Choose the type of screenwriting software you want to use. There are dozens of programs available, so choose the one that best suits your needs.
Visit the website of the screenwriting program you have chosen. If the manufacturer offers the option, download the software from the website. If you cannot download the software, order a CD containing the program.
Install the software on your computer. If you downloaded the program, follow the prompts that appear once the download is complete. Once installation is complete, you are ready to start writing. Skip to Step 6. Alternately, if you purchased the CD version, find an external CD drive.
Attach the external CD drive to your netbook with the USB connector and install any drivers for the hardware.
Insert the CD for the screenwriting program into the CD drive. Follow the prompts that appear on the screen to install the program. Once installation is complete begin writing.
Choose the type of production you wish to write. Many screenwriting programs have templates built in for movie screenplays, teleplays, stage plays and sometimes radio scripts. The formatting within these programs is completely automated. Simply write and press "Enter" on your keyboard to format your screenplay as needed.
Give your scene a heading. This is where the cursor will first appear on the screen. The scene heading is used to identify the scene location and time of day.
Press "Enter" on your keyboard to write the action of the screenplay. Describe what your characters are doing and give details about the setting.
Press "Enter" and then "Tab" to type the names of characters. Once you are writing dialog you only need to press "Enter." If you are switching from action, you will need to press "Tab" as well.
Press "Enter" to write the character's dialog. Continue these steps to write your screenplay. When you save your screenplay, it will appear as it looks on screen as you write. It can also be exported in PDF or Rich Text format.