Writing a screenplay is very challenging. It’s gratifying, too, but getting started is hard, and finishing is even harder. Would-be screenwriters face all the same challenges as novelists - Writer’s block, plot construction, pacing issues, character design, etc. and have the added hassle of screenplay formatting. To tackle all this, you need a screenwriting program. Today, I’ll review the Top 5 best screenwriting software and what makes them great.
The Best Screenwriting Software
LivingWriter checks all the boxes of what you’d want from a screenwriting software. First, let’s talk formatting cause that’s one of the biggest things, especially for newer screenwriters. LivingWriter's intuitive interface allows you to effortlessly switch between different script elements (action, dialogue, etc.) with a simple keystroke or a click of a button and also has a dropdown menu and tool bar for you to manually change elements.
You’ll find that once you get to writing, both you as the writer and LivingWriter itself will get a feel for what you’re writing and what comes next, and the process is pretty streamlined. You can add your characters to the manuscript as an element, and when you type their name, LivingWriter will pull them in like a link, and clicking it will show you all of their info.
LivingWriter takes screenplay structure to a whole new level of convenience. You can apply common story structures like the Three-Act-Structure directly to your script and write within the framework. This visual approach serves as a roadmap so you always know where you’re currently at and where you’re going. This is helpful even to experienced writers.
You can see each act and sub-section alongside the left of your manuscript and by clicking, you’re given a general description of what is supposed to happen in each section in the right. Once you’ve gotten some writing done, you can view all your scenes in a convenient way and rearrange them by simply “dragging and dropping” them where you want them.
LivingWriter also has a plethora of AI features to make your life as a screenwriter easier. These include AI outlines, book to screenplay chapter conversion, and AI manuscript chat that can answer factual and theoretical questions about your specific script, plot and characters.
As well as give you tailored advice on what tone your scenes convey, suggestions for improvements, and actionable ways that you can achieve them. The LivingWriter AI doesn’t write for you but goes a long way in bringing out the best of a writer and making the process easier.
LivingWriter also has a group of features to streamline your projects. Things like word counting and goal tracking, built in sections for note-taking and research, plotting boards for brainstorming ideas and mapping non-linear storylines and much more.
Finally, LivingWriter automatically saves every word you type and backs it up to the cloud, so you can rest assured that you’ll never lose work. The collaboration features are a dream come true and you can do real-time collaborations with editors or other writers without them needing to have a full subscription to LivingWriter.
If you’re looking for a screenwriting software that makes formatting a breeze, story structure easier than ever before and is user-friendly, look no further than LivingWriter. Pair this with the AI features, cloud backup, and collab features and you’ve got everything you need and nothing you don’t.
Final Draft
Before LivingWriter, Final Draft was the go-to software for screenwriters. Once upon a time, it was the best thing on the market, but that’s no longer the case. The basic elements that made Final Draft popular are still there (you can write a screenplay with it), but some aspects of the software are a little frustrating to use.
The main selling points were the general functionality of the software and the collaboration features. However, unlike LivingWriter, you and your collaborator must have the same paid version of Final Draft to work together.
Furthermore, some of their features are useless for screenwriting, such as adding images in the middle of the script. In general, Final Draft has most of what you need and some things you’ll never use. It’s a household name, but more modern solutions like LivingWriter have overtaken it.
Highland 2
Highland 2 was created in 2012 by screenwriter John August (Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and has many features you’d want from screenwriting software. The drag-and-drop style scene rearrangement found on LivingWriter can be found on Highland 2, too.
There is also a version of element linking; however, it doesn’t work well. When you type a character name in all caps, it’s supposed to be pulled into the script and formatted as a character, but it doesn’t always work and ends up being more of a hassle than help when you’ve got to go do it manually after a mess up.
It also must be mentioned that Highland 2 is currently only available on MAC. So, a large portion of writers don’t have this as an option, even if they want to try it.
Celtex
Celtx is a pretty comprehensive screenwriting tool that offers a range of features for both writing and production. It has a user-friendly interface, making it easy to navigate between scenes and elements like action, dialogue, and character descriptions.
Like LivingWriter, Celtx also offers collaborative features, allowing multiple users to work on a script simultaneously and leave comments and suggestions.
However, when compared to LivingWriter, Celtx lacks some advanced features and all AI-powered features that can enhance the writing process. You won’t find any help with idea generation, character development, writing style suggestions, or story structure, which can be particularly helpful for writers.
WriterDuet
WriterDuet is a cloud-based screenwriting software that was designed for collaboration. It allows multiple users to work on a script simultaneously, making it good for writing teams and workshops. The interface is intuitive, and many features like automatic formatting and note-taking are easy to use.
However, when compared to LivingWriter, WriterDuet lacks some of the advanced AI-powered features that can enhance the writing experience. LivingWriter's AI can assist with idea generation, character development, and style suggestions, making it a more comprehensive tool for solo writers.
While WriterDuet is a strong choice for collaborative projects, LivingWriter offers just as good of a real-time collaboration. Plus, AI capabilities and a broader range of features that make it a more versatile option for writers working alone or in small teams.
Conclusion
With LivingWriter, screenwriting doesn’t have to be hard. When you can write without stressing about formatting, where you’re at in your story structure, or keeping track of which scene goes where you’ll notice how much more writing you get done and likely a boost in quality, too. If you’re searching for the best screenwriting software on the market, check out LivingWriter. You won’t regret it.