Steps and Tips to write a good script

Steps;
1. Get your story straight. Come up with a specific idea of what you
want to happen in the play or movie. Create the premise and purpose of
that story. What are the circumstances and what are the goals of the
story and main characters involved?

2. Your characters will drive the action on the stage or screen, so
make sure you make them interesting and innovative. It may not be
necessary for you to develop all of the characters right away, but
some writers need to have everything set out before they can begin
working. Find your method and work with it.

3. Create an outline or treatment. Before you begin actually writing
dialogue and script, it might help to create a basic roadmap of what
will happen in your story. Sketch out a general plan and envision how
events will unfold. This should be told in the third-person.

4. Maintain your style. Remember, scripts are all about action and
dialogue. Make sure your characters speak realistically, and try not
to mix styles of speech and vocabulary too much unless you are going
for a certain effect.

5. Ensure that different characters have their own 'voice' based on
their background, which will affect their word choices and dialect.
This will stop your characters blending into one another.
6. Set the scene. Don't forget to include important details such as
time of day, setting, and actions of the characters in the scene.
These are nearly as important as the dialogue that occurs.

7. Format your writing. Skip lines between one character speaking and
a different one speaking, especially if you're handwriting it. This
will enable those reading the script to distinguish between speakers
more easily, and also allow space for notes.

8. Edit yourself. Continually revise your writing, and, if possible,
show the script to a friend or adviser who has writing experience and
can critique and improve the script as needed.

Tips:
• When you are ready, you may want to use one of the film industry's
online scouting services, to get your story and screenplay reviewed by
industry executives in a protected platform of exposure.
• Before pitching your screenplay, you'll want to get electronic
proof-of-creation. You can do this online.
• You also may want to invest in some sort of script writing program,
such as Final Draft. These programs format everything for you and all
you have to do is write!
• You may want to attend a scriptwriting class, which will give you
helpful hints on the nuances of writing a full script, especially
things such as plot development, character development, and dialogue.
• If you would like to have your script performed on stage or screen,
you will need to contact an agent who can help you send it to the
necessary people (producers and directors). It is often a long and
arduous process to get a script accepted, so be patient.
• If you think your script has real potential, be sure to get it
copyrighted so no producers can steal it and pass it off as their own.
• Try it with a friend so you can get a new perspective on the story.
They might have some ideas too.

collected by balu
source:www.wikihow.com