What to do with an Idea/Script??

I suggest you do a course on script writing, and learn how to write and format your play to best advantage.

As an idea, I'm sorry, it's worthless. Ideas are ten a penny. No one has any interest in an idea until it is expanded into an actual play, or at least a treatment that can be turned into a play.

You may well find, for instance, that your idea is not feasible as a play. Modern plays rarely have more than a handful of characters, and the action is usually emotional or dramatic rather than physical.

If you do a course, you'll get help in writing it in a way that works, and you may well find that some of the people on the course will read it for you.

Well, if you do a course, you'll find out if you are one of ones who have no idea, or if you are an undiscovered gem. Much better than sending your script off without any notion about what you are doing.

If you want to write a play then just write it. Formatting it is the easy part. You just use a programme like celtx - it's free and really simple to use. It will format your script or screenplay for you.

The best thing to do is to read lots of plays and screenplays. I recommend a play called "The Pillow Man" it's written by Martin McDonagh (he wrote In Bruge) cos it's so easy to read and an amazing story. Not every idea works for stage but from reading plays vs screenplays you'll see what works for either or and why. You can get screenplays at scriptorama.com http://www.script-o-rama.com/snazzy/dircut.html

If you have a great idea than that's half the work done. Write down the story or at least a good outline of it. Beginning, middle, end - otherwise you might get half way through and not know where to go with it next. And you don't want to waste that much time on a story that is going no where. Then work form what you have written down and start writing your play.

If you have any other questions just ask. I've written a few screenplays for fun and have done two scriptwriting modules in Uni so have an idea of what to do. The hardest bit will be getting someone who matters to read the finished product!

Oh another recommendation is "Glengarry Glenross" which was adapted to screen too so you can watch the film and read the play!

Gerry, there's no hard and fast rules about the format a play is written in. I been in many, directed a few and even wrote a few (none were ever performed but I enjoyed the time spent doing them). Every time I see a script it's slightly different from the last. As Donal said, if you have already written it, i.e. have the synopsis and all the dialogue etc, you should attempt to get it down on paper as in use a PC. You wouldn't thinks so but there are people still using typewriters and photocopying. However romantic that is, it's plain silly these days. PC's allows you to watermark your work if your sending copies to people for a look and you will also have a sort of electronic copyright when it is saved etc.

My two cents on a format which I just think is easy to read would be like this :


Character 1 : .....Keep the character name to the left of page and tab in.

Character 2 : .....Ignore the dots after the colon, Boards won't allow tabs

Character 3 : .....By the way this is where dialogue goes and should be in a block

(Any stage directions should be in italics and in parenthesis)


Some formats leave the Character name above the dialogue, i.e.



Best of luck, have a read of THIS too, might help.

I second the am dram suggestions.

Talk to someone who's been in a few plays, they'll give you all the pointers you'd need. There are loads of am dram groups around the country who'd love the chance to get a local playwrite on board, and who'll spot a mile off what'll work and what won't.

Even if you don't get it produced, the best feedback for a play would be from someone who's first reaction to reading the script is to think "alright, how would I do this?"