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I've been testing software products, and writing reviews of those products, since 1984, evaluating virtually every writing-related IBM-compatible program during that period. My articles have appeared in national publications including Videography, Video Systems, In Motion, and many others. Although they are posted here as a "public service" these articles are not "public domain!"
After years of slow growth, this page has gone through several transformations to make it even more useful. Among other things you'll find an updated and greatly expanded list of Macros, Scripts, Stylesheets and Templates for screenwriting with conventional word processors and other software. Note that there are some high-end, commercial template products covered in the review section.
Seven Basic Truths about Screenwriting Software is an essay born from the concern I have about the way people perceive technology. While computer use encroaches ever further into our lives, verbal and written communication skills seem to be getting worse. So when I sat down to overhaul this page, the first thing I found myself doing was writing this piece. It's for anybody who wants to write, and who is considering what kind of role technology (in this case, software) might play in their work.
Screenwriting Formatting Software from the Bottom Up started out as one immensely long article. It covers a lot of detail about numerous products, but it also describes ways you can analyze your needs and budget, to maximize your bang for buck. I decided to break the article into sections, and eventually I hope to have a better navigation system to make products even easier to pinpoint.
- Introduction: Are you a Starving Artist, Fiscal Conservative, Wealthy Dilettante, or Committed Writer? Identifying your writing goals and needs will help you target your buying decisions.
- Commercial Word Processor Add-Ons: ScriptWerx and ScriptWright.
- Dedicated Formatting Programs: Scriptware, Final Draft, Screenwriter 2000, and Page 2 Stage.
Note: Reviews are planned or underway for Sophocles, Final Draft A/V, and other commercial programs. I also plan reviews of any signficant version changes in software previously reviewed. Keep an eye on this page for updates as they become available. Meanwhile, the review archives (below) can tell you a lot about the different products and companies that have entered this field over the years.
Tests and reviews of new programs in this category are still underway, including Storyview, Storybuilder, Anthemion Storylines, and others. I am also always trying to look at updates of programs previously reviewed (see below). I will post the results of any tests as soon as possible. Meanwhile, it is worth finding out the pros and cons of software tools for this area, which you can get by browsing the archives. That will at least give you a taste of the many approaches that have been taken so far.
The Market Overview is what the name implies. Close-up reviews examine products in greater depth, and are posted continuously, as soon as they are available. The author is Rich Wilson, unless noted otherwise. A reminder: once they are posted, reviews here are deliberately left online indefinitely. Thus, you may find reviews of two or more different versions of the same product.
The reviews listed above include several commercial products that enhance word processor software, using macros, templates, or stylesheets for screenwriting use. Listed below are more scriptwriting enhancements, including not only word processing templates, but also programming scripts and adaptations of less familiar tools like SGML. The purpose here is to cover a variety of computer platforms and software environments, as an aid to low-budget writers and others. So, make note of the situation each tool is meant for. For instance, a perl script won't be any help if you just want to adapt your everyday word processor.
Unlike those listed above, I have not tested or reviewed any of these. For questions or support, contact the author. (Also note, if the author changes e-mail addresses after posting the file for download, do not expect me to have any newer address. Whatever is in the file is what the author put there, not me.) These links and files are provided as is.
In the following listings, "Freeware/shareware" means either that the product's author requests, but does not require, a registration fee; or that the product's commercial status is unknown. It remains your responsibility to meet any legal or license requirements that may be involved.
(IBM, MAC) From
the BBC: "The Script
Smart tool, created by Matthew Carless from the BBC's writersroom, is a set
of Microsoft Word templates for writers to format their scripts using
industry-recognised layouts." It appears to come in many versions, aimed at
both the UK and US markets.I have not tested these shareware packages personally. So, please don't ask me to explain or support them! Thanks.
