Intermission
a creative coffee break from writing the play

The software mentioned on my website is stuff I like and use. Not stuff I think you should use.

The list is biased towards Macs. Why? I could write a lot of rude things about the whys, however, let’s leave it as “because that’s what I use to write on.”

Formatting software:  Movie Magic Screenwriter
The idea, for me, behind using a specialized word processor for playwriting, is I don’t want to have to think too much when I’m using software. I want it to work, to format my stuff how I like it, and all that rot. If you can get away with using a Word template, or macro set, then good for you! There are several options for software, some costly, some cheap, some free. You can do an internet search on screenwriting software to find them. Or look at the wiki List of Screenwriting Software for a short list. That’s right, you gotta get screenwriting software and hope you can adapt it to playwriting. If you’re a student, you can buy one of the two major software programs, Final Draft, or Movie Magic Screenwriter, at a much lower cost than retail. Both the majors will require you to adjust their play templates to get them into Samuel French format. Both the majors have trial versions you can evaluate. 

For years, I used Final Draft. Like back to 1992 when the company was called B.C. Software. In Sept 2007, I permanently switched over to Movie Magic Screenwriter 6. My friend and writing partner, MBH, switched over to MM6 earlier in the year. I ignored his consistent raves about version 6 because I had hated version 4, and told myself, “it’s only formatting software, after all.” When he began to use MM6 to format our TV spec show, damn, I had to begin trying it out. I’m now busy converting all my scripts over to MM6.

MM6 has two features I love. First, it allows you to keep a sidebar containing an outline, list of scenes, notes, or bookmarks, making instant navigation through a script easy and possible. Second, notes can be embeded in the script. You can view or print them as part of your script, or suppress them from the printed copy or the screen. Final Draft 7 allows notes yet always keeps them hidden unless you click on them. F.D.’s method was an annoyance I didn’t really think about until I began using notes in MM6. MM6 makes notes confusion free for working with a writing partner, and a joy to use in general.

Note-taking software
I use a combination of software programs. (1) Aquaminds’ Notetaker, (2) SoHo Notes, and (3) Bibdesk. I use Notetaker like a virtual spiral bound notebook. SoHo Notes I use to keep random tidbits, or long thoughts, I don’t want to lose. BibDesk I use to organize my research, which often exists in the form of PDFs of articles, or of books on my bookshelf or the library’s shelves. Initially, when I looked at BibDesk, I thought, “oh that’s cool. Don’t need it.” And then surprised myself by using it regularly and  with great enthusiasm. I now have a fingertip method of viewing my research at a glance, as well as in detail, in an organized fashion on my trusty Powerbook.

Links to what I’ve previously written about software
Notetaking here, and here
Favorite Writing Tools