We know some very experienced scriptwriters who bash out their scripts using Microsoft Word. But we highly recommend using scriptwriting software for your Frenzy script. (Trust us! It will save you time! And it's easy to learn!) Here are some we've tried and liked, listed by price.

Cost: Free
Format: PC or Mac

Celtx is a powerful, free piece of downloadable scriptwriting software that functions a lot like a stripped-down version of Final Draft. And if you want to take things to the next level, Celtx also contains planning tools, storyboarding, and other ways to collaborate with an entire production team.

Some of our favorite Celtx features are:

• Cost: Its free! Okay, we already mentioned that, but its good enough to say again.
• Idea outline tool: This is a great place to start making your ideas more concrete. Location, character and scene development worksheets really help to kick-start your story. And, you can augment your thoughts with sound files, pics, and video clips.
• Storyboard: Upload your images (in batches!), tag them with text, and play them to help visualize your project.
• Index Cards: In a glance you can see multiple scenes. I like printing them out and tacking them on my wall.
• Mobility: Have an iPad or iPhone? Celtx now has an app for that. Celtx Script is the mobile scriptwriting app that syncs with Celtx desktop software, making it easy to write your screenplays, stageplays, comics, audio plays, and AV scripts from anywhere.
• Breakdowns: When April's over and you're ready to move from development to pre-production Celtx tools allow you to breakdown your script. Tag things like props, wardrobe items, and cast members with notes, pictures and sound files.

Cost: Free
Format: PC or Mac (it's web-based)

Scripped.com is a web-based scriptwriting software tool that requires no downloading of software to your computer. Because it's web-based (think: Google Docs) you can access your script anywhere there's an internet connection (hello, secret workplace writing sessions!).

It has a time-saving, tab-based interface like Celtx, so switching between character names, dialogue, and scene description is a snap. The downside: You need to actually be online to work on your script.

Cost: $45 (Discount for Frenziers available)
Free trial version here
Format: Mac (beta version available for PC)

Scrivener comes with formatting for screenplays, stage pays, and comics, but you can also go rogue and create your own formatting templates. Scrivener's export functions allow you to save to a bunch of different formats, including Final Draft, without losing any of the notes you’ve made in Scrivener. A few Scrivener features we like:

• All of your research and planning notes can be accessed in the same window as your script.
• Corkboard! Yes, it's beautiful. We're a sucker for a good corkboard.
• Distraction-free full-screen editing mode.
• Also has module for novel-writing!

Cost: $59 (Discount for Frenziers available)
Free trial version here
Format: Mac

First off, Storyist was hand-built by a longtime Script Frenzy Municipal Liaison (hi, Steve!), so we're kind of predisposed to liking it. Storyist's interface allows you to switch between basic screenplay elements using customizable key commands, and it stores things like locations and character names to its auto-complete feature. Which ends up saving you a lot of typing time. A few Storyist features we like:

• The "Storyboard" feature allows you to combine text and images in character bios.
• Internal linking allows you to make connections between different points in your script, or between your script and your notes.
• Robust exporting ability means you can share your Storyist work-in-progress with people using different scriptwriting software, including Final Draft.
• Like Scrivener, also has robust module for novel-writing!

Cost: $249
Format: PC or Mac

Final Draft is The Man when it comes to scriptwriting. If you aim to write scripts professionally, you'll need to buy a copy of Final Draft at some point. It is, as they say, the industry standard. You can save Final Draft scripts as PDFs, so your trusted readers don’t need to own a copy to review your work and give you their loving feedback.

A few Final Draft features we like:

• Ease of use: As soon as you’ve installed the program you can start writing. The intuitive software not only automatically formats your script, but has a nifty SmartType tool. Enter a few letters of a name, location, etc., and the rest will automatically be filled in.
• Great panel view: There are a few ways to view your script in panel form. It’s like getting a bird’s eye view of your entire script.
• Bookmarks and ScriptNotes: As your story gets longer bookmarks are an easy to way to jump around in your script with one click. ScriptNotes keep your thoughts in line, can be printed separately and do not affect your total page count.
• Final Draft opens the file on the page you were on when you last closed the document. If you jump around in the sequence of your script this can be very helpful!