you should have a pretty clear idea of what your story's about. The next step is breaking the story down into all the small pieces and inciting incidents that make up the plot – which some people call a 'beat sheet'. There are lots of different ways to do this. Some people use flashcards. Some use a notebook. Others might use a digital tool, like Trello , Google Docs , Notion , etc.

It doesn't really matter which tool you use. The most important thing is to divide the plot into scenes, then bulk out each scene with extra details – things like story beats (events that happen) and information about specific characters or plot points.

While it's tempting to dive right into writing the script, it's a good idea to spend a good portion of time sketching out the plot first. The more detail you can add here, the less time you'll waste later. While you're writing, remember that story is driven by tension – building it, then releasing it. This tension means your hero has to change in order to triumph against conflict.

Write the Script

9. know the basics.

Before you start cooking up the first draft of your script, it's good to know how to do the basics. Put simply, your script should be a printed document that's:

Font fans might balk at using Courier over their beloved Futura or Comic Sans. However, it's a non-negotiable when you write a script. The film industry's love of Courier isn't purely stylistic – it's functional, too. One script page in 12-point Courier is roughly one minute of screen time.

That's why the page count for an average screenplay should be between 90 and 120 pages, although it's worth noting that this differs a bit by genre. Comedies are usually shorter (90 pages / 1.5 hours), while dramas can be a little longer (120 pages / 2 hours). A short film will be shorter still. Obviously.

10. Write the first page

Using script formatting programmes means you no longer need to know the industry standard when it comes to margins and indents. That said, it’s good to know how to set up your script in the right way.

11. Format your script

Here’s a big ol’ list of items that you’ll need in your script, and how to indent them properly. Your script-writing software will handle this for you, but learning’s fun, right?

Scene heading

The scene heading is where you include a one-line description of the location and time of day of a scene. This is also called a ‘slugline’. It should always be in caps.

Example: ‘EXT. BAKERY - NIGHT’ tells you that the action happens outside the bakery during the nighttime.

When you don’t need a new scene heading, but you need to make a distinction in the action, you can throw in a subheader. Go easy on them, though – Hollywood buffs frown on a script that’s packed with subheaders. One reason you might use them is to make a number of quick cuts between two locations. Here, you would write ‘INTERCUT’ and the scene locations.

This is the narrative description of what’s happening in the scene, and it’s always written in the present tense. You can also call this direction, visual exposition, blackstuff, description, or scene direction. Remember to only include things that your audience can see or hear.

When you introduce a character, you should capitalise their name in the action. For example: ‘The car speeds up and out steps GEORGIA, a muscular woman in her mid-fifties with nerves of steel.’

You should always write each character’s name in caps, and put it about their dialogue. You can include minor characters without names, like ‘BUTCHER’ or ‘LAWYER.’

Your dialogue is the lines that each character speaks. Use dialogue formatting whenever your audience can hear a character speaking, including off-screen speech or voiceovers.

Parenthetical

A long word with a simple meaning, a parenthetical is where you give a character direction that relates to their attitude or action – how they do something, or what they do. However, parentheticals have their roots in old school playwriting, and you should only use them when you absolutely need to.

Why? Because if you need a parenthetical to explain what’s going on, your script might just need a rewrite. Also, it’s the director’s job to tell an actor how to give a line – and they might not appreciate your abundance of parentheticals.

This is a shortened technical note that you put after a character’s name to show how their voice will be heard onscreen. For example: if your character is speaking as a voiceover, it would appear as ‘DAVID (V.O.)’.

Transitions are film editing instructions that usually only appear in a shooting script. Things like:

If you’re writing a spec script, you should steer clear of using a transition unless there’s no other way to describe what’s happening in the story. For example, you might use ‘DISSOLVE TO:’ to show that a large portion of time has passed.

A shot tells the reader that the focal point in a scene has changed. Again, it’s not something you should use very often as a spec screenwriter. It’s the director’s job! Some examples:

12. Spec scripts vs. shooting scripts

A ‘spec script' is another way of saying ‘speculative screenplay.' It's a script that you're writing in hopes of selling it to someone. The film world is a wildly competitive marketplace, which is why you need to stick to the scriptwriting rules that we talk about in this post. You don't want to annoy Spielberg and co.

Once someone buys your script, it's now a ‘shooting script' or a ‘production script.' This version of your script is written specifically to produce a film. Because of that, it'll include lots more technical instructions: editing notes, shots, cuts, and more. These instructions help the production assistants and director to work out which scenes to shoot in which order, making the best use of resources like the stage, cast, and location.

Don't include any elements from a shooting script in your spec script, like  camera angles  or editing  transitions . It's tempting to do this – naturally, you have opinions about how the story should look – but it's a strict no-no. If you want to have your way with that stuff, then try the independent filmmaker route. If you want to sell your script, stick to the rules.

13. Choose your weapon

While writing a big-screen smash is hard work, it's a heck of a lot easier nowadays thanks to a smorgasbord of affordable  screenwriting software . These programmes handle the script format (margins, spacing, etc.) so that you can get down to telling a great story. Here are a few programmes to check out:

There are also a tonne of outlining and development programmes. These make it easier to collect your thoughts and storytelling ideas together before you put pen to paper. Take a peek at these:

14. Make a plan

When you're approaching a chunky project, it's always good to set a deadline so you've got a clear goal to reach. You probably want to allow 8-12 weeks to write a script – this is the amount of time that the industry would usually give a writer to work on a script. Be sure to put the deadline somewhere you'll see it: on your calendar, or your phone, or tattooed on your hand.

For your first draft, concentrate on getting words on the page. Don't be too critical – just write whatever comes into your head, and follow your outline. If you can crank out 1-2 pages per day, you'll have your first draft within two or three months. Easy!

Some people find it helpful to write at the same time each day. Some people write first thing. Some people write late at night. Some people have no routine whatsoever. Find a routine (or lack thereof) that works for you, and stick to it. You got this.

15. Read it out loud

One surefire way to see if your dialogue sounds natural is to read it out loud. While you're writing dialogue, speak it through at the same time. If it doesn't flow, or it feels a little stilted, you'll need to make some tweaks. Highlight the phrases that need work then come back to them later when you're editing.

16. Take a break

When your draft's finished, you might think it's the greatest thing ever written – or you might think it's pure dross. The reality is probably somewhere in the middle. When you're deep inside a creative project, it's hard to see the forest for the trees.

That's why it's important to take a decent break between writing and editing. Look at something else for a few weeks. Read a book. Watch TV. Then, when you come back to edit your script, you'll be able to see it with fresh eyes.

17. Make notes

After you've taken a good break, read your whole script and take notes on the bits that don't make sense or sound a little weird. Are there sections where the story's confusing? Are the characters doing things that don't push the story along? Find those bits and make liberal use of a red pen. Like we mentioned before, this is a good time to read the script out loud – adding accents and performing lines in a way that's true to your vision for the story.

18. Share with a friend

As you work towards a final version of your script, you might want to share it with some people to get their feedback. The Commenting & Feedback feature in Boords allows users to directly comment on individual frames and include necessary reference links, simplifying the process of responding to client feedback.

Friends and family members are a good first port of call, or other writers if you know any. Ask them to give feedback on any parts you're concerned about, and see if there's anything that didn't make sense to them.

The Shortcut to Effective Storyboards.

Boords is an easy-to-use storyboarding tool to plan creative projects.

Wrap things up

19. write final draft.

After you've made notes and gathered feedback, it's time to climb back into the weeds and work towards your final draft. Keep making edits until you're happy. If you need to make changes to the story or characters, do those first as they might help fix larger problems in the script.

Create each new draft in a new document so you can transfer parts you like from old scripts into the new one. Drill into the details, but don't get so bogged down in small things that you can't finish a draft. And, before you start sharing it with the world, be sure to do a serious spelling and grammar check using a tool like Grammarly .

20. Presentation and binding

There are rules for everything when writing a script. Even how you bind the thing. Buckle up!

This is a list of stuff you’ll need to prepare your script before sending it out and taking over the world:

And this is how to bind your script:

Related links

More from the blog..., how to write a logline.

Before you start work on your Hollywood-busting screenplay, you'll need a logline. It's a one-sentence summary of your movie that entices someone to read the entire script.

How to Write a TV Commercial Script

Writing commercial scripts for TV ads is entirely different from screenwriting a screenplay. Learn the format and download a handy template.

How to Tell a Story

It takes a lot of work to tell a great story. Just ask all the struggling filmmakers and authors, hustling away at their craft in an attempt to get a break.

21 Principles of Script Writing: A Comprehensive Guide to the Art of Script Writing

Scriptwriting is an art that holds the power to bring stories to life on the big screen or the small screen. From captivating movies to engaging television shows, every compelling visual narrative starts with a well-crafted script.

Table of Contents

Introduction

In the fascinating world of script writing,  creativity intertwines with storytelling, and words have the power to transport audiences into vivid, captivating worlds. Script writing is an art that requires a delicate balance of imagination , structure , and skill .

Understanding the Art of Script Writing

Script writing is more than just putting words on paper. It is the art of storytelling through the lens of the written word.

Just like a master painter meticulously selects colors and brush strokes, a skilled scriptwriter weaves together characters, plotlines, and dialogue to create a tapestry of emotions and experiences.

Understanding the core principles of script writing is essential to crafting scripts that captivate and resonate with audiences across different mediums.

The Importance of Storytelling

In the world of script writing, storytelling is the lifeblood that pumps vitality into each scene, dialogue, and character. It has the power to stir emotions , provoke thoughts , and l eave a lasting impact on viewers long after the credits roll.

A well-crafted story takes the audience on a journey, introducing them to relatable characters, unveiling conflicts and challenges, and ultimately resolving the narrative in a satisfying manner.

The principles of script writing emphasize the importance of crafting a coherent and engaging story that holds the audience’s attention from the opening scene to the closing credits.

Elements of a Good Script

A good script is like a finely orchestrated symphony, where various elements harmoniously blend to create a powerful and unforgettable experience for the audience. Mastering the key elements of script writing is crucial to achieving this harmony and resonance.

Character Development

Memorable characters are the heart and soul of any script. They breathe life into the narrative, allowing audiences to connect emotionally and invest in their journeys.

To create well-rounded characters, scriptwriters must understand their backgrounds, values, and how they respond to different situations. By doing so, characters come alive on the page and evoke genuine emotions from the audience.

Plot Structure

A well-structured plot is the backbone of a successful script. It guides the audience through the story’s twists and turns, building tension and anticipation along the way.

The setup introduces the characters, their world, and the central conflict. The confrontation presents challenges and obstacles that the characters must overcome, intensifying the stakes and emotional investment. Finally, the resolution offers a satisfying conclusion that resolves the conflict and provides closure for the audience.

A strong plot structure keeps the audience engaged, ensuring that every scene and sequence serves a purpose in advancing the story.

Effective dialogue should also serve multiple functions, including advancing the plot, conveying emotions, and revealing subtext. Subtext refers to the underlying meanings and intentions behind the words spoken, allowing for deeper layers of storytelling.

Setting and Atmosphere

The setting and atmosphere of a script create the world in which the story unfolds.

Additionally, the atmosphere plays a crucial role in setting the emotional ambiance of the script. It influences how the audience feels while experiencing the story, whether it’s through suspense, humor, melancholy, or excitement.

Theme and Message

A compelling script often carries a central theme or message that resonates with the audience on a deeper level. Themes can encompass a wide range of topics, such as love, redemption, courage, or the pursuit of truth. It is the emotional core that binds the story together and leaves a lasting impact on the viewer.

Principles of Script Writing

To excel in the art of script writing, one must grasp the core principles that underpin every successful screenplay. Here are the fundamental principles you need to know:

Knowing Your Audience

Understanding your audience is crucial in script writing, as it allows you to tailor your story to meet their expectations and preferences. Every script is essentially a conversation between the writer and the viewer, and knowing your audience ensures that this conversation is engaging, relatable, and impactful.

Identifying Target Viewers

For example, if you are writing a family-oriented comedy, your language and humor may differ from that of a dark psychological thriller aimed at adult audiences. Tailoring your script to suit your target viewers’ sensibilities increases the likelihood of the script’s success.

Adapting to Genres

Different genres cater to different audience expectations and preferences. Adapting your script to the chosen genre is essential for resonating with fans of that genre and adhering to its conventions. The principles of script writing emphasize that each genre has its unique traits , such as pacing , tone , and storytelling style .

Cultural and Societal Considerations

As a scriptwriter, it’s essential to be sensitive to cultural and societal norms, as they can influence the reception of your script. Respectful representation of diverse cultures and communities is vital to avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes or misrepresentations.

Diversity in script writing not only enriches the storytelling experience but also reflects the world’s complexity and plurality. If your script involves characters or themes from cultures different from your own, research and consult with experts or individuals from those communities to ensure authenticity and respectfulness.

The Screenwriter’s Process

Idea generation.

The spark of an idea is the starting point of every script. Inspiration can strike from various sources — a thought-provoking news article , a chance encounter , a vivid dream , or even a personal experience . Keeping a notebook or digital document to jot down these ideas ensures that you don’t let them slip away.

Exploring different angles of an idea, asking “what if” questions, and brainstorming with others can help expand and refine your concept.

Research and Preparation

For historical scripts, delve into historical records, primary sources, and expert accounts to accurately depict the time period and its societal norms. In contrast, science fiction scripts may require you to understand cutting-edge scientific theories and speculate about the future.

Outlining and Storyboarding

Assembling your research and ideas into a cohesive narrative requires careful planning. Outlining your script helps you map out the story’s structure , character arcs , and major plot points . An outline acts as a roadmap, guiding you through the storytelling journey and preventing the dreaded writer’s block.

Drafting the Script

The drafting stage is where your imagination takes flight, and the words start flowing onto the page. Embrace your creative instincts as you breathe life into your characters and bring your story to life.

In this stage, allow yourself to write freely, without fear of perfection. You can always refine and polish your script in subsequent drafts. The key is to capture the essence of your story and characters at this initial stage.

Rewriting and Polishing

Seek feedback from trusted peers, mentors, or scriptwriting groups. Constructive criticism can provide invaluable insights and reveal blind spots you may have overlooked.

Style and Formatting

Proper style and formatting are crucial in script writing, as they ensure that your script is industry-standard and easily readable for producers, directors, and actors.

Industry Standards

Scriptwriting follows standardized formats, including font size , margin widths , and page numbering . Most scripts are written in Courier or Courier New font to maintain consistency and readability.

Each new location or scene change is indicated by a scene heading, typically written in all caps, followed by the location and time of day.

EXT. PARK – DAY

Writing Visuals and Actions

For example:

JANE picks up the dusty old book and flips through its pages, her eyes widening with curiosity.

Handling Dialogue

To write effective dialogue, immerse yourself in the voices and speech patterns of your characters. Each character should have a distinct voice that reflects their background, personality, and goals.

Using Parentheticals

Parentheticals are brief notes included within dialogue to provide context or emotional cues for the actors. Use them sparingly and effectively to enhance the performance without over-directing the actors.

JOHN [whispering]

Character and Scene Headings

Techniques for captivating scripts.

To create scripts that leave a lasting impact on the audience, scriptwriters employ various techniques to evoke emotions, build tension, and keep viewers engaged.

Building Tension and Conflict

Tension and conflict are essential elements that drive a script forward. Introduce obstacles and challenges that keep your characters on their toes, creating anticipation for what lies ahead.

Incorporating Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing adds depth and intrigue to your script by hinting at future events. Cleverly placed clues can create a sense of anticipation and surprise for the audience.

Consider incorporating subtle hints and symbolism early in the script that foreshadow significant plot twists or character developments. These seemingly innocuous details can come to fruition later in the story, creating a sense of satisfaction for attentive viewers who pick up on the foreshadowing.

Crafting Memorable Dialogue

One technique to achieve impactful dialogue is to use subtext. Subtext is the unspoken or underlying meaning behind the words characters say.

By adding layers of meaning to dialogue, you create a rich and nuanced experience for the audience, inviting them to interpret the characters’ true thoughts and feelings.

Show, Don’t Tell

For instance, instead of having a character explicitly say, “I’m scared,” show their fear through trembling hands, wide eyes, and a racing heartbeat.

This approach allows the audience to engage with the characters on a deeper level, making the experience more immersive and emotionally resonant.

Balancing Action and Emotion

To strike this balance, consider the pacing of your script. Intense action scenes should be followed by moments of reflection or emotional vulnerability. This ebb and flow of emotions keep the audience engaged and invested in the characters’ experiences.

Collaboration and Receiving Feedback

Collaboration is often an integral part of script writing, especially in the world of film and television. Effective collaboration and feedback are essential in refining your script and elevating its quality.

Working with Producers and Directors

Be open to feedback and willing to make revisions based on the director’s vision while also advocating for your creative choices when necessary. A collaborative spirit fosters a positive working relationship and leads to a more cohesive and polished final product.

Joining Writing Teams

Writing teams offer diverse perspectives and brainstorming opportunities. Joining or forming a writing team can enhance your creative process and lead to unique storytelling approaches.

The Importance of Feedback

Feedback is invaluable in script writing. Embrace critiques and suggestions, as they can help you identify blind spots and improve your work. Constructive feedback can elevate your script to new heights.

Seek feedback from fellow writers, industry professionals, or scriptwriting workshops. Listen to different perspectives and use the feedback to enhance your script’s strengths and address its weaknesses.

Adapting Scripts for Different Mediums

Film scripts.

Film scripts focus on cinematic storytelling, utilizing visual and auditory elements to create a captivating experience. Emphasize vivid descriptions and impactful visuals to immerse the audience in the story.

Consider the use of visual storytelling techniques, such as montage sequences or creative camera angles, to enhance the emotional impact of key scenes. Keep in mind that in film, visuals often speak louder than words.

Television Scripts

Keep each episode self-contained while advancing the overarching story arc. Introduce compelling characters with room for growth and development over the course of the series.

Playwriting

Playwriting relies heavily on dialogue and the power of live performance. Embrace the immediacy and intimacy of the stage to create compelling experiences for theatergoers.

Scriptwriting Software and Tools

In the digital age, scriptwriting software and tools have revolutionized the way scripts are created and managed. These specialized tools offer a plethora of features that streamline the writing process, enhance collaboration, and ensure adherence to industry standards.

Advantages of Specialized Software

Dedicated scriptwriting software provides numerous advantages over using generic word processors. One of the most significant benefits is automatic formatting , ensuring that your script complies with industry standards for fonts, margins, and spacing.

Revision Tracking and Collaboration

Scriptwriting software simplifies the revision process by enabling version control and tracking changes made by different collaborators. This functionality promotes seamless collaboration among writers, directors, and producers, as they can easily review and comment on the script in real-time.

Collaboration becomes more efficient, as everyone involved can contribute to the script remotely . This flexibility is especially beneficial when team members are located in different geographic regions.

Popular Scriptwriting Tools

Final draft.

Final Draft is considered the industry standard in scriptwriting software. Its user-friendly interface and robust features make it a top choice for screenwriters, playwrights, and television writers alike.

Key features of Final Draft include script formatting, automatic pagination, character highlighting, and revision tracking. The software also offers templates for various script types, such as screenplay, stage play, and television script.

Collaboration is seamless with Celtx, allowing team members to work together in real-time. This makes it a preferred choice for multi-disciplinary projects, such as film and video production.

Scrivener is a popular choice among writers of all genres, including scriptwriters. While it is not a dedicated scriptwriting software, its flexible organizational features make it an attractive option for outlining and drafting scripts.

Copyright and Legal Considerations

Protecting your intellectual property is a vital aspect of scriptwriting. Understanding copyright laws and implementing proper legal considerations ensure that your creative work remains secure and under your control.

Protecting Your Work

As soon as you create your script, it automatically gains copyright protection under intellectual property laws. However, registering your script with the appropriate copyright office adds an extra layer of protection and establishes a legal record of ownership.

Understanding Intellectual Property

Understanding the nuances of intellectual property rights empowers you as a scriptwriter to make informed decisions about your work.

Copyright grants you, as the creator, exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, and display your script. These rights provide you with control over how your work is used and monetized.

Collaboration Agreements

A well-drafted collaboration agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities of each collaborator, the division of intellectual property rights, how any potential profits or royalties will be shared, and the resolution of conflicts or disagreements.

Congratulations on embarking on the exciting journey of mastering the principles of script writing! From understanding the art of storytelling to adapting your script for different mediums, you have explored the key elements that go into crafting captivating and unforgettable stories.

As you refine your scriptwriting skills, seek inspiration from the works of great storytellers, both classic and contemporary. Observe how they weave intricate narratives, develop multidimensional characters, and evoke emotions in their audiences. Learn from their techniques while staying true to your unique voice and vision.

Embrace the power of storytelling and its ability to connect, entertain, and inspire audiences worldwide. Whether your scripts make people laugh, cry, or question the world around them, know that your words have the potential to leave a lasting impact on hearts and minds.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to write a script.

The time it takes to write a script can vary widely depending on factors such as complexity, research required, and personal writing speed. Some writers may complete a script in a few weeks, while others may take several months.

Do I need a formal education to become a successful screenwriter?

While formal education in film or creative writing can be beneficial, it is not a strict requirement. Many successful screenwriters have honed their skills through practice, networking, and learning from other professionals.

Should I stick to one genre or explore different ones?

How can i protect my script from being stolen.

To protect your script, consider registering it with a copyright office or using a reputable copyright service. Additionally, avoid sharing your work with untrusted individuals or platforms.

Can I write a script based on real events or people?

Writing a script based on real events or people may require additional research and consideration of legal implications. Be sure to respect the privacy and rights of real individuals and seek legal advice if needed.

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82 Creative Writing Prompts and Writing Exercises for Screenwriters

C reative writing prompts are powerful tools that aid you to become a consistent writer. It’s easy to get inspired once, maybe twice about a project or story that means something to you. But if and when that light dims, or you finally finish that project, what’s next? Writer’s block isn’t much of an avenue. Excuses are for amateurs because professional writers write. Writing prompts and writing exercises, give you the momentum to keep going when the mind slows down, or if you’re anything like me, when doubt sets in.

Creative Writing Prompts

Character prompts work for every genre.

I’m going to start with some creative writing prompts that are universal across all writing mediums and all genres. These will be character driven exercises. 

Why start with character? 

Genre isn’t the seed of a good story, nor are high concepts. 

High concept stories can be insightful, mind-bending, and just straight up entertaining, but they are not what makes a compelling narrative. 

If you’re not sure who your characters are, or what it is they want, your story may fall apart some time in Act 2, halfway through the novel, or during the first 5 pages of your short.  The point is, you may lose the point if your characters are unclear, because in any great story, character suggests plot.  

Have you ever tried to write a screenplay, only to find your having a hard time “fitting in” certain details you wanted to have or saying to yourself that you just haven’t “figured it out” yet. When character intention is clear, the story unfolds. 

And these upcoming character prompts can be applied to any genre you feel most comfortable writing, which is the best part about them. 

But don’t worry, in later sections, I’ll make sure to separate fantasy writing prompts from horror or romance writing prompts for those that just need an extra boost for the genre specific piece they’re writing. 

Character Driven Exercises and Prompts 

Character writing exercises.

For all of these, try not to think too much. You can edit later. These responses should be purely intuitive. Give perfectionism a rest, and allow yourself to enter the world of your story, even if you’re not sure exactly what is looks like. 

So let’s start with some direct questions to ask your character. Try these with every character, antagonists too. But let’s start answering as your protagonist: 

• What food would you take to a deserted island, and why?
• Your house is burning. What three things do you save? Why?
• If you could have had a different job, what would you have picked? Why?
• What are you scared of losing?
• First vivid memory of childhood?
• When was the first time you were embarrassed? What happened?
• Is there something you’re hiding from the world? What is it?
• What do you like about yourself? What do you hate about yourself?
• What do you want out of life?

Creating something from nothing isn’t easy. But there’s help!  

Embrace your new world, and finish the next set of sentences as your protagonist: 

• My last thought before I fall asleep is…
• I believe the reason I was put on this planet is to…
• What breaks my heart is…
• What makes me happy is…
• Worst thing anyone has ever said to me was…
• Nicest thing someone has ever said to me was…
• Most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me, or I, them was…
• My attitude toward god is…
• The person who understands me no matter what is…
• My greatest achievement has been...

Knowing the flavor jam your character prefers, what kinds of flowers they like, or who their favorite band is, may or may not yield any helpful information. But fine, I get it.  

Here are some prompts to get the useless information people love to write about. Maybe they actually are relevant and will help your story:

• Zip up or pull over hoodies
• Flannels or silk pajamas...birthday suit?
• Chocolate cake, ice cream, or salty chips
• Hair color, eye color, your other physical attributes?
• What book are you reading?

Now for you as the writer. Answer as yourself: 

• Why this story? What is it about this story that makes you want to write it?
• Are you scared to write about something? Why?
• What do you want to express through your story?
• Why should this be a screenplay and not a novel, short story, or take some other form?
• Did you pick the right protagonist to properly express what it is what you want to show?
• Mess around with loglines to distill what your character really wants. Learn to write loglines if you’re unfamiliar.
• What do you think your characters might need?

**Take your characters to a party**

This is one of my favorite exercises because it can lead anywhere. Now that you have some more info about who these people are, throw them in the same room. See what happens. 

Who gets along? Who doesn’t? 

There can be dialogue, but there doesn’t have to be. 

What kind of party is it? Why are they there? 

Try these out with no intentions that it will lead to a finished product. Just have fun with it to see what else you can discover.

Related Posts

• The Essentials to Writing a Great Screenplay →
• 12 Secrets to Great Exposition in Screenwriting →
• Free Form: StudioBinder's Free Word Processor →

Dialogue Writing Prompts

Try just dialogue prompts .

Dialogue exercises are great because they help you understand your characters more. But they also provide a kind of creative spark for story ideas. Now while you’re actually writing them, it’s not good to let your story idea control the conversation. In fact, I wouldn’t think about story at all while you’re writing them. But later, when you go back to take a look at them, you might find some hidden gems that spark more ideas.

Here are a list of dialogue prompts. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know who the characters are yet, or which character a certain line would be good for. Try not to think about how this could fit into your already existing story, or what scene this should belong in, just write:

• “Why didn’t you answer before? I called you three times. Now you’re pretending like nothing happened.”
• “I just have a lot of friends so…”
• “You hate coffee?”
• “It just doesn’t seem normal.”
• “I’ve developed a kind of aversion to it. I don’t know, it made sense at the time.”
• “Have you ever seen it in person?”
• “It’s not that I love her…”
• “How much do you need?”
• “I don’t know! Don’t yell at me. I just found it on the street.”
• “How do I know if you’re lying?”
• “It would be easier if you’d just apologize.”
• “It’s not much of a cause, really. Just a bunch of grown children who weren’t accepted anywhere else.”
• “Why won’t this thing work?”
• “I’m trying, I’m really actually trying.”
• “It’s been weird without him.”
• “It’s not that I’m against it…”
• “I hear something, can you come over?”
• “I guess it’s...art?
• “Where did you go for 3 hours?”
• “What’s wrong with your face?”

You can use these at the party, brainstorming a fantasy novel, rom-com script, or even just to work out that writing muscle. 

Though actions sometimes speak a little louder than words...

**Now try writing a scene with NO dialogue. Only action.**

This is helpful if you already know a bit about your characters.

What do they want, what’s stopping them from getting it? 

Writing Exercises 

Fantasy writing prompts.

Fantasy prompts are weird. Not because they’re other worldly and actually strange, but because these prompts are usually plot ideas, which shifts us away from character a bit. But of course these can be equally as interesting. 

So feel free to write your heart out and go off into some weird dimension with space warlocks, or flying dogs, but just remember to come back to character eventually. In fact, everything above, could of course be used in a fantasy script, novel, or short story. But again, plot ideas and premises, can really get the mind moving. 

Let’s jump in:

• In this town, if enough people start to believe something, it quickly becomes true. Except to you. 
• An animal has turned into a person. 
• An archaeologist is led to a dig in a major city. And what she finds changes the course of her life. 
• An archaeologist finds a fossil of something that couldn’t have ever existed.
• A land has been praised with only sunlight. Nighttime no longer exists.
• It’s the 1980s. You’re driving from St. Louis to California. You pull off the road to purchase a map. But the map you bought is a bit misleading. You end up in a city that doesn’t exist. 
• You sit down at a coffee shop at the window. Across the street you see a claymation couple walking down the street. No one else seems to notice, except for one man waiting for the bus. You both make eye contact. 
• You wake up in a world where you can purchase emotions. 
• You’re a child with no fear. You meet a dragon in the woods.
•  Every single leader, politician, or otherwise “high-up” government official dies.

More Creative Writing Exercises

Romance writing prompts.

Of course, the character writing prompts and dialogue prompts can work especially well for romance stories. But I want to give a few more options for what to consider when writing a love story. 

