You’ve stepped into the world of filmmaking and decided to get serious about your craft as a screenwriter. You kind of know something about formatting but the longer you read books about it you creep into a foggy haze of formatting land leaving your creativity behind in the dust. Don’t worry we have compiled a list of five different screenwriting software that you can use so you can pick back up into your rhythm as a writer.

Celtx Plus            Price Point $0.00 – $19.99 a month            The Best for Beginners

Celtx Plus is full-featured screenwriting software that works for more than just screenplays. This application has the ability to format stage plays, AV scripts, audio plays, comic books and novels. The program provides automatic formatting as you write and saves your characters.

The menu includes tutorials that guide you through writing your scenes. Also includes index card view which reminds you of important points in your screenplay and character attributes.

Final Draft           Price Point 199.00                                            Working Screenwriters

Final Draft is simple, powerful screenwriting software that is the industry standard for professional screenwriters. Final Draft formats your words into Hollywood’s rigid screenplay standard, including font, margins and abbreviations.

Beyond movies, helpful for directors, writer’s assistants, playwrights and even marketers creating a video to sell a product. You have the ability to collaborate more than one writer can work as a unit.

It also tracks all the revisions that occur over time. So if a line has been changed you can search the history and find out who made the change.

Movie Magic Screenwriter          Price Point $119.00

Movie Magic Screenwriter is officially endorsed by the Writers Guild of America East. The software automatically formats your script to industry standards. It supports Screenwriter’s Notes, which is an index card mode of organizing scenes

Note tools allow you to jot down distracting ideas that pop in your head. An outline view helps you keep track of characters and scenes. You can create production tracking and breakdown reports for various crew members to use with scheduling, budgeting.

Movie Outline                                 Price Point $144.95

Movie Outline is screenwriting software that was developed by a produced screenwriter. It is a full featured screenwriting programs that helps you develop your characters and storyline while writing your script (in Hollywood standards).

However, the number of features and tools can be overwhelming for the screenwriter just starting out.

Writer Duet       Price Point     Pro 7.99 a month/139.00 Lifetime Screencraft 99.00 a year/199.00 lifetime

Created by writers for writers. The main page formats your script according to industry standards and includes additional windows for scene cards and messaging.

You can log into the program on a browser and write together in real time. You can all write questions or comments in the messaging feature to clear up any concerns.

You can export your writing in writer duet to final draft, Celtx and other screenwriting programs.

Honorable Mention

Amazon Storywriter                                 Price Point FREE

Amazon Storywriter automatically formats your screenplay as you type, so you can focus on the story and skip the busywork. You can maximize your productivity by using the installable app when you are off the grid. Sync your work easily to the cloud when you’re back online.

Once you finish your script you can submit it directly to Amazon from Storywriter through Amazon Studios’ open-door process to be considered for their development slate.

  Shivawn Hill, co-founder of the creative outsiders is currently in post-production with her short documentary film, Lifting Crowns. She looks forward to the day when she has a team that can help her tell stories of creative peculiar people. You can follow her on INSTAGRAM or catch her wandering around Virginia snapping pictures of building art.