How to Start Writing

You have a story to tell - one that could light up the big screen. Maybe it’s just an idea, maybe it’s a dream to become a screenwriter, or maybe you don’t even know your story yet but feel the pull to write one.

Starting can feel overwhelming, but screenwriting isn’t a secret art reserved for Hollywood insiders. It’s a craft anyone can learn, practice, and master.

Here, you’ll find practical steps to help you take that thrilling first step toward writing your screenplay.

Before you can learn how to write, you need to understand what screenwriting really is. Unlike novels or short stories, a screenplay isn’t meant to be read by the public: it’s a blueprint for directors, producers, actors, and crews to bring your story to life on the big screen or TV.

That means screenwriting has its own rules and expectations. You’ll need to master screenplay format, usually with software like Final Draft, so your work looks professional and industry-ready. More importantly, you’ll need to think cinematically - writing in a way that lets others see the story unfold through images, actions, and dialogue.

When you write a screenplay, you’re not just writing for yourself; you’re creating the foundation for a collaborative art form. Every line you put on the page is a guide for others to transform your story into a living, breathing production.

If you’re drawn to the power of film and television, screenwriting is the path that can turn your imagination into something audiences can watch, feel, and experience together.

Now that you’ve decided to write a screenplay, now it’s time to learn, seek out inspiration, and do the necessary research to know and understand the medium you’ve chosen. 

• Read screenplays to learn the ins and outs of the format.
• Watch movies to see how screenplays are brought to life on the screen.
• Read novels to see how literary stories can be told.
• Go to plays and read stage plays to learn more about the theater. 

And it’s not just about learning the various formats - it’s also about seeking out inspiration and feeding your imagination with visuals, character and story archetypes, story structure options, etc. 

• Watch movies and TV shows under the umbrella of the genre of your story.
• Read the screenplays of those movies and TV shows to learn how to start to write them.
• Read novels to experience the genre and character/story archetypes as a reader. 

It’s all about immersing yourself into those genres and archetypes to get your creative juices flowing.

Writing prompts can give you an excellent starting point - a character, a line of dialogue, a visual, a scenario. If you’re trying to conjure new ideas for stories, or even if you’re just looking for some inspiration for characters and plot points, reading writing prompts can trigger some amazing options for you to consider.

When you’re beginning to learn how to write, using writing prompts can also be an effective and actionable way to practice writing. 

• Look up writing prompts online.
• Take a prompt and then expand it with characters, plots, and scenarios you create.

When you do this, you’re learning how to develop concepts into tangible stories. You don’t necessarily have to choose these as your upcoming project. But this practice can be a helpful tool in building stronger storytelling muscles that you can later put to work when you do decide which story you are going to tell. 

Sure, you could simply start with a pencil and pad of paper. However, you’ll eventually need to broaden your tool belt with some hardware and software to make the process of writing as easy as possible.

• For writing screenplays, you’ll need to use Final Draft screenwriting software (which you can also use to write stage plays as well). This will take the worry of format, margins, and other technical aspects of screenwriting out of the equation, allowing you to focus solely on telling your cinematic story.
• For writing novels and short stories, you may need or want a particular word processing software program.
• Maybe you’ll want to upgrade your hardware, as far as what you’ll be writing on. Do you need an updated laptop, Mac, or home PC?  

Finding the right writing tools is all about making the process of writing as easy as possible. When you have the right tools, you’ll be able to tell your stories that much easier. 

Be diligent in your selection process when it comes to figuring out what story you’re going to tell. Taking on any story is a commitment. You always want to make sure that you’re choosing your projects wisely because you’re going to invest a lot of time and hard work in bringing that story to life. 

With that in mind, consider creating a document that lists all of the ideas that you are considering. Each idea should consist of:

• A title (working titles are fine).
• A logline (one to two sentence description of the core idea).
• Genre (this helps to give you context). 

If you have a single story you’re set on telling, that’s great. Go for it. But if you’re looking to get into writing, it’s always good to learn how to organize your thoughts and choose your projects wisely.

Many writers fold under the pressure imposed upon them by pundits and established pro writers. Writing gurus will tell you that you need to write every single day for X number of hours each day.

That is all well and good when you’re a professional writer, but the problem is that it’s usually not applicable to the average person trying to break into writing as a career. Despite this truth, beginner writers are left feeling like they’re already failing before they can really get started.

Forget about hitting a specific page count each day or week. Forget about the need to write for X number of hours. Instead, focus on successful writing sessions.

Writing sessions account for any time you are able to sit down to write. Some writers may only be able to sit down and write on the weekend. Others may only be able to find writing time during late night hours when the kids are asleep. Some may be able to carve out two full days per week while others will have to depend on writing retreats, vacations, and short breaks in their day-to-day schedules.

It doesn’t matter. A writing session is a writing session, whether it’s an hour or six hours. Any time you’re able to write, you’re doing your job as a writer. Don’t set yourself up for easy failure by trying to live up to anyone else’s standards.

Yes, you do want to have goals and carve away time for writing sessions. But don’t let someone else’s standards make you feel like you can’t write your story. As long as you’re doing what you can to get as many writing sessions in as possible each week and month, you’re that much closer to the goal of getting your story written.

The only one standing in the way of you writing your stories is you. We all have those inner survival instincts of fight or flight. The easiest thing to do is not do it. Our survival instincts train us to make excuses to avoid difficult things. 

• I don’t have enough time to write.
• I’m too busy with work.
• I’m too busy with school.
• When I’m done with work or school, I need time with family and friends.
• The kids need me.
• I don’t have what it takes.
• I’ve never done this before!     

How do you push all of those excuses away and just start to write? Just write.

Give yourself permission to succeed. Silence those inner voices by just starting to write. Sit down for one writing session - even if it’s just for an hour or less - and write that first paragraph, that first page, that first scene, that first opening chapter, etc.

The work will drive you. Once you get words on the page, your creative mind will start to push those voices away. Why? Because you snapped your fingers and created a world, and it’s very difficult for a creative mind to let go of that. You’ll find yourself not just wanting to write - but needing to. 

And remember, you don’t always need to be typing for you to be writing. Visualization is a key part of writing, especially when it pertains to screenwriting. But it also works so well with writing novels, short stories, and plays.

It’s always nice to go into the writing process with something already in your head and waiting to be given life on the page. So, when you’re at work, at school, taking care of the kids, spending time with friends and family, you can find time to write in your head, especially when you’re in between those life situations, driving or walking to and from. You can also find visual writing sessions before you get up to start your day, or before you go to bed at night. 

• Visualize that next scene of your script.
• Problem solve story issues or roadblocks you may be facing.
• Conjure cool twists and turns.
• Figure out the beginning, middle, and end to your story, and then your actual typing sessions can fill in the gaps between them.  

When you visualize your story and keep writing in your head, your brain will do most of the heavy lifting for you until you are able to sit down and start typing. In fact, you’ll find yourself going out of your way to find more time to write. You’ll see that instead of making excuses not to write, your survival instincts will shift gears knowing that writing is giving you joy. Those inner voices will now be telling you to keep writing and keep finding the time to finish that story. 

And before you know it, yes, you’ve started writing.