And these prompts in of themselves, have been used forever. But the way to avoid cliches is in your specificity of character and uniqueness in story. The more specific you get, the more unique, and yet, universal your story will be. 

• A couple is vying for the same job opening. 
• Two people in an arranged marriage eventually fall in love. 
• A student graduates and he and his former teacher run into each other at a bar. It goes a little too well. 
• A doctor is falling in love with her recent fling. They decide to get serious and shortly after he is accused of murder. 
• A tourist travels to another country and falls in love with a local.
• A toxic relationship kills a romance and pushes the protagonist away. The main character leaves and gets involved with someone new. But now she can’t stop treating them as her ex treated her. 
• Two friends who know everything about each other start dating. Was this a bad idea?
• Two people in love can never make it work. 
• Opposing politicians hide their romance. 
•  A psychic and a scientist meet on a blind date.

Prompts to Die For

Horror writing prompts.

Okay, now for the creepy stuff. 

• You wake up in a world where you’re a serial killer
• Freelancers accept job offers online. They begin to disappear. One woman survives, but ends up somewhere she can’t seem to come back from. 
• A grown man discovers he wasn’t adopted, he was kidnapped. He goes abroad to find his real family but his trip turns into a horror show.
• Mass shooters take over a city. 
• A doll equipped with artificial intelligence takes over one family’s home.
• A group of senior citizens at a nursing home get bored and try to  connect to their loved ones through a Ouiji board. Unfortunately, they connect to something else. 
• A group of friends go to an Escape Room party but only a few make it out. 
• A restaurateur slowly poisons his customers over several years, maintaining a seemingly normal life. 
• A medium begins to get attacked by those she’s connecting to. Can she escape?
• A couple begins to have the same nightmares that escalate quickly.

Can you blend any of these with the fantasy prompts?

Be as creative with the prompts as you are in your writing.

Give yourself all the freedom you want, because once you start writing, you’ll have to make decisions. 

“The real importance of reading is that it creates an ease and intimacy with the process of writing… Constant reading will pull you into a place where you can write eagerly and without self-consciousness. It also offers you a constantly growing knowledge of what has been done and what hasn’t, what is trite and what is fresh, what works and what just lies there dying (or dead) on the page. The more you read, the less apt you are to make a fool of yourself with your pen or word processor.” — Stephen King

Daily Writing Practice

Wrapping up.

A good prompt can be anything. A line of dialogue, a character’s strongest desire, an object, a new kind of world, a seemingly stupid question. It doesn’t matter. Something will bode well with your imagination and it’ll just click. And depending on your story, characters, or even time in your life, different exercises may feel more natural. 

Allow yourself the time and space for this brainstorm work.  

Inspiration can come from anywhere, and it often comes fast. So even if you aren’t stuck on the treacherous writer’s block, train yourself to catch it when it comes, so stagnancy and complacency don’t become habitual. You may reap some pretty incredible short-term rewards, but you’ll also be laying a foundation for a potentially, fruitful and consistent career. 

Brainstorm Short Film Ideas

So after you’ve worked with some of the above prompts, you may have that hunger. It’s time to start writing! What will you write? Maybe you already know. But considering writing a short film might be a good next step.  Short films are great mediums because the turnaround time is much shorter than a feature. And finishing projects, especially early on, creates momentum. So let’s brainstorm some short film ideas!

Up Next: Get Short Film Ideas! →

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How to Write a Script

Last Updated: July 29, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Melessa Sargent and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising . Melessa Sargent is the President of Scriptwriters Network, a non-profit organization that brings in entertainment professionals to teach the art and business of script writing for TV, features and new media. The Network serves its members by providing educational programming, developing access and opportunity through alliances with industry professionals, and furthering the cause and quality of writing in the entertainment industry. Under Melessa's leadership, SWN has won numbers awards including the Los Angeles Award from 2014 through 2021, and the Innovation & Excellence award in 2020. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 32 testimonials and 82% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 3,456,734 times.

Writing a script is a great way to stretch your creativity by making a short film, movie, or TV show . Each script starts with a good premise and plot that takes your characters on a life-changing adventure. With a lot of hard work and correct formatting, you can write your own script in just a few months!

Script-Writing Help

Creating a Story World

• For example, “What if you went back in time and met your parents when they were your age?” is the premise for Back to the Future , while “What if a monster rescued a princess instead of a handsome prince?” is the premise to Shrek .
• Carry a small notebook with you wherever you go so you can take down notes when you get ideas.

• Combine genres to make something unique. For example, you may have a western movie that takes place in space or a romance movie with horror elements.

Picking a Genre

If you like big set pieces and explosions, consider writing an action film.

If you want to scare other people, try writing a horror script.

If you want to tell a story about a relationship, try writing a drama or romantic comedy .

If you like a lot of special effects or what could happen in the future, write a science fiction film.

• For example, if one of your themes is isolation, you may choose to set your script in an abandoned house.
• The genre you pick will also help you choose your setting. For example, it's unlikely that you'd set a western story in New York City.

• Don't forget to figure out a memorable name for your character!

• If you're writing a horror story, your antagonist may be a monster or a masked killer.
• In a romantic comedy, the antagonist is the person your main character is trying to woo.

• For example, if you wanted to write a logline for the movie A Quiet Place , you may say, “A family is attacked by monsters,” but it doesn't give any details. Instead, if you wrote, “A family must live in silence to avoid being captured by monsters with ultra-sensitive hearing,” then the person reading your logline understands the main points of your script.

Outlining Your Script

• If you don't want to use index cards, you may also use a word document or screenwriting software, such as WriterDuet or Final Draft.

• Have events in the future take place early in your film if you want to make a mind-bending movie with twists, such as Inception .

Melessa Sargent

Also be sure to consider how many acts to include. A TV script should be 5 acts if it's for a commercial network like CBS, NBC, or ABC. A non-commercial script, such as for Netflix or Amazon, should be 3 acts. Feature scripts are also usually 3 acts.

• For example, if the scene is your character just shopping for groceries, it doesn't add anything to the story. However, if your character bumps into someone at the grocery store and they hold a conversation related to the main idea of the movie, then you can keep it.

Consider how many acts should be included. Melessa Sargent, the President of Screenwriters Network, says: "A TV script should be 5 acts if it's for a commercial network like CBS, NBC, or ABC. A non-commercial script, such as for Netflix or Amazon, should be 3 acts. In either case, a teaser is included and is considered the first act. Feature scripts are also usually 3 acts."

Tip: TV scripts usually hit act breaks when they cut to commercials. Watch shows similar to the story you're writing to see what happens just before they go to a commercial break.

Formatting the Script

• If the script is based on any other stories or films, include a few lines with the phrase “Based on the story by” followed by the names of the original authors.

Try scriptwriting software to make formatting your script easy. It can help a lot, especially if you've never written a screenplay before.

• Use any additional formatting, such as bolding or underlining, sparingly since it can distract your reader.

Tip: Screenwriting software, like Celtx, Final Draft, or WriterDuet, all automatically format your script for you so you don't need to worry about changing any settings.

• For example, a scene heading may read: INT. CLASSROOM - DAY.
• Keep scene headings on a single line so they aren't too overwhelming.
• If you want to specify a room in a specific location, you can also type scene headings like: INT. JOHN'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY.

• Avoid writing what the characters are thinking. A good rule of thumb to think about is if it can't be seen on a screen, don't include it in your action block. So instead of saying, “John thinks about pulling the lever but he's not sure if he should,” you may write something like, “John's hand twitches near the lever. He grits his teeth and furrows his brow.”
• When you introduce a character for the first time in an action block, use all caps for their name. Every time after you mention the character name, write it as normal.

• If you want to make it clear how your character is feeling, include a parenthetical on the line right after the character name with an emotion. For example, it may read (excited) or (tense). Make sure the parenthetical is 3.1 in (7.9 cm) from the left side of the page.

Writing Your First Draft

• Tell others about your goal and ask them to hold you accountable for finishing your work.

• Choose a set time each day to sit down and write so you don't get distracted.
• Turn off your phone or internet connection so you can just focus on writing.

"Feature scripts should be between 95-110 pages. TV scripts should be 30-35 pages for a half-hour show or 60-65 pages for a 1 hour show."

• Make sure each character sounds different and has a unique voice. Otherwise, a reader will have a hard time distinguishing between who's speaking.

• If you're writing a TV script, aim for 30-40 pages for a half-hour sitcom and 60-70 pages for an hour-long drama.
• Short films should be about 10 pages or less.

Revising Your Script

• Start work on another script while you wait if you want to keep working on other ideas.

• Try to read your script out loud and don't be afraid to act out parts based on how you think they should be performed. That way, you can catch dialogue or wording that doesn't work as well.

Tip: If you can, print out your screenplay so you can directly write on it.

• Start each draft in a new document so you can cut and paste parts you like from your old script into the new one.
• Don't get too nit-picky with yourself or you'll never finish the script you're working on.

Expert Q&A

• There are no set rules to writing a screenplay. If you feel like your story should be told a different way, try them out. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Read scripts to movies you enjoy to learn how they were written. Many PDFs can be found online with a simple search. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Read books like Save the Cat by Blake Snyder or Screenplay by Syd Field to get ideas and information about how to format your stories. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• Make sure that you give credit to everyone who helped and make your ideas original. Don't steal other people's ideas.
• If you were to perform a play at school, you could try a play that has a warning or a moral.
• The more you practice writing, the better you will be at it.

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/how-i-write-a-script-part-1-story-concept-ab6d5a25fc27
• ↑ https://scriptmag.com/page/5-tips-for-choosing-writing-genres
• ↑ https://thescriptlab.com/features/screenwriting-101/2982-how-to-create-a-convincing-setting-in-your-screenplay/
• ↑ https://www.well-storied.com/blog/the-four-main-types-of-epic-antagonists
• ↑ https://www.scriptreaderpro.com/how-to-write-a-screenplay-2/
• ↑ https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/how-i-write-a-script-part-6-outline-697aedb321ef
• ↑ https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/three-act-structure/
• ↑ https://screenwriting.io/what-does-a-screenplay-title-page-look-like/
• ↑ https://screenwriting.io/what-is-standard-screenplay-format/
• ↑ https://scriptwrecked.com/category/scene-headings/
• ↑ https://scriptangel.com/8-tips-to-writing-great-action-lines/
• ↑ https://screenwriting.io/how-long-should-it-take-to-write-a-screenplay/
• ↑ https://thescriptlab.com/features/screenwriting-101/9296-mastering-the-art-of-revising-and-editing-your-screenplays/
• ↑ https://screencraft.org/blog/revising-screenplay-rewriting-screenwriting/

About This Article

To write a script, always start with a scene heading that's aligned to the left margin whenever you go to a new location. You should also include action blocks whenever you want to describe the setting and character's actions, which should also be aligned with the left margin. For example, you might write, "John takes a sip of his coffee and smiles." When you want to include dialogue, center the character's name in all caps, and center the dialogue under their name. To learn how to come up with a good story and realistic dialogue, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write a Killer Script: 12 Tips from Professional Scriptwriters

1. Improve Your Storytelling Prowess

2. create compelling characters, 3. know your script’s genre, 4. craft a strong script opening, 5. develop a compelling conflict in your script, 6. use dialogue wisely, 7. pay attention to your script’s pacing, 8. keep it visual, 9. edit your script ruthlessly, 10. understand script structure, 11. read scripts and watch movies, 12. listen to your script, q: what is the most important thing to keep in mind when writing a script, q: how can i create compelling characters for my script, q: what should be included in the opening scene of a script, q: how can i improve the pacing of my script, q: how can i edit my script effectively, q: how can i improve my script writing skills.

A: Reading other scripts and watching movies to analyze how screenwriters develop their characters, build tension, and create a satisfying ending. Pay attention to how the story is told visually and how the script is translated to the screen. Additionally, using text-to-speech tools to listen to your script being read out loud can help you spot errors and inconsistencies.

The bottom line

• Connect on Linkedin as I share valuable lessons weekly.
• Fast track your learning: Get the 6 Steps plus 15 years of Hollywood and Agency experience in one Workshop and masterclass.
• Use the template: 18 Scripts that Sell (also included in every Script-Timer plan)

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Improve your script in 6 easy steps

Competitions

1000 story prompts to spark your creativity.

By Ken Miyamoto from ScreenCraft · September 20, 2023

When you’re trying to figure out what you are going to write next, you need to choose wisely. Concept is everything — at least at first glance. It’s what sells the book, short story, movie or TV series. As soon as you have a compelling and engaging concept, you can build equally compelling and engaging stories and characters around them. Read more about The Secret to Understanding What High Concept Means in Hollywood . With that in mind, here we present the ultimate list of 1000 story prompts to get your creative juices flowing. So get ready to go down a wild rabbit tunnel of story prompts. Be sure to bookmark this post so you can read all one thousand of them!

Note: These prompts were purposefully developed on the fly. However, because we live in the same world and are influenced by the same things, some may same familiar. Some may have even already been developed. But the point is to get your creative energy moving as you consider any and all possibilities.

1000 Story Prompts

• Families from an alternative universe live upside down underneath our houses.
• A character dies and is told they can choose to be reincarnated — only to be reborn as a dog.
• A stay-at-home father lives a secret life as a superhero.
• A female superhero lives a secret life as a supermom.
• The world we know is discovered to be a dream of a superior being.
• Earth is actually a zoo watched by visiting guests (UAPs) from around the universe.
• A man’s toy collection from the 1980s comes to life.
• An introverted character realizes that they actually died years prior and are a ghost.
• Titanic in space.
• A world where superheroes are hunted down and killed.
• An alien invasion story through the eyes of the aliens. (Read this Script Lab Script Collection: Out of This World Sci-fi Screenplays ).
• Kids playing their parents’ Dungeons & Dragons game open a portal to the 1980s.
• A family awakens to the appearance of a strange door in their family room that wasn’t there before.
• A stranger appears at a family’s house claiming to be a future resident.
• Someone finds out how to rig the biggest lottery drawing in history.
• Angels come to live on Earth.
• Demons begin to overtake society as they try to take over Earth.
• A romantic comedy told through the eyes of two dogs that fall in love.
• Two football coaches from opposing schools fall in love — but are both still living in the closet.
• An egotistical manly man suddenly fears everything.
• A world where humans are the pets.
• A world where women don’t need men to procreate.
• An egotistical scholar is suddenly stripped of his intelligence for 24 hours.
• A being falls from the stars to the Earth.
• A man falls from the stars to the Earth.
• A woman falls from the stars to the Earth.
• A woman claims to be the daughter of God.
• God is nothing more than a cosmic child playing games with their toys.
• God is actually a writer that has conjured us all as stories.
• Characters discover a fountain of youth.
• A family is offered a vacation into the stars by visiting aliens.
• A family mistakenly books tickets to Paris, Texas, instead of Paris, France.
• An American woman inherits a castle in Scotland.
• Characters play, “What dead celebrities or historical figures would you like to have dinner with?”, only to see their selections come knocking at the door.
• What if Dorothy replaced somebody in Oz — and someone replaced her in Kansas?
• Scientists discover time travel and must keep it secret from the government.
• An animated movie demystifying the great white shark — a surprisingly peaceful species.
• Beings live in every single closet in the world.
• There really are monsters living under our beds.
• Suburban dads take part in the world lawn-mowing championships.
• A new law where criminals must face their greatest fears.
• A man afraid of snakes washes up on an island full of them.
• Vampires that can survive during the daylight.
• A world where vampires rule the Earth.
• The end of the world is near, and families must live with that knowledge.
• A world where space travel never happened.
• A world where war has never been waged.
•  A world where real old-world magic is slowly beginning to resurface.
• A young boy tries to convince everyone in his town that he actually IS a wizard.
• A young girl discovers that she is a descendant of witches.
• A collector’s collection of old lunch boxes from the 1980s allows him to send and receive notes from the past.
• Present day times where the internet and social media were never created.
• There are cities in the clouds.
• There are cities in the deepest parts of the ocean.
• A character discovers that they are living in a computer simulation — and they are the last human alive.
• A new and dangerous species is discovered living in the highest treetops of the world.
• A disgraced baseball manager manages a Little League team to the big championship.
• A retired football player goes back to coach his son’s Pee Wee league.
• The first female football player accepted into the NFL draft.
• Astronauts volunteer to undergo the first flight to Mars.
• The Earth is found destroyed by Nuclear War when astronauts from a Mars mission return.
• Star high school football players go out for soccer when their football team is barred from playing.
• The world’s biggest action movie star wakes up in the world of his hit movies.
• UFOS and UAPs are actually evolved humans from the future.
• Bigfoot exists — and it’s time for him and his kind to meet the world.
• A grumpy old man takes on a dare to become a comedian.
• Mosquitos are actually tiny fighter planes for a species trying to take over this world of giants.
• A character discovers that they are actually a robot.
• A character discovers that they are actually a clone.
• A character discovers that they are actually God who has suffered brain damage while walking the Earth as a human.
• A character discovers that they are the offspring of the Devil.
• A character discovers that they can hear the voices of the dead.
• A character discovers that they can see into the past.
• A character discovers that they can see into the future.
• Earth is actually Purgatory.
• Earth is actually Heaven.
• Earth is actually Hell.
• Earth is actually a video game for aliens.
• A suburban mother discovers that the whole neighborhood of mothers and wives are the “perfect” clones generated by the men.
• A suburban dad discovers that the whole neighborhood of dads and husbands are the “perfect” clones generated by the women.
• The children of a suburban family discover that the other children in the neighborhood are “perfect” clones.
• A man’s dog starts talking to him suddenly.
• A family’s dog starts talking to them one day.
• A character goes back in time to meet their younger self.
• A suburban family moves to the big city.
• A big city family is forced to move to the suburbs.
• Real-life dragons are released from a deep cavern.
• Rock climbers witness a cartel murder and are chased through the mountains.
• A skydiver falls onto an invisible alien ship.
• An astronaut crashlands on a planet and is taken in by an alien family.
• An alcoholic must deal with the demons of their past.
• A character is told they have twenty-four hours to right the wrongs they’ve done to others before they die.
• A bullied character wills themself to have super strength.
• An abused character wills themself to be able to fly.
• A racist is forced to live in the body of a minority.
• A male figure skater is placed into an Olympic hockey team.
• A character attempts to escape an underwater prison.
• An escaped convict hides in the suburbs.
• A police officer is sent to a prison where he has put away most of the prisoners within.
• Conflicts between countries are now decided by epic battles between one soldier versus another.
• A character falls in love with their best friend from high school.
• A high school jock is forced to live in the body of a nerd he bullies.
• A high school nerd is forced to live in the body of the jock who bullies him.
• A character tries to emulate the fictional Batman — fighting crime from the shadows.
• A character makes a wish to be smart and suddenly wakes up as the smartest and wealthiest businessperson in the world.
• A state championship-winning high school football coach is forced to coach a first-of-its-kind female football team.
• An unpopular high school kid mistakes strange coincidences for superpowers.
• Peter Pan is actually a monster that steals children.
• Billy the Kid awakens in the twenty-first century.
• Wyatt Earp is brought into the future by future townfolk in need of a sheriff.
• International spies must face the world of retirement.
• A submarine crew discovers a new world.
• A submarine crew falls into the deepest depths of the ocean and is frozen in cryosleep, only to awaken one hundred years later.
• Families are tasked with colonizing the moon.
• Humans now live on the moon, with what happened to Earth in their ancestors’ time left a mystery.
• A doctor finds the cure for cancer, only to be threatened by a secret society of government officials and soldiers.
• A doctor finds the cure for cancer, only to face the bureaucracy of giving it to the public for free.
• A doctor finds the cure for cancer, only to refuse to share it for millions of dollars for each dosage.
• The world’s first cyborg deals with not being entirely human.
• The world’s first human clone deals with their supposed lack of humanity.
• The world’s first superhero deals with the alienation of their abilities.
• A champion race car driver undergoes a worldwide race around the world by land, sea and air.
• A young character discovers they have healing powers — but every time they heal someone, they get more and more sick themselves.
• A writer discovers that every character they conjure comes to life.
• A mother and her teenage son switch bodies.
• A father and his teenage daughter switch bodies.
• A feuding brother and sister switch bodies.
• A wealthy boss and their underling employee switch bodies.
• A group of role-playing game players discovers that the rolls of their dice can determine things around them in their world.
• The parents are kidnapped by aliens, leaving the kids to save them.
• A major city is destroyed by a nuclear attack and the surrounding communities struggle to pick up the pieces.
• A young boy with an advanced aging disorder plays Pee Wee football against players a third of his size.
• A girl decides to play football on the guys’ team and becomes the star player.
• A shamed tennis pro competes in the highly competitive local pickleball tournament.
• The world of professional beach volleyball players.
• The world of major league eating.
• The world of professional cornhole players.
• The world of professional badminton players.
• A character suffers from a disorder that only allows them to communicate through song.
• A soccer player who is now a professional only because their father has coached them since youth soccer.
• A football player who is now a professional only because their father has coached them since youth football.
• A baseball player who is now a professional only because their father has coached them since youth baseball.
• A character finds a job site that can place them in any job in any time period.
• A smart and popular high school student finds a legal loophole that allows them to run for president.
• Angels are aliens.
• Demons are aliens.
• God was an alien.
• A faith-based story about a wise child that claims to be the son of God.
• A faith-based story about a child that can speak to those who have passed away.
• A faith-based story about a homeless man that some think is the second coming of Jesus Christ.
• George Lucas actually visited a world that inspired Star Wars after his near-death experience in a car crash.
• A farmer discovers an alien craft in his fields.
• A farmer discovers a strange wooden door in his fields.
• A character goes into an MRI and is somehow transported back in time.
• An F-35 fighter jet and its pilot are transported to the 1942 bombing of Pearl Harbor.
• A character afraid of water decides to overcome their fear by visiting the world’s biggest water park.
• A popular comedian decides to run for president as a joke, only to discover that they win.
• A young girl who loves the Little House on a Prairie books makes a wish to live during those times, only to discover the realities of those difficult times and environments.
• An online shark expert turns out to know nothing about sharks when he’s invited to a Shark Week show. (Read the Script Lab Script Collection: Killer Shark Movies That Audiences Eat Up )
• A sitting president wanting to get more votes decides to go to space.
• A poor single mother wins the biggest lottery in history.
• A character who wins the biggest lottery in history vows to give it all away — only to discover how hard it is to do that.
• A bank robber is a modern-day Robin Hood.
• A luxury cruise ship is overtaken by present-day pirates.
• A luxury cruise ship is overtaken by pirates from the past.
• A luxury cruise spaceship is overrun by space pirates.
• A family of the future must escape Earth from its tyrannical rule.
• A family of settlers in the 1800s face off against alien invaders.
• A family of settlers in the 1800s begin to experience UFO phenomenon.
• Cowboys from the Wild West face off against alien invaders.
• Parents travel to the future to see what their children grow up to be like — and the results are not great.
• The boogeyman is real.
• Santa Claus is real — but not how most would expect.
• A scientist clones his family that died in an accident.
• A character wakes up tied to an electric chair.
• A character wakes up in a gas chamber.
• Frankenstein’s Monster was real.
• A historian discovers that Dracula is real.
• A contemporary retelling of the Dr. Jekyll vs. Mr. Hyde story.
• A historian proves that King Arthur and Excalibur legends were real.
• A character wakes up and decides to do the opposite of what they would normally do.
• A character decides to sell everything they own to live on a sailboat.
• A character decides to quit their successful-yet-unfulfilling job to return to the job they loved in high school.
• A stay-at-home dad decides to start an Olympic curling team.
• Empty-nesters decide to sell everything and travel the country in an RV.
• A high school kid in 1969 decides they are going to hitchhike across the country to attend Woodstock.
• A rock star on the verge of superstardom stumbles upon a desert bar inhabited by members of the 27-Club — rock stars like Jim Morrisson, Janice Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse.
• An aging rocket scientist decides to make his own rocket to take him into space before he dies.
• The first baby born in space.
• The first family to go on a space journey.
• The satellites we see in the sky are actually UFOs/UAPs being covered up by SpaceX and NASA.
• People are invited to a haunted mansion where the eccentric owner wants to market it as a Disneyland-like attraction.
• A group of young friends go on an amusement park ride only to be catapulted into another world.
• The story of the creation of the first roller coaster.
• The story of the creation of a waterpark.
• A young teen wishes they could fly, only to wake up with angel-like wings.
• Kids discover a hidden doorway.
• Characters discover a hidden staircase leading to a strange world.
• Kids discover that their gaming system can control actual sports games and players.
• A high school football team scrimmages a professional NFL team — and beats them.
• A college football team scrimmages a professional NFL team — and beats them.
• A sandlot baseball team comprised of neighbor kids challenges the high school team.
• Old friends reunite over a suburban fire pit.
• A high school reunion leads to murder.
• An old grudge leads to a character being stalked.
• Someone is following a character on their cross-country drive.
• Someone picks up a hitchhiker, only to realize that they are a long-dead historical figure.
• A character travels back to their old hometown, only to realize that they’ve time-traveled to their childhood era.
• A thrill seeker commits a crime to be sent to prison so he can see if he can escape it.
• A YouTuber influencer pranks the wrong person.
• Dracula immigrated to the United States and is a crime boss.
• High school students on an abroad trip find Excalibur.
• Robin Hood is the villain of the story.
• Sherlock Holmes’s dog as he solves pet-life mysteries.
• Dorothy’s granddaughter is kidnapped by the daughter of the Wicked Witch of the West in Oz.
• The story of  The Wizard of Oz  set on another planet.
• A modern-day retelling of Tarzan .
• A woman is stranded on an island and must survive.
• The contestants of a  Survivor -like show learn that the civilized world back home has been destroyed.
• It’s revealed that an Olympic swimmer is actually a mermaid or merman.
• A father and son or mother and daughter go on a safari to bond.
• Parents of a college freshman decide to attend their child’s university to be near them.
• A father is tasked with coaching his son’s soccer team even though he’s never played or watched the sport.
• A mother is tasked with coaching her son’s football team.
• A father is tasked with coaching his daughter’s cheer team.
• Parents of spoiled rich kids decide to move their family to a third-world country.
• A soldier goes AWOL.
• While doing research in the jungles of Vietnam, a team of scientists is visited by a Vietnam War-era soldier.
• A poker player needs to earn money to pay off a debt.
• A contemporary retelling of the  Alice in Wonderland story.
• An aging mother with apparent dementia claims to be Alice from  Alice in Wonderland.
• The children of two families are abducted by aliens.
• An 1800s-era family travels to the frontier to start a new life.
• A brother and sister learn that their parents are Russian sleeper agents.
• A character discovers that their father is a wanted criminal.
• A character suspects that their father is a serial killer.
• A writer stalks random people to learn what it is like for serial killers to stalk their victims.
• When a character feels like their life has no meaning, they decide to get the high score on every old Galaga arcade machine they can find.
• A character discovers an old 1980s arcade.
• A character decides to quit their boring day job and open an old 1980s arcade.
• A former drug addict decides to find the child she was forced to give up.
• A grown-up orphan decides to find their birth parents.
• An orphan learns that their parents are aliens from another world.
• A stranded astronaut is taken in by an alien race.
• The first family to venture to another planet loses their son, only for him to be raised by aliens.
• A family struggles to keep up with the Joneses.
• Siblings struggle to survive the angst of being the new kids in school.
• A character creates a new kind of internet.
• A character mourns the death of their parent.
• A family decides to move away from the city and buy their own island.
• A family is shipwrecked.
• An astronaut living on the moon watches Earth be destroyed by an alien invasion.
• An astronaut living on the moon watches Earth be destroyed by nuclear war.
• A journalist is offered the chance to interview an assassin.
• A journalist is offered the chance to interview an alien living among us.
• A journalist is offered the chance to go back in time to interview a historical figure of their choice.
• A time-traveling assassin struggles to kill a child who would grow up to become Adolph Hitler.
• Children discover an old mine shaft and become trapped within it.
• Children discover a cave that leads into another world.
• Present-day children are grounded from their screens as their parents show them what they did growing up.
• The first trip down the Mississippi River.
• Present-day adventurers decide to travel the full length of the Mississippi River in a canoe.
• A pilot has an encounter with a UFO/UAP.
• A local sheriff tries to uncover a conspiracy.
• An FBI agent suspects a local sheriff of covering up a murder.
• An FBI agent and local sheriff team up to uncover a murder mystery.
• A high school student investigates the murder of a local teen.
• High school students are transported forward in time to their 30-year high school reunion.
• High school students are transported into the bodies of their middle-aged selves.
• Young children are transported into the bodies of their high school selves.
• A funeral reunites a group of high school friends.
• Friends take their terminally ill friend on an adventure.
• A character is mistakenly told they are going to die.
• A character visits a psychic who tells them they are going to die soon.
• A psychic foresees a murder.
• A fake psychic sets up clients to make them believe their predictions are coming true.
• A man pays a psychic to tell a woman he has a crush on that she’s going to meet someone just like him.
• A computer program becomes self-aware.
• A videogame character becomes self-aware.
• A character’s newly AI-automated house becomes a death trap.
• An AI fighter jet defies orders.
• The first human-looking military drone.
• The first cyborg soldier.
• A character’s memories are downloaded into a clone.
• A martial artist is invited to fight in an intergalactic tournament.
• A soldier is invited to fight in an intergalactic war.
• A single soldier represents Earth in a one-on-one match to the death.
• A family inherits an old castle with a ghost living in it.
• While visiting old castles on vacation, a family is transported back in time.
• A passenger on an airliner wakes up to discover they are the only person on the plane.
• The first civilian passenger flight to the moon goes awry.
• A family decides to sail around the world together.
• A character mourning the death of their parent decides to walk across the country.
• A character mourning the death of their sibling decides to bike around the country.
• A character mourning the death of their spouse decides to travel the world.
• Two characters fall in love during a layover at an airport.
• A sailor rescues another and they fall in love.
• A sailor decides to brave the Bermuda Triangle.
• All of the ships and planes that have disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle suddenly reappear.
• The Bermuda Triangle of space travel.
• Cats and Dogs rule the Earth.
• A small farming family fights off invaders during World War III.
• A small farming family avoids the nearby alien invasion.
• A talented Asian-American character struggles to become a country singer in Nashville.
• A musical prodigy goes to Julliard as a teenager.
• A musical prodigy goes to Julliard as a pre-teen.
• A Broadway stage actor portraying a historical figure is visited by their ghost.
• A young girl comes of age.
• A young boy comes of age.
• A young non-binary character comes of age.
• A writer has the power to write someone’s death.
• A writer has the power to change people’s minds.
• A writer has the power to build things in the real world through their writing.
• A small-town chef is hired to be the president’s chef after a campaign visit.
