Been thinking about scripwriting lately and have some questions?

scififan · Aug 18, 2006

One of my favorite TV shows, the 4400, has inspired me to want to take up scriptwriting as a hobby and maybe as a possible future career. I had the inclination to do this last season during the show, but never acted on it. This year though I want to try and work at it. I definately want to do science fiction type of stuff. Scifi is my favorite genre. Other TV shows that inspired me to want to write are the Stargates, the Star Treks, Roswell, and my second favorite Battlestar Galactica. I have some questions if someone doesn't mind answering them:

1. What's a good software utility to use? I have Final Draft 7, but is there a better one?

2. Are there any scriptwriting tutuorials on the net for free?

3. I have been googling scripts for my favorite TV shows and reading them to try to gain insight on how a script should be wrote and to get my brain flowing with ideas. Is this a good idea?

Thanks for any help in advance.

-Scififan

Nashelle · Aug 18, 2006

Hi, I downloaded a script writing guide by Brian Miller PhD. Actually he sent it to me in an attachement. It covers just about evverything. Don't know if it's still available but you could contact him at [email protected]

English Dave · Aug 18, 2006

Nashelle said:
Hi, I downloaded a script writing guide by Brian Miller PhD. Actually he sent it to me in an attachement. It covers just about evverything. Don't know if it's still available but you could contact him at [email protected]

Thank you Brian.

Goodwriterguy · Aug 18, 2006

scififan said:
One of my favorite TV shows, the 4400, has inspired me to want to take up scriptwriting as a hobby and maybe as a possible future career. I had the inclination to do this last season during the show, but never acted on it. This year though I want to try and work at it. I definately want to do science fiction type of stuff. Scifi is my favorite genre. Other TV shows that inspired me to want to write are the Stargates, the Star Treks, Roswell, and my second favorite Battlestar Galactica. I have some questions if someone doesn't mind answering them:

1. What's a good software utility to use? I have Final Draft 7, but is there a better one?

Screenwriting systems are like Ford's and Chevies, people debate their merits all day long. FD 7 should serve you just fine.

scififan said:
2. Are there any scriptwriting tutuorials on the net for free?

None that I know of. Generally, either you pay or you self-teach, utilizing the resources available here (which are many) and, for television, check at www.tvwriter.com.

Go to www.wordplay.com and read Terry's columns, there's about 26 of them and each touches on some basic aspect of the craft.

scififan said:
3. I have been googling scripts for my favorite TV shows and reading them to try to gain insight on how a script should be wrote and to get my brain flowing with ideas. Is this a good idea?

It's a great idea. You'll need to emulate those pieces in your own work.

scififan said:
Thanks for any help in advance.

-Scififan

You're welcome, and have fun!

Oh, in America it's "screenwriting" and "screenwriter;" in the UK and Europe and Australia, it's "scriptwriting" and "scriptwriter."

icerose · Aug 18, 2006

I use final draft as well, I learned the formats mostly from reading others, and read produced scripts as often as you can. They will teach you the correct way of doing things that are already tried and proven.

Good luck.

scififan · Aug 18, 2006

Wow. Thanks for all the quick responses. Some boards take days.

scififan · Aug 18, 2006

Oh. I have one more question. If there are any other scifi writers out there that would like to chat about scifi in general, ideas, or writing, please PM me. Thanks again.

dpaterso · Aug 18, 2006

If you don't already know, there's also a Science Fiction / Fantasy forum on this board for discussion of same.

-Derek
My Web Page - shameless vampyre fiction & other shameless writings.
Another one of them new worlds. No beer, no women, no pool parlors, nothin'. Nothin' to do but throw rocks at tin cans, and we gotta bring our own tin cans.

English Dave · Aug 18, 2006

scififan said:
Oh. I have one more question. If there are any other scifi writers out there that would like to chat about scifi in general, ideas, or writing, please PM me. Thanks again.

No.

But see Dpats post.

dpaterso · Aug 18, 2006

English Dave said:
No.

What, you're not a Sci-Fi writer, or you are a Sci-Fi writer but you don't want to chat about it via PM? Monosyllabic replies just don't have the rugged manly je ne sais quoi they used to have.

-Derek
My Web Page - shameless vampyre fiction & other shameless writings.
Stop reading this and get some writing done instead.

Been thinking about scripwriting lately and have some questions?

scififan

Nashelle

English Dave

Goodwriterguy

icerose

Lost in School Work

scififan

scififan

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

English Dave

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels