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How to Write a Screenplay with Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word contains formatting designed to aid in the creation of common documents, such as letters, but it provides little help for a struggling screenplay writer. In particular, Microsoft Word makes it difficult to for screenwriters to indent and otherwise format dialogue and narrative. Writers may also struggle with Word's overly zealous spellchecker and its automatic formatting. Happily, savvy screenwriters can use Word to write a screenplay if they know how to tweak their documents and take the time to download an appropriate template.

Things You'll Need

  • Computer with Microsoft Word installed
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Instructions

    • 1

      Conduct an Internet search for "Microsoft Word screenplay template." Review each template and download several. Compare each template to see which best suits your requirements.

    • 2

      Create a document to hold your screenplay by opening the "File" menu and selecting "New." Click on the template you prefer and click on "Create."

    • 3

      Split your viewport panel when you wish to simultaneously edit dialogue on two distant pages, or, for example, when you wish to change dialogue on page 11 and on page 200 of your manuscript. Click on the "View" menu and click on the "Split" option, which will allow you to see and work in two parts of your document at once. Use this trick when a set of changes to dialogue in one part of the screenplay necessitates changes elsewhere, and you need to look at both sets of changes simultaneously.

    • 4

      Indent multiple lines of text by pressing the control key and the "M" key simultaneously, rather than by reaching for your mouse and clicking on the "Increase Indent" button; this saves writers who must indent dialogue significant time.

    • 5

      Spellcheck screenplays that contain unusual words or names by clicking on the "Add to Dictionary" button whenever the spellchecker objects to a spelling. This ensures Word remembers all unusual words or names and doesn't ask you to approve them manually in the future.

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