• A small-town sheriff decides to become an FBI agent.
• An FBI agent decides to retire and later becomes a small-town sheriff.
• An 18-year-old decides to run for sheriff.
• An 18-year-old decides to run for mayor of a small town.
• Children in a small town rally to convince the town board into financing a water park.
• Teens hide in an amusement park after hours only to see the characters of the rides come to life.
• After a terrorist attack, a college-bound student decides to join the military.
• A college-bound student decides to join the military after the death of their veteran father.
• A group of teens discovers that they are actually clones.
• Former prison cellmates are reunited after thirty years.
• Two puppy siblings separated at birth decide to find each other.
• A police officer who accidentally killed a teenager tries to reconcile with the family.
• A high school graduation goes awry when the “graduating” student reveals that they didn’t graduate.
• A college-bound student uses his tuition money to party.
• A bank robber hides in plain sight in a small town.
• A character escapes a mental institution.
• A character decides to commit a crime bad enough to go to prison so they can kill the murderer of a loved one.
• Two rival coaches make each other’s lives miserable in the off-season.
• An unlikely sports athlete becomes the best to ever play the game.
• A student that lost a limb in an accident wants to letter in every single high school sport.
• Friends recreate their favorite classic movie.
• An engineer is tasked with creating Leonardo Da Vinci’s various designs.
• Albert Einstein is reincarnated.
• Albert Einstein is brought back from the past to solve a dangerous problem.
• Alfred Einstein, Albert’s little-known idiot brother, tries to make a name for himself.
• Marie S. Curie, the mother of modern physics, rivals Albert Einstein.
• Children find a magic carpet in their grandparents’ attic.
• A contemporary retelling of the forty thieves as bank robbers the FBI is trying to track down.
• Siblings discover that they are the descendants of Adolf Hitler.
• A character learns that they are the bastard child of the president.
• A character learns that they are the bastard child of a king.
• A character learns that they are actually a missing child reported missing thirty years prior.
• A character finds buried treasure.
• Friends find a bag of money in the woods.
• Friends find a wishing tree that grants wishes a little too literally.
• Soldiers fighting in World War II realize that they are actually toy soldiers.
• A character who lost their spouse in the 9/11 attacks joins the military to hunt down Osama Bin Laden.
• A character dreams of an impending terrorist attack and does all they can to prevent it from happening.
• A mother deals with empty-nest syndrome.
• A father deals with empty-nest syndrome.
• A character decides to leave everything behind to live and work at a remote lighthouse.
• A man who claims to be a great hunter is anything but.
• A character obsessed with cartoons is thrust into their worlds.
• A comic collector searches for the ultimate find.
• A toy collector searches for the ultimate find.
• A character suffers from Sinistrophobia — the fear of objects to your left.
• A character does their best to become a criminal mastermind — with lackluster results.
• A character becomes a vigilante.
• A suburban American town bands together as an invading army approaches.
• An alien ship crash lands in the suburbs.
• A returning astronaut finds Earth destroyed.
• A returning astronaut finds Earth taken over by an alien race.
• A returning astronaut is actually an alien doing recon for an invasion.
• The real story behind the creation of Coca-Cola.
• The real story behind the creation of the hula hoop.
• The real story behind the creation of Pong.
• A teen who can’t detach from technology is transported back to the 1980s.
• A teen who can’t detach from technology is transported back to the 1950s.
• A teen who can’t detach from technology is transported back to the 1800s.
• Parents try to become influencers on social media — with hilarious results.
• Worldwide rule is decided by the Olympic Games.
• Characters struggle to survive a destructive meteor shower.
• Characters are sucked into their favorite TV shows.
• A hunter is transported into the lives of his prey.
• A skilled hunter is forced to hunt down and kill a man.
• An average Joe is forced to assassinate the president.
• An Amish man turns away from his Amish roots and goes to Vegas.
• Teens who leave their Amish community face a world of technology, drugs, and sex.
• A character decides to dig the deepest hole known to man.
• A ghost hunter falls in love with a ghost.
• A ghost falls in love with the owner of the house they are haunting.
• A ghost struggles to help the family of the house they haunt.
• A bowling league gets a little too competitive.
• A sand volleyball league gets a little too competitive.
• A small-town softball tournament gets a little too competitive.
• A bar owner keeps his patrons safe amidst a vampire attack.
• A bar owner keeps his patrons safe amidst a zombie attack.
• A bar owner serves drinks to ghosts who frequented the bar in the past.
• A man is suddenly approached by dozens upon dozens of offspring that were born of his donated sperm.
• An old band reunites after thirty years.
• Old former iconic band members reunite one last time after fifty years.
• A garage band is discovered and thrust into stardom.
• The story of a rookie MLB baseball player pitching a no-hitter.
• The story of a Little League pitcher pitching a no-hitter.
• A lifeguard is suddenly afraid of water.
• The world of professional minigolfers.
• A young man goes off to college and meets the girl of his dreams.
• A young woman goes off to college and meets the guy of her dreams.
• An LGBTQIA+ character goes off to college and finds the partner of their dreams.
• A young high school freshman comes of age.
• A stay-at-home parent deals with empty nest syndrome.
• A tubing adventure turns dangerous amidst a storm that causes flooding.
• A small plane crashes in the mountains and the passengers must survive and escape.
• An earthquake causes havoc in a big city.
• An earthquake unleashes beasts from deep within the Earth.
• A meteor shower is actually the end of the world — and the government knew it.
• A character struggles to deal with the death of their significant other.
• A pool hustler is released from prison.
• A gambler decides to beat the house against all odds.
• A gambler banned from all Vegas casinos decides to beat them all in disguise.
• A haunted amusement park.
• A haunted theme ride.
• A haunted mansion that is now a bed and breakfast.
• A ghost travels to various places as an afterlife vacation while haunting wherever they stay.
• A haunted spaceship is found by explorers.
• Astronauts on their way to Mars come across curious alien lifeforms.
• Astronauts on the first mission to Mars come across what looks to be a human-made ship.
• Astronauts on the first mission to Mars come across a ship identical to theirs.
• A dog travels on a cross-country adventure to find his person who moved off to college.
• A near-catatonic man is found wandering the streets in the rain, covered in blood.
• A serial killer raises a serial-killing family.
• A serial killer tries to quit but can’t.
• A portal to a strange alternate universe opens in somebody’s house.
• A family that has been underground since Y2K arises to a very different world.
• A pilot continually travels to different time periods after flying into a storm.
• A character discovers that they can’t die.
• A character discovers that when they die, they keep coming back to the day before their previous death.
• As a teen goes through puberty they develop superpowers.
• An old couple is given a chance to be reborn again so they can find each other and fall in love once more.
• Two married couples decide to swap mates.
• Swingers from 1970s suburbia are transported to the 2020s suburbia.
• People can transport themselves to their favorite movies and TV shows.
• People can transport themselves into the stories of their favorite books.
• Two brothers are all that is left of the human race.
• Two brothers face off against each other in the Super Bowl.
• Two sisters face off against each other in the U.S. Open.
• A brilliant but nerdy high school student conjures the perfect football scheme to win it all.
• Two volleyball players decide to quit college and become professional beach volleyball players.
• A shamed tennis pro decides to team up with a suburban mother and wife to win the pickleball championships.
• A new sport in created — arena golf.
• A competition where the person who stays up the longest wins ten million dollars.
• A social experiment gone wrong.
• Prisoners escape from a prison for the criminally insane amidst a terrible storm.
• A teacher saves a school from a school shooting but suffers from PTSD.
• Soldiers fall in love but are separated by war.
• The first encounter with an alien race leads to a representative swap so humans and aliens can learn about each other.
• A character somehow begins to exchange emails with their past self.
• An undelivered letter sent from a soldier to his family is finally delivered a generation later.
• NASA receives a message from space.
• NASA receives a message from space from a futuristic space crew claiming to be from the 1960s.
• NASA receives a message from space from a futuristic space crew claiming to be from the 2060s.
• A stargazer begins to communicate with something in the sky with a flashlight.
• Two children appear from deep within a mountain cave.
• Lost siblings are raised by forest animals.
• A youth soccer team competes for the national championship.
• A JV football player becomes the star quarterback when two varsity players go down.
• A track and field star breaks both legs in a car accident and struggles to return to competition.
• A middle school-aged character breaks both legs in an accident but heals in a way that makes them the fastest human being.
• A character wishes they could be fast only to see their wish granted by literally only being able to do everything fast.
• A character gets a call from a stranger claiming to be locked in a van somewhere.
• A 911 operator gets a call from a serial killer threatening to kill again.
• A 911 operator gets a call from someone claiming to be a vampire.
• A legal loophole allows a child to run for president.
• A treasure hunter finds a treasure that causes government agents to hunt them down for it.
• A time traveler goes back in time to find out who really killed JFK.
• A time traveler goes back in time to stop the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
• A time traveler goes back in time to see if Jesus Christ was real.
• A time traveler goes back in time for the sole purpose of documenting historical moments on film.
• A time traveler goes back in time to bet on games of the past.
• NASA decides to use a passing asteroid as a fuel saver to travel to Mars.
• A mother must hunt down her serial killing son.
• A father must hunt down his serial killing son before he kills again.
• Parents deal with the horror of their child being exposed as a serial killer.
• A detective goes to extreme measures to get into the mind of a serial killer.
• A detective uses new technology to inject their consciousness into the mind of a serial killer.
• A parent who is a detective uses their skills to find out who toilet-papered their house.
• An inner-city youth runs away to the suburbs to see what life is like in such a safe place.
• An inner-city family moves to the suburbs to escape violence only to see it manifested in what they felt would have been a safe place.
• A suburban family moves to the city and struggles to adapt.
• A family finds a wolf pup and raises it.
• A family finds a lost Bigfoot child and raises it as their own.
• An alternate universe where humans have colonized the moon.
• A future where humans have colonized Mars.
• An autistic child struggling to adjust to society begins to display superhuman powers.
• An autistic child struggling to adjust to society begins to display gifted musical talents.
• A genius child helps their father win at the casino.
• A genius child being raised in an abusive home runs away and begins to sit in during college classes.
• A youth bowling tournament gets a little out of hand.
• A planet from millions of light years away from Earth tries to find a way to venture there.
• A lone gunslinger travels across the country searching for their arch-nemesis.
• A village of Samurai warriors deals with an alien trying to kill them.
• Immortal people walk the Earth unseen.
• A news reporter is contacted by someone claiming to be immortal and wanting their story told.
• A news reporter is contacted by someone claiming to be from the future.
• Authorities arrest a stock market trader for inside trading and are shocked when he claims to be from the future.
• The military fights vampires.
• The military uses vampires as supersoldiers.
• The military uses zombies as a first-wave assault.
• An aging martial arts teacher decides to become an MMA fighter to make ends meet.
• An inventor creates a new form of fuel.
• An inventor creates a new form of energy and is chased by the government that wishes to stop it from going public.
• Someone creates a website with outlandish conspiracy theories and the public begins to believe them.
• A pizza delivery driver is forced to transport a hitman to his next hit.
• The Universal monsters (Dracula, The Wolf Man, etc.) are transported into the real world.
• An unhinged Dungeons & Dragons player circa the 1980s believes the game’s world is real.
• An escaped convict tries to start a new life in a quiet town.
• A lonely housewife falls for an escaped convict she picked up on the highway.
• A train is loose and only character can stop it.
• An AI program enacts revenge on a user who treated them poorly.
• Die Hard in a school.
• Die Hard on a cruise ship.
• Die Hard in a spaceship.
• Die Hard on an island.
• A character goes on a run and is taken by someone.
• A father enacts revenge on his child’s killer.
• A new teacher inspires the school.
• A church school student believes their pastor is an angel.
• A child discovers that their parent is a fallen angel.
• A character dies and comes back to life as their family’s new pet.
• A trivia night turns bloody as players are told if they get an answer wrong one of their team members will die.
• A heat wave of the century puts lives in danger.
• A flood of the century puts lives in danger.
• A lonely comic book-loving character decides that they want to become a real-life supervillain — and they fail drastically and hilariously at every turn.
• A vampire that is afraid of the dark.
• A consciously-aware zombie.
• A werewolf that is allergic to fur.
• A character terrified of water and desperate for a job applies for a lifeguard position.
• A chef loses their taste.
• A motivational speaker loses everything and struggles to follow their own device.
• A psychic becomes a detective.
• A detective enlists the help of a psychic — and they fall in love.
• A hypochondriac goes to medical school.
• A self-help author is exposed as a fraud.
• A character takes a vow of silence.
• A character will win a million dollars if they don’t speak for a year.
• A character that is a vegetarian and desperate for a job can only find one at a butcher shop.
• A comic who was attacked on stage must overcome their newly developed stage fright.
• A popular musician who was attacked on stage must overcome their newly developed stage fright.
•  An atheist is mistaken as a prophet.
• A librarian becomes trapped in the story of their favorite book.
• A child escapes bullies in an abandoned city library.
• A rich child is given a robot companion for their birthday.
• An adoption service that allows aliens to adopt human children in need.
• Cloaked alien ships have been watching the world for centuries.
• A pilot discovers a strange city in the clouds.
• A submarine crew discovers a strange city at the bottom of the ocean.
• JFK is cloned.
• Abraham Lincoln is cloned.
• Nazi fanatics attempt to clone Hitler.
• A detective in the 1960s discovers who he thinks is Adolf Hitler.
• New technology allows people guilty of environmental crimes to be transformed into trees and plants.
• A man is transported into the body of a woman.
• A meat industry executive is transported into the body of an animal.
• A motivational speaker loses all of their motivation.
• A heralded divorce counselor is actually on their fifth marriage.
• A successful wedding planner struggles to plan their own wedding.
• A life coach has a mid-life crisis.
• A haunted antique store.
• A haunted museum.
• Museum historical exhibits are actually portals into the time period they represent.
• Someone has the power to use photographs as portals into the captured time period.
• Angels and demons walk among us.
• Aliens walk among us.
• Vampires walk among us.
• Hunters stumble upon Bigfoot.
• Hunters become the hunted.
• Someone is living in the walls of someone else’s house.
• A character decides to hitchhike around the world via automobiles, planes and boats.
• A teenager steals their parent’s car for a day.
• A teenager steals their parent’s boat for a day.
• A teenager steals a sailboat to sail around the world.
• A city family decides to live on a farm.
• Farmies decide to sell their valuable land to go live in the city.
• A family discovers a tiny civilization of people that are one-centimeter tall living in their backyard.
• A race car driver tries to get back on the track after a dangerous crash.
• A race car driver is hired to be a driver for a bank heist.
• A race car driver becomes an eSports star.
• A zookeeper who hates animals.
• A fireman becomes a pyrotechnician.
• A fireman becomes a pyromaniac.
• A doctor is haunted by the patients who died under their care.
• A teacher is caught drunk at school.
• An engineer accidentally creates a time machine.
• A nurse is killing their patients.
• An architect is tasked with building the first moon colony structure.
• A lawyer learns that the client they are defending is guilty of murder.
• An accountant discovers that their company is working with the mob.
• An artist can’t stop painting a particular face.
• A writer is pulled into the world of their bestselling novel.
• A scientist discovers the cure for cancer and now they’ve lost it.
• A police officer struggles to survive after being attacked in the streets.
• A dentist becomes a sadistic serial killer.
• A psychologist believes their patient is a serial killer.
• A social worker goes against protocol and takes in a family in need.
• An actor with multiple personality disorder becomes the most heralded actor of their time.
• An athlete tries to make a comeback during a mid-life crisis.
• A photographer begins to capture ghosts in their pictures.
• A journalist stumbles upon a conspiracy that leads all the way up to the White House.
• A mermaid washes up on the beach after a hurricane.
• An underground city flourishes.
• A haunted forest.
• A lakehouse family reunion leads to hijinks and bonding.
• An ancient buried alien city is found in a desert.
• A mysterious cavern is found behind a waterfall.
• A carpenter begins to display the biblical powers of Christ.
• An ancient temple awakens from within.
• Ancient Egyptians begin to come out of the pyramids.
• An electrician is electrocuted and develops strange powers.
• A plumber working in an old building discovers a civilization of monsters in the sewers below.
• A towering palace appears out of nowhere.
• A volcano under Yellowstone erupts.
• A veterinarian claims to be able to hear the thoughts of animals.
• A haunted skyscraper.
• A skier falls deep into glacier caverns and struggles to escape.
• A mountain climber falls deep into glacier caverns and sees that others decades before him did the same and struggled to survive.
• An economist predicts a massive economic collapse — but no one will listen.
• A computer programmer escapes into their own virtual world they’ve created.
• A pharmacist uncovers a pharmaceutical conspiracy.
• A financial advisor is corrupt.
• A diver shrinks to the size of a fish and explores the coral reefs of Hawaii.
• Ghosts haunt a sunken shipwreck.
• A character who doesn’t know they are a ghost — while everyone else does.
• A hairstylist and fashion designer mock the fashion industry by creating ridiculous designs only to see them become worldwide trends.
• Empty nest parents decide to sell their house and buy a vineyard.
• Rocky Mountain Hot Springs suddenly become fountains of youth.
• Rocky Mountain Hot Springs can heal all sickness and disease.
• A wildlife reserve is actually the home of Bigfoot.
• An observatory has the power to transport visitors to other planets.
• A haunted movie theater.
• A Hollywood makeup artist is hired by the government to help spies assume different identities.
• A paramedic is taken hostage by a mortally wounded bank robber on the loose.
• A paramedic is taken hostage by an escaped and wounded convict.
• A football stadium haunted by NFL legends.
• A baseball stadium haunted by baseball legends.
• The true story of the first surveyor to lay out plans for the first highway.
• A haunted library.
• A government translator is the only survivor of a terrorist attack and is taken hostage.
• An art gallery’s paintings come to life.
• A London bridge is inhabited by trolls.
• A haunted lighthouse.
• A real estate agent specializes in haunted houses.
• A haunted and abandoned ski resort.
• An old abandoned ship from the 1700s appears in a harbor after a hurricane.
• A geologist discovers a type of rock not of this earth.
• An old Civil War-era fort suddenly comes to life with a full brigade of soldiers.
• An astronomer discovers a new planet.
• A new planet suddenly appears close to Earth.
• Earth is suddenly transported to another Solar System.
• A historian is approached by government officials to use their time travel machine to investigate historical mysteries.
• Tomb robbers are haunted by ghosts.
• A geyser erupts, leaving behind strange creatures nobody has ever seen.
• A mathematician becomes obsessed with solving a seemingly unsolvable equation.
• A used car salesman has to sell one hundred cars over one weekend to save his business.
• A fitness trainer is hired by an obese character to get them into shape — and they become fast friends while doing so.
• The story of employees spending a summer working at a water park.
• A rock climber struggles to climb the mountain their father never could.
• A news anchor freezes on live television and loses his job.
• The life and career of a saint-like pastor.
• A character is tasked with inventorying an old government warehouse full of wooden and unmarked boxes.
• A robot factory becomes self-aware.
• A haunted abandoned 1980s-era shopping mall.
• A day in the life of 1980s-era teenagers hanging out at a shopping mall.
• The lives of retail store employees.
• Students believe that their school is haunted.
• A haunted hospital.
• A highway motel is actually a time portal where visitors from all decades and generations visit.
• An actor goes back in time to meet the historical figure they are portraying.
• A cartoon animator’s creations come to life.
• A cartoon animator is whisked away into the world he has animated.
• The lives of those who work at a spaceport.
• After the civilized world has been destroyed by Nuclear War, survivors discover an old radio station and try to find other survivors through the radio waves.
• A character is stuck on a fire tower as a forest fire rages around them.
• A cemetery security guard begins to see ghosts.
• A cemetery security guard deals with the rising dead.
• A claustrophobic character is buried alive.
• A marine biologist befriends a real-life mermaid.
• A marine biologist befriends an alien hiding in the ocean waters.
• A music teacher going through a mid-life crisis decides to start a rock band.
• A music teacher going through a mid-life crisis decides to get his old band back together.
• A physical education teacher going through a mid-life crisis decides to try out for the Olympics.
• A hunter bored with hunting animals decides to start hunting people.
• A cop teams with a vampire to take out a mob boss who is actually a werewolf.
• A travel blogger is kidnapped.
• Siblings who think their parents are boring wake up in the 1980s and see what adventures they had.
• A world where everyone prefers to live in virtual reality.
• A character realizes that the world they live in is actually a virtual reality world they created 100 years ago.
• The world of a cult overtakes society.
• A cult leader is actually an alien.
• A cult leader is actually a bored character who was dared to create a successful cult.
• A pacifist has a twin who is an assassin and must assume their identity.
• A parent seeks revenge for the death of their child.
• A hero must save the world one last time after already having done it dozens of times before.
• Forbidden love between GMs of rival sports teams.
• An archeologist searches for Excalibur.
• A middle-aged character who has lived with their parents their whole life must live on their own after their parents pass away.
• A lowly servant rises up against a dystopian overlord.
• A detective trying to solve a single murder case discovers that it links to murders from around the world.
• The first international serial killer is discovered.
• A father seeks forgiveness from the children he abandoned.
• A mother seeks forgiveness from the children she abandoned.
• A character seeks forgiveness from the parents they abandoned.
• A group of thrill seekers decide to break as many extreme records as possible.
• A teacher tasks his students with trying to find a world record they can break.
• An empty nest mother stalks her college son.
• An empty nest parent uses the internet and social media to find the perfect mate for their kid.
• A family decides to be the first family to fly around the world in a hot air balloon rig.
• A world where there is no land.
• A future where society is forced to live in underground cities after Nuclear War.
• A future where society is forced to live in floating skies.
• A future where society is forced to live in underwater cities.
• Three days in the lives of characters that attended Woodstock.
• A father hunts down and kills everyone that had anything to do with his son’s drug addiction.
• A drug addict gets clean and travels the country atoning for his past wrongdoings.
• A character goes back in time to see who killed their loved one.
• A character befriends the person they know who killed their loved one.
• A character unknowingly befriends the murderer of their loved one.
• The most unlikely pair fall in love only to discover they are related.
• A character is tasked with marrying someone before their upcoming birthday or risk losing their inheritance.
• A character is tasked with marrying someone before their upcoming birthday or risk having to marry a childhood friend who they signed a contract with before going to college.
• A lawyer is tasked with defending a known mass murderer.
• A doctor is tasked with saving the life of the person who killed their loved one.
• The world succumbs to mass flooding as characters struggle to survive.
• A character’s wish to spend one more day with their lost loved one comes true in an unexpected way.
• An American high school football star moves to Australia where their new school only has rugby.
• A thrill-seeking parachuter travels through a storm and lands in another time.
• The Wild West in space.
• The true story of Billy the Kid.
• A character can build things with their mind.
• A character wakes up invisible.
• A character can teleport from one place to another.
• A shape-shifting serial killer.
• A character wakes up with the ability to read people’s minds but can’t stop the new power.
• A hiker stumbles upon a civilization of tiny people that capture him.
• A world where cities are forced to live under force field domes to protect them from nuclear fallout.
• A therapist has the ability to feel others’ true emotions.
• A therapist can read their patient’s minds.
• A serial killer with the power to manifest everyone’s greatest fears.
• A character with the power to start earthquakes.
• A character that feels no physical pain.
• A character has a seizure and suddenly develops powers that are slowly killing them every time they use them.
• A new rock star copes with their newfound stardom.
• An actor copes with their newfound stardom.
• A movie star goes back to their hometown after the death of their parent.
• A movie star goes back to their hometown for their 30-year high school reunion.
• A character suffers from amnesia and slowly begins to remember who they are.
• A human and an alien fall in love.
• A human and alien couple raise a family in the suburbs.
• Children discover that their parents are alien imposters.
• Children discover that their parents are robots.
• Siblings discover that they are actually from another planet.
• A soldier deals with losing limbs in battle.
• A soldier comes home after the war.
• An intergalactic soldier returns home after a decade of fighting in an intergalactic war.
• A grandma with a legendary cookbook within her family decides to open a restaurant.
• A family fights over grandma’s secret recipe.
• When a character wins the lottery their family fights for their share.
• When a character wins the lottery they are stalked by people wanting their share.
• A character wins the lottery and uses it all to find the cure for cancer.
• A group of high school friends have a pool party only to be transported back in time to their grade school selves.
• A group of high school students meet up the night before they all head off to different colleges.
• A group of old-timers all wish that they could go back to their high school years — and their wish comes true.
• A college student wanting to lose his virginity before he turns twenty-one meets his soulmate who has vowed to not have sex until she’s married.
• A character meets their perfect match only to discover that their parents have decided to get married.
• A wild high school party leads to unexpected and inspiring mixtures of cliques.
• High school students in the future go off to college on different planets and spaceships.
• Despite universal hate of clowns, a clown troupe decides to open a clown school.
• A videogame designer is actually a military recruiter who uses their games to recruit soldiers.
• Soldiers are now drone pilots who control drone robot soldiers.
• A princess wants to be a warrior.
• A warrior wants to be a princess.
• Paleontologists discover proof that dragons did exist.
• A cowboy visits the big city.
• A wizard teleports to present-day New York.
• A scientist time travels to the Middle Ages and is treated like a wizard.
• A caveman is found preserved in a glacier and comes back to life.
• The scary story of a traveling circus in the late 1800s.
• Aliens visit the World Fair in the 1960s.
• Babe Ruth is transported from the past to the future and manages to still dominate baseball.
• Fictional detective characters from 1970s crime shows come to the real world and try to tackle cases as they did in the show.
• A fictional action hero becomes self-aware within his movies.
• A submarine crew falls asleep and wakes up to realize they’ve been transported to space.
• A submarine crew realizes they have traveled back in time and face a fleet of WWII German submarines.
• The story of a character and their dog.
• A ninja faces off against an Old West gunslinger.
• A samurai faces off against a medieval knight.
• A character’s mirror image starts to talk to them.
• The reflection in our mirrors is a window into a mirror universe.
• A probe sent lightyears into space sends back images of a planet identical to Earth.
• Astronauts discover an alien probe.
• A wife realizes that her husband has been cheating on her for years and goes out on a wild night out with her single friends.
• A husband realizes that his wife has been cheating on him for years and goes out on a wild night out with his single friends.
• A character with a low IQ undergoes an experimental surgery and becomes a genius overnight.
• An egotistical character with a high IQ hits their head and loses all of their smarts.
• Back in the 1980s, a snowboarder invades the ski slopes.
• A previously famous fitness instructor tries to get back on the fitness scene but is clueless about how out of shape they are now.
• A rabbi, priest and monk walk into a bar.
• Young friends who find a boat decide to travel down the Mississippi River.
• A group of young friends decide to climb a mountain.
• A child decides to live exclusively in their backyard tree house.
• Young friends decide to make the biggest tree house they’ve ever seen.
• A rich character lives life like a child.
• A child enters a poker tournament via a loophole in the rules — and wins.
• Three brothers reunite after being kept apart for decades.
• Three sisters reunite after being kept apart for decades.
• Best friends discover that they are actually siblings.
• A couple who have just met discover that they are actually siblings.
• A middle schooler has a crush on their new teacher.
• A puppy brings a family together.
• A dog declares war on the new cat adopted by the family.
• A dog and cat become best friends.
• A puppy raised by cats tries to make friends with other dogs.
• Vampires live on the dark side of the moon.
• Aliens live on the dark side of the moon.
• A superhero loses their powers.
• A dying superhero must give their powers to a worthy person.
• A mother must deal with her alcoholism while trying to remain the perfect mom.
• High schoolers create an underground fight club.
• High schoolers become drug dealers to pay off their parents’ debt.
• College students become high-stakes poker players to pay off their student loans.
• A high schooler offers to protect bullied students — for a price.
• A military sniper is recruited to become an international assassin.
• A high school student is mistaken as an international assassin.
• An IT tech discovers a secret file.
• Filmmaking students decide to recreate their favorite movie.
• An aging man’s dream to be young again comes true as he ages backward each day.
• A character is given the chance to revisit the pivotal moments in their lives.
• A character is given the chance to go back to their high school days.
• An old website from the 1990s allows characters to email God.
• An old website from the 1990s unlocks a sinister being.
• A charismatic character proves a point about society by making people believe the world is flat.
• Characters travel back to the era of dinosaurs.
• A brilliant high school student decides to clone themselves.
• Twin characters are mortal enemies.
• Twins meet each other and discover that they’ve fallen in love with the same woman.
• A man lives two lives after he marries twins that were separated at birth.
• A character must decide which twin they want to date.
• A successful screenwriter is forced to work a regular job for a living.
• A successful athlete is forced to join the workforce.
• College students discover that the dean is a Russian sleeper agent.
• High school students suspect that their principal is a Russian sleeper agent.
• High school students suspect that their teacher is a mobster in the Witness Protection program.
• A man travels the world looking to taste the perfect beer.
• A dying character wants to find their soul mate before they die.
• An angel wants to walk the Earth as a human.
• A character is afraid of everything.
• A man and his dog switch bodies.
• A storm opens a strange portal.
• A character has a meal with the devil.
• An upstanding citizen decides to rob a bank.
• A fraud investigator uses their knowledge to cheat their company out of millions.
• An insurance investigator uses their knowledge to cheat a company out of millions.
• A professional athlete comes out as gay.
• A character deals with the realization that they have done nothing spontaneous in life.
• A construction worker falls in love with a demolition worker.
• A soldier comes back from war and discovers that their spouse has disappeared.
• A soldier comes back from war and discovers that their spouse has another family.
• A character mourning the loss of their family decides to build a cabin in the woods.
• Friends decide to dig the deepest hole they can in their backyard.
• Friends discover buried treasure in their backyard.
• High schoolers decide to plan the most epic party of all time.
• A smooth-talking character loses their voice.
• A deaf person uses their special talent to become a musician.
• A town bands around a dying kid’s dream to become a superhero.
• A child discovers that their parents are vampires.
• A child discovers that their parents are aliens.
• A child discovers that they are adopted.
• A veteran decides to find his old buddy from Vietnam.
• Two war veterans dealing with PTSD fall in love.
• A police officer must break the law to save their family.
• An average character discovers they have a unique talent.
• A Dungeons & Dragons player wants to learn to become a blacksmith to make their own sword.
• A character finds a magical sword embedded in a tree.
• A small lake town discovers that something strange is in the lake waters.
• A character raises a bear as a pet.
• A brilliant high schooler discovers a new energy source.
• A brilliant child solves the most difficult math problem.
• A talented musician struggles to become a star.
• A talented writer struggles to be published.
• A bow hunter with a compound bow travels back in time.
• A child breaks into prison to see their father.
• A father breaks out of prison to see his child on their birthday.
• A character discovers a strange microchip under their skin.
• A character discovers that they are actually an angel that fell to Earth.
• A football player strives to be taken seriously by their coach.
• A football player strives to get a college scholarship to play football.
• A football player strives to get drafted into the NFL.
• A character buys an old desk that has special powers.
• A character’s split personalities suddenly appear as real people in their house.
• A tennis player has an opportunity to make it as a ping pong player in the Olympics.
• Teenagers make their own Quija board.
• Tarzan on another planet.
• Sherlock Holmes in high school.
• People’s shadows come to life when they are asleep.
• Old reality stars try to make a comeback.
• Old child actor stars try to make a comeback.
• A pilot mourning the death of his family takes one last flight around the world.
• A soccer or rugby coach is hired to coach an American football team.
• Two swordsmen meet in the forest, ready to duel.
• A character wanders the streets of a deserted Los Angeles.
• A young man from the dangerous inner city streets attends open tryouts for the NFL.
• A former NFL player goes back to his hometown to coach his high school football team.
• A young woman who always wanted to be a princess gets the chance to make that dream come true.
• An American discovers that he is the heir to the British throne.
• A forty-something man goes back to college and walks onto the football team to realize his football dreams.
• What really happened to the Roanoke Colony?
• The “real” reason the Terracotta Army was created.
• The “real” reason the Great Pyramids were created.
• Chornobyl has more secrets than we previously knew.
• What happened to the Lost Colony of Japan?
• What “really” happened to Flight 19?
• A minimalist and a hoarder move in together.
• A Vegan Animal Rights Activist moves is forced to move in with a Butcher.
• A mercenary is partnered with a pacifist.
• A risky and destructive detective is partnered with a pacifist.
• A risk assessment analyst is partnered with a risky and destructive detective.
• A wilderness survival expert is forced to relax at a luxury resort complex.
• A hardworking executive is tasked with leaving their phone behind for an off-the-grid adventure.
• Teenagers are forced to go on an off-the-grid adventure in the wilderness.
• A health nut is forced to live with a junk food addict.
• A tech-savvy teen is tasked with teaching an old person about technology.
• A collector of rare books finds a copy of the first Christian bible.
• A collector of rare books stumbles upon one that unlocks evil into the world.
• An antique collector finds a genie in a bottle.
• A genie in a bottle plans a daring escape.
• A scientist searching for UFOs and a UFO skeptic partner together.
• A failed comedian is forced to work at a funeral parlor.
• The life of a stuntperson.
• The life of a presidential chef.
• A Midwesterner comes to Hawaii for college and learns how to surf.
• A famous sharpshooter time travels to the Old West.
• An uber-Jimmy Buffet fan struggles to get over the death of their idol.
• A bartender decides to move to the Bahamas to open a bar in paradise.
• When a former work-from-home dog owner gets an office job, their dog breaks out of the house to find them.
• A fantasy football GM is given the chance to run an NFL team and fails miserably.
• The first cyborg.
• The first female NFL player.
• A person’s dreams are actually glimpses into the lives of strangers.
• Nightmares are a glimpse into hell.
• A little boy goes missing in a small town.
• A little girl goes missing in a small town.
• A restaurant owner must do something spectacular to stay open.
• The training of a real ninja.
• A modern-day Samurai lives life off the grid.
• A spy discovers their parents were Russian sleeper agents.
• A space explorer discovers a planet called Earth.
• A werewolf tries their best to live a regular life.
• A modern-day witch struggles to follow their beliefs.
• A knight and a samurai duel.
• A hacker stumbles upon a disturbing secret.
• An assassin is tasked with going back in time to kill his younger self.
• A bounty hunter chases their most difficult bounty.
• A mercenary struggles with following through with their assignment.
• An archeologist makes a shocking discovery about humanity.
• A gunslinger from the Old West grows old.
• A pirate captain defies his crew.
• A historian discovers that what they believed was fact is actually fiction.
• An inventor creates the ultimate undetectable weapon.
• An inventor creates the ultimate new energy source and is chased down by government officials.
• A ghost hunter begins to fall in love with the ghost they are chasing.
• A cyborg detective.
• A shapeshifting serial killer.
• An AI becomes self-aware.
• An ancient warrior is reawakened.
• A time-traveling historian quietly records the truth behind all major historical events.
• A VR gamer can’t escape his VR game.
• A genetic experiment gone wrong.
• A puppeteer’s puppets come to life.
• A little person struggles to live in a big world.
• The unexpected truth about Area 51.
• The unexpected truth about Stonehenge.
• What really happened on the Mary Celeste ship found floating and abandoned?
• The Mothman legend.
• A serial killing clown.
• A clumsy superhero.
• An inept spy.
• The heartfelt story of a local cat lady.
• A character addicted to social media.
• An old character decides they want to be a social media influencer.
• A couch potato witnesses a murder.
• A ghost bunter who is scared to death of ghosts but good at hunting them.
• A barista falls in love with a customer.
• A Dungeons & Dragons dungeon master is thrust into their own campaign.
• A compulsive liar struggles to be taken seriously when they witness something outrageous.
• A hopeless romantic has the worst luck in love.
• A museum of oddities comes to life.
• A germophobe struggles during the pandemic.
• A soap opera actor gets their big feature break.
• A soap opera actor is stalked by a fan.
• Santa Claus decides to retire.
• An eccentric crossword puzzle solver discovers a secret code within the daily puzzles.
• A UFO abducts an annoying human that doesn’t want to leave the ship.
• A bartender realizes that their patrons are vampires.
• A UPS driver delivers to a haunted property.
• A country town bands together to survive a flood.
• A character gets a call from their long-missing spouse.
• A lowly story prompt content creator sees his prompts come to life on the big screen.

How to Use Story Prompts

What can often get your creativity flowing is reading story prompts — brief and often intriguing or thought-provoking sentences or ideas that serve as a starting point for creative writing, providing a concept, scenario, world, or theme that can be expanded into a full-fledged story.

You can use story prompts as a foundation to develop characters, plotlines, conflicts, and resolutions, ultimately crafting your own unique stories around the initial idea provided by the prompt.

Want to Come Up With Your Own Story Prompts?

The secret sauce of storytelling is learning how to come up with those grand ideas and concepts. It may seem daunting to most. How do you come up with something fresh and new when everything seems to have been done? Creativity is the key.

• Give people what they’ve seen before, but a different version of it.
• Merge two clever ideas into one.
• Introduce a concept into a whole different world and genre.
• Subvert expectations from otherwise familiar stories and characters.

Do that and, boom…you’ve just come up with your very own story prompt!

Read More: 50 Gold Screenwriting Quotes to Jump Start Your Creativity

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10 Ways to Create One-of-a-Kind Script Ideas

Coming up with script ideas can be a huge challenge, but hopefully these tips will get those creative juices flowing..

Being stuck as a screenwriter is one of the most frustrating parts of the creative process. Whether it be writer’s block or a lack of inspiration , as writers we all have points where we don’t know what direction to go in next.

Fear not. We’ve got a solution (or ten) to help you with that. Inspiration is truly at your fingertips. You just need to know where to look for it to create that one-of-a-kind premise, fascinating character, or exceptional plot point for your screenplay. 

Bookmark this page for when you need creative inspiration while writing your next feature film, pilot, or spec script. These are ten sources of unique plot, character, and premise inspiration to help you generate unparalleled script ideas.

Change One Thing About A Film or Show That You Love

You may have heard that execs look for something they’re familiar with but that’s also different to offer audiences something fresh they’ve not seen before. This is a way to generate an idea like that.

A key point is to write from inspiration from a movie or a series that you love. Your passion and joy for the premise, characters, or genre will come through. We’ll use  Supernatural , one of my favorite shows, as an example. Here are some aspects to consider altering to make your script idea fresh and new:

• CHANGE THE SETTING (Example: Supernatural  in space.)
• CHANGE THE TIME PERIOD (Example: Supernatural  in the Victorian era.) 
• CHANGE THE GENRE (Example: Supernatural  as a western.)
• DIVERSIFY THE CAST (Example: Supernatural  with women of color as the leads.  Some more diversity ideas here .)
• TELL THE STORY FROM ANOTHER CHARACTER’S PERSPECTIVE (Example: Supernatural  from the demons’ point of view.)

‘Supernatural’

News Articles

Truth is truly stranger than fiction, which is why the news of the day can provide some of the best fodder for plot and character inspiration. An example of a successful show inspired by current events is Apple’s hit series  The Morning Show ,  which explores the #MeToo movement amid world events.

Create an archive of news articles so that you have a pool of ideas to draw from for inspiration. If you’re on an iPhone with the News app, you can bookmark and save articles that you find interesting. Use a Google Doc to copy/paste URLs and make notes of what intrigues you about each news story. Just in case articles are deleted later, screenshot them and save them to a folder on your computer or phone.

Writing Prompts

Ah, the trusty ole writing prompt. Even if you don’t write a script directly from a prompt, they’re effective in getting your creative juices flowing when you allow yourself to write freely with no judgment. Check out these links to spark your creative mind with a writing prompt:

• WEBSITES: Try some random writing prompt generators like this one from The Narrative Arc , or check out ScreenCraft’s story prompt lists .
• INSTAGRAM: @writing.prompt.s  and  @writing.prompts.re are great if you want to peruse daily writing prompts on Instagram.
• TWITTER – Want daily and hourly writing prompts? Then follow  @howboutyouwrite  and  @magicrealismbot on Twitter.

A Memory That You’ll Never Forget

Your life experience is a rich field to harvest ideas from for your screenplay. Using a memory as inspiration for a premise or scene is an effective way to infuse feeling and depth in your script. You’re able to craft the experiences of the character(s) in a way like no other writer because you have felt what they’ve been through.

Midnight Mass  is a great example of how this is successfully done. The limited series is very personal to writer/director  Mike Flanagan  because  it speaks to his personal experience  of religion and alcoholism.

Oftentimes, writing from your memories and personal experience will feel extremely vulnerable. You’re baring your soul, and it is that vulnerability that helps you craft the details of a story, dialogue, character development, and subtext of a scene because you’re offering the experience from having lived it. That makes for an unprecedented script idea.

‘Midnight Mass’

Document Your Dreams

Dreams are singular to each person, which is what makes them such incredible inspiration for an original story. Ever heard of a director named  James Cameron ? The ideas he receives from his dreams  inspired him to create blockbusters  such as  Terminator  and  Avatar .

Use your dreams as screenplay inspiration. Keep a log of your dreams in a journal or put them in a Google Doc to be able to access and search any time you think one of your dreams could fit into a script you’re working on. If you’re an artist like Cameron is,  sketch or paint memorable visuals  of your dreamscapes to inspire you.

Channel Your Passion

Tuning into what you’re passionate about is how you can craft a script that’s personal to you that only you can tell. There are no two people that are passionate about the exact same things in every respect.

What is something that makes you light up when you talk about it or that you could talk about for a long time? You can ask a good friend or your partner if you’re not sure. It could be space exploration, scuba diving, or chess. Another way to hone in on what you’re passionate about is to look at what makes you angry in the world today. Anger is where your passion lies. It highlights what you care deeply about. There is a fire in anger that you can use to fuel your creativity.

