A short piece about the steps that can be taken if you would like to write a screenplay.

1. Writing a Screenplay
Tips and strategies
Tshepo Mokone
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https://raindance.org/the-four-phases-of-drafting-a-screenplay/

2. Ever felt like writing a screenplay but do not
know where to start?
https://depositphotos.com/vector-images/confused-cartoon.html

3. RELAX!!!
Here are some top tips and strategies to get you
on your way
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4. Preparation
• Read screenplays
• Download screenplay software (Masterclass, n.d.)
• Choose a genre (Arumanda, 2018)
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5. Preparation continued…
• When choosing the genre, consider which form/s of writing you will
use
• Forms of writing (Rabo, 2018):
1. Expository
2. Descriptive
3. Persuasive
4. Narrative
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6. Brainstorming
• Note down as many ideas as you can
• Refine those ideas by questioning their premises, validity, and
plausibility (Arumanda, 2018)
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7. Brainstorming continued…
• Select the best ideas, and begin to explore them further
• Also begin to form linkages where these ideas meet, and thus grow
the story
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8. Arrange
• Order the salient ideas in chronological order (Masterclass, n.d.)
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9. Write
• Divide you story into parts, and start writing a short synopsis for each
section
• Expand each short synopses into a broader, more detailed account
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10. Writing continued…
• When writing, you may experience times where you have no ideas or
the words are just not coming, aka writer’s block

11. Writing continued…
• But like any other problem, there are solutions
• Problem solving techniques (Kusemiju, 2016):
a) State the problem
b) Describe it in detail
c) Who or what can help you?
d) Ask for help
e) Or just take a break
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12. Editing
• Read Aloud
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Reading aloud
may help you
notice the lack
of flow or a
flawed
structure

13. Editing continued…
• Let someone else read your work (Reid, 2016)
https://bit.ly/3sPKcTy
o Another perspective
may provide you with
clarity for ambiguous
parts of your script

14. Editing continued…
• Make notes on (Reid, 2016):
1. What sounds wrong
2. What confuses you
3. What others say about your work
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15. Editing continued…
• Remove unnecessary characters and words
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16. Last words
• Have discipline (Stedman, 2016)
• Believe in what you have created (Stedman, 2016)
https://bit.ly/2Wm8Ijy
https://bit.ly/3gBFCDx

17. Happy
Writing

18. Reference List
• Arumanda, V. (2018). How to write a screenplay. Available from Slideshare at https://www.slideshare.net/nandu2010/how-to-
write-a-screenplay-87411707?qid=b7951446-9af8-4597-a080-f1f7eab681f4&v=&b=&from_search=1 (Accessed on 24/08/2021)
• Kusemiju, R. