Can someone advise as to what they would do--write the entire 100 pages and THEN start formatting? Doing it in steps as you go along? thanky.

I would recommend using Celtx. It's free, easy to learn, and does the formatting for you as you go. Last year, I typed up a test script to get a feel for the program and got the hang of it very quickly.

Good luck!

************************

myopic

Why do writers write? Because it isn't there.
- Thomas Berger

I don't use any special software, just MS Word for writing stageplays.

I do quasi formatting as I go along. All the stuff is in the right place (character names in CAPS on a separate line), but the margins aren't all done.

Then when I finish a writing session or at the beginning of the next one I go and add the formatting (using styles ... for plays there are only three styles: character name, stage directions & dialogue). It gives me an opportunity to read over what I've written, do some tweaks and then get back into writing.

Because all the line breaks are in the proper place, it rarely changes my page count, so it's not like I'd be setting myself back by not hitting my targets. However, in Screenplay format this wouldn't be true.

It's up to you, but you definitely want to have it formatted before the end of the month before you verify, because formatting is part of it being a script. (Just like no one would want to read a novel without paragraph breaks.)

NaNoWriMo Staff

I would advise doing it as you go along... it's fairly simple, and makes your life afterwards much, much easier.

Agree with the other commenter here, Celtx is great for formatting as you go. Just write a few test scenes to get the hang of it. Generally, it does what you want, and always tells you at the bottom what TAB and ENTER will do. And it's free! Pretty quickly it will become second nature and you can totally focus on writing, but end up with a perfectly formatted script.

If you're going to use something like Word, I'd say format after a writing session so that it doesnt slow you down. I find I write my best dialog (in my opinion) when I can type as quickly as possible (it's those voices in my head).
Just dont confuse formatting with editing - that you should save for May.

---------------
Jason
Municipal liaison for Southern California
scriptfrenzy@tactorfiction.com

Here's a link to the writing software that does formatting for you as you go: http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/eng/software

Agreed with all the other Celtx users. It is by far the best software I've seen. Other software on the Writing Software link is web-based and is also easy to use. :]

--------------------
cause i couldn't cry
cause i turned away
couldn't see the score
didn't know the pain
of leaving yesterday really far behind

-steve conte

much much thanx for this info, esp. re: celtx. had never heard of it and better get to it pronto!!

If you can't download Celtx (like me - no room) I've signed up for Scripped.com. Also, I used the template I found here: http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/eng/howtoformatascreenplay. It's at the bottom of the page, and great if you don't want to download or sign up for anything extra. Just save it as a template.

I'm formatting as I write in part because I'm obsessive-compulsive that way, and in part because it'll be much easier to know my page length if it's already formatted! :)

---
Nicole Palmby
npalmbyauthor@gmail.com
http://npalmbyauthor.blogspot.com
http://myspace.com/npalmbyauthor

ScriptFrenzy 2008: Currently Untitled

Currently writing: The Amazing, True Adventures of the Prasad(a) Coffee House (as told by a Form

Yeah; if you can't download Celtx, then I definitely agree with Emmhwal, you could sign up for Scripped.com (which is awesome and works just fine) or PlotBot if you're collaborating with another person.
--------------------

cause i couldn't cry
cause i turned away
couldn't see the score
didn't know the pain
of leaving yesterday really far behind

-steve

I've got a Dana, which I bought for Nano, really, and I would like to use it for this too. Has anyone got any experience transferring text files into Celtx and setting it up in the correct formatting?

Cheers, typo