The first step is identifying what you’re passionate about, which will give you a topic to focus on for a script. The second step is identifying your opinions and perspective on that topic, which is the message and theme for your script’s premise.

A Family Story

Every family has a history, and that means every family has stories to tell. Funny, heartbreaking, embarrassing, dramatic. There are innumerable experiences you, someone in your family, or all of you have experienced together that can be the seed to grow your next script from.

It could be the way your parents met. How your family immigrated to another country. How your family business started. How your family coped with a tragedy. Discovering something unexpected about a family member. How everyone has kept a family secret. These are all personal experiences to you and/or your family, which is what makes them unique – and you supremely qualified to write about it.

Some examples to inspire you:  The Big Sick  is based on  Kumail Nanjiani  and his wife  Emily V. Gordon ’s real-life courtship before they married.  The Farewell  is based on the way that filmmaker  Lulu Wang ’s family coped with her grandmother having a short time left to live.

‘The Farewell’

Your Current Struggles

Syd Field said it best: “ All drama is conflict. Without conflict, you have no action; without action, you have no character; without character, you have no story; and without story, you have no screenplay .”

What you struggle with in your everyday life is conflict, and there is a story in there. Although your everyday struggles might seem like nothing of importance to you, it might foster empathy in others to see a side of life they don’t know or help someone feel not alone in seeing a story about struggles similar to their own. What do you personally struggle with in your life? Was there a time in your life when you had to overcome a certain situation or condition? Use it as inspiration for a script.

As an example,  Maid  is based on a true story. It offers a raw perspective into a single mother’s life as she struggles to create a safe home and life for herself and her daughter while coming to terms with domestic abuse. There are no big explosions, superhero action sequences, or anything flashy. Its focus on the everyday struggles of a single mother and the gritty, heartbreaking details of it are what make it unique.

What Do You Love To Watch?

What’s your favorite movie? Series? Genre? Write something YOU want to watch. Don’t worry if it’s just like your favorite film or TV show. Give yourself the freedom to allow it to start that way, then rewrite. It can start as a fanfic and then evolve into something all its own. Chances are if you wish there was more of a certain kind of story out there, there is someone else that does, too, and they’re your audience.

Your personal tastes are one of a kind. Start with what makes your heart sing. Too often writers get concerned with what others want to see rather than tuning into their own hearts. Writing a script based on what brings you joy will help keep you from getting burnt out. As writers, we’re creators. If you want to see a particular kind of film or show, you have the power to create it.

Scroll Twitter

No, really. Hear me out on this one. Although Twitter is often the go-to time waster for screenwriters avoiding the blank page, there is a goldmine of inspiration to be found there. Scroll tweets with a purpose! Find threads that tell a story to inspire you. You may even find one that’s so fully fleshed out, the story is outlined perfectly. Feature crime drama  Zola  was created from  a viral Twitter thread . Character and plot inspiration are abundant on Twitter.

The way people write tweets and articulate their views can help you develop a character. Looking to craft a more well-rounded character than the one-dimensional real estate agent you’ve created? Click on realtor hashtags and find an actual realtor on Twitter. A peek at their “likes” will give you insight into their personality, which you can use as inspo. A great account to follow is  @censusamericans . It tweets the backstory of a real American every hour. You can also use the description of each person as a writing prompt.

Hopefully the above will give you plenty of sources of inspiration that you can draw upon and come back to as you write. These can provide solid script ideas for you to use in your screenplays, and they can also be valuable creative exercises that lead you to where you need to go. Screenwriting is not linear, and sometimes all you need is to distract your intellect to allow your creative mind to flow.

Wielding her broadsword is a favorite, both on and off camera.

Connect with Joanna on her  website ,  Twitter , and  Instagram .

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Creative Writing: Scriptwriting

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• Scriptwriting
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Banner Creative Writing

What is scriptwriting?

Screenwriting, also called scriptwriting , is the art and craft of writing scripts for mass media such as:

• feature films,
• television productions or
• video games.

It is frequently a freelance profession. [ source ]

Screenplay Elements

A scene heading is a one-line description of the location and time of day of a scene, also known as a "slugline." It should always be in CAPS.

Example: EXT. WRITERS STORE - DAY reveals that the action takes place outside The Writers Store during the daytime.

Scriptwriting examples

Classroom resources.

• 10ENG Scriptwriting process
• Lessons from the Screenplay - Youtube Channel
• BBC Writers Room: Sherlock TV Script
• ACMI: Production: Scriptwriting and Storyboards
• How to Format your script: Youtube
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• Last Updated: Jul 5, 2020 2:32 PM
• URL: https://materchristi.libguides.com/creativewriting

More From Forbes

25 writing tips for business owners and content marketers: part 5.

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Here we go, content creators! It's time to learn a few ways to finesse and get more from your ... [+] content.

Welcome back, content creators and wordsmiths. Ready to take your writing from good to great? In this fifth and final installment of my writing tips series, I’ll discuss advanced techniques that separate the pros from the amateurs.

If you missed any of the first four parts, you can find them here:

• Part 1 —includes tips on varying sentence length, using active voice, and tapping the power of specificity.
• Part 2 —talks about simplifying complex topics, using analogies, injecting emotion, creating compelling headlines, and using the power of social proof.
• Part 3 explores the visual side of content creation, from formatting for skimmability to strategically using whitespace, fonts, and colors.
• Part 4 —covers the art of empathetic writing, showing instead of telling, and creating a shared narrative with your reader.

As you work through this final installment, consider your content a rough diamond. You've mined and shaped it, but now it's time for the finishing touches to make it truly shine. That's what these tips are all about—the polish that turns your words into brilliant content.

In this article, discover:

• Why self-editing is your secret weapon (and how to wield it like a pro).
• The surprising power of criticism (yes, you read that right).
• The tools and partnerships that can elevate your writing quality.
• How to make your content work harder through clever repurposing.
• The art of keeping your best pieces fresh and relevant, year after year.

Let's dive in.

Tip 21: Self-editing—your secret weapon

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The more you edit yourself, the better a writer you'll become.

Isn’t “self-editing” just reading a draft several times? Yes… but there’s more. Think of self-editing as a content personal trainer. It whips your words into shape, trimming the fat and building muscle where it counts. The work is not always comfortable, but the results? They're worth every moment you spend scrutinizing your work.

Here's what self-editing does for your content:

• Clarifies your message—is your main point shining through or hiding behind fluff?
• Strengthens your language—are your verbs doing heavy lifting or napping on the job?
• Improves your flow—does your content run smoothly from point to point or stumble over awkward transitions?
• Trims the fat—can you say more with less? In writing, less is often more.

My best advice is not to rush to publish the next time you finish a draft. Take a break, whether for hours or days, then return with fresh eyes and give your work the edit your brilliant ideas deserve.

Here are a few ways to self-edit:

• Read the content aloud—you’ll hear awkward transitions and areas that don’t make sense.
• Read the content backwards—this is a pro proofreader’s tip for when 100% accuracy is a must.
• Create a reverse outline—use your finished draft to create an outline to see the structure of your work and find areas that need help.

Tip 22: Embrace constructive feedback

Not all criticism is helpful. But you have to invite it and listen to it to begin to discern.

Have you ever hit 'publish,' beaming with pride, only to receive... criticism? Ouch. Your first instinct might be to defend your work or dismiss the feedback. But criticism could be your greatest ally in content creation.

Think of constructive feedback as a GPS for your writing. It helps you avoid traffic jams, discover more scenic routes, and reach your destination more pleasantly and efficiently. When you open yourself to input from others, you can tap into fresh perspectives and ideas.

Embracing feedback can help you:

• Identify blind spots—like angles you hadn't considered and areas not as clear as you thought.
• Spark new ideas—a reader's question could lead to your next great piece of content.
• Strengthen your skills—constructive criticism is a chance to improve your writing.

Here's a practical tip: The next time you receive feedback, resist the urge to respond right away. Instead, take a deep breath, sleep on it if you can, and then approach the feedback with curiosity.

Ask yourself:

• Is the feedback coming from a place of genuine helpfulness, or is it just negativity?
• Is it in line with your goals and values, or does it pull you in a different direction?
• Can you use it to improve your work, or is it just a matter of personal preference?

The goal isn't to please everyone—it's to create the best content you can. And sometimes, a fresh perspective is just what you need to take your writing from good to great.

Tip 23: Use writing tools, apps, and partners

It's hard to make excuses about typos with so many tools, apps, and partners all around.

Every writer needs tools and support. Bring your skills and ideas to the table and use the right tools and partners to help you create something remarkable.

Let's start with the tools. Writing apps like Grammarly and Hemingway help you create clear, readable content. Grammarly has free and paid versions; I use the paid version every day. It helps me catch grammar and spelling errors and suggests style improvements. It's a great first-line defense against the little mistakes that undermine your message.

Hemingway is all about improving your writing's readability. It highlights complex sentences, passive voice, and other readability issues, pushing you to make your writing as clear and punchy as possible.

Partners are another key ingredient for great content. Although writing is often a solitary pursuit, the best content happens through collaboration and external input. That's where editing and content coaching come in.

When you work with an editor or writing coach like me, you get a second set of eyes on your work, plus a fresh, well-trained mind that can spot opportunities for improvement, suggest new approaches, and help you develop your unique writing voice. It's like having a personal trainer for your writing skills—someone to push, guide, and celebrate your progress.

Of course, not every piece needs the full editorial treatment. But that extra level of professional polish can make all the difference for your most important work—your cornerstone content, thought leadership pieces, and the messages you really want to land.

And partnership doesn't have to mean a long-term commitment. Even a one-time edit or coaching session can make a difference. The key is finding the level of support that fits your budget and goals.

Tip 24: Repurpose your content for maximum mileage

Turn one piece of content into many in the same way that an atom splits.

Content repurposing, or content atomization, is the art of turning one piece of content into several to reach new audiences. It's about working smarter, not harder, and getting the most juice out of every piece you create.

Imagine, for example, that you've written a stellar blog post. You've researched the topic, created a compelling narrative, and packed the post with insights. That's great! But why stop there? With a little creative thinking, that one blog post could become:

• A series of social media posts, each highlighting a key takeaway.
• An infographic that visually represents your main points.
• A video script for a YouTube tutorial or explainer.
• A podcast episode or audio version for on-the-go listening.
• A chapter in an ebook or a section of a whitepaper.

Each new format allows you to reach new people, cater to different learning styles, and reinforce your message across multiple touchpoints. And because you're starting from a solid foundation, repurposing will be much quicker and easier than creating something from scratch.

The benefits of repurposing go beyond efficiency. It can also help you:

• Boost SEO—more content means more opportunities to target keywords, earn backlinks, and improve your search engine rankings.
• Reinforce your message—repetition is key to learning and retention. When you present ideas in multiple ways, you help your audience internalize and remember key points.
• Show off your versatility—repurposing helps you communicate across media and adapt to different contexts, positioning you as a multifaceted, adaptable content creator.

Of course, repurposing doesn't mean simply copying and pasting your content into a new format. You have to tailor each piece to the medium and audience, which might mean:

• Adjusting the length and pacing to suit the format.
• Modifying the language and tone to match the platform.
• Adding or removing elements to fit the context.
• Updating examples or references to keep the content fresh and relevant.

The key is to view your original content as a starting point, not an endpoint. With each repurposing, you can refine, expand, and enhance your ideas.

Tip 25: Refresh your content regularly for lasting impact

Refresh your best content regularly to get more mileage from it.

Content refreshing is the practice of periodically revisiting and updating your content to keep it accurate, engaging, and optimized for search engines and readers. It keeps your best content your best, no matter how much time passes.

Consider your cornerstone content—the pieces that define your brand, showcase your expertise, and attract the most traffic. You want to keep those pieces in prime condition. Experts recommend refreshing this type of content at least every six months. But what does that refreshing process look like?

It could mean:

• Adding a new video or multimedia element to improve the reader’s experience.
• Updating statistics, examples, or case studies to reflect the latest data and trends.
• Revising the call-to-action or download offer to match current marketing goals.
• Fixing links that don’t work, outdated references, or broken buttons.
• Optimizing the title, headers, and meta descriptions for SEO.

Regular updates signal to search engines and readers that your content is current, credible, and worthy of attention. They keep your piece in the spotlight, attracting new readers and keeping the interest of returning ones.

Regular updates can also help you:

• Improve your search rankings—search engines favor fresh, relevant content. Updating regularly increases your chances of ranking higher in search results.
• Boost engagement—new elements, updated information, and refreshed CTAs give readers new reasons to engage, whether it's their first time or fifth.
• Extend the content lifespan—refreshing helps your best pieces stay relevant and valuable for longer so you can get the most return on your content investment.
• Identify new opportunities—in updating, you might discover new angles to explore, gaps to fill, or reader needs to address. Each refresh is a chance to make your content even better.

Of course, not every piece needs a full overhaul every six months. The frequency and depth of your refreshes will depend on factors like:

• The nature of your industry (fast-moving fields might require more frequent updates).
• The type of content (news-based pieces might need more regular attention than evergreen how-tos).
• The piece's performance (high-traffic, high-converting content should be a refreshing priority).

Don't let your best pieces gather digital dust. Give them the regular refresh they need to shine.

What’s next? The journey to content mastery continues

Keep learning, keep growing, and keep on working toward content mastery!

Congratulations. You—and I—just made it through this five-part series on writing tips for business owners and content marketers! From the fundamentals of great writing to advanced techniques for optimization and repurposing, you now have a solid toolkit for creating content that informs, engages, and inspires.

But as you likely know, the journey to content mastery is ongoing. There's always more to learn, new strategies to try, and other ways to refine your craft. The most successful content creators embrace this continual learning and growth.

I invite you to follow me on Forbes to continue your journey. As a regular contributor here, I'm constantly sharing new insights, tips, and strategies for content creation and marketing. By following me, you'll get practical, actionable advice to help you keep leveling up your content.

I also invite you to sign up for my Beyond Copy newsletter for even more in-depth guidance. I share my most detailed tutorials, behind-the-scenes insights, and exclusive resources here. It's your VIP pass to ongoing content education and inspiration.

And remember, you don't have to go on this content journey alone. Whether you need a skilled writer to create compelling pieces, an eagle-eyed editor to refine your work, a strategic consultant to guide your content planning, or a coach to develop your skills, I can help .

Thank you for joining me on this journey. It's been a pleasure sharing these tips and techniques with you. Now, go forth and create content that matters, content that moves, content that makes a difference.

Your readers are waiting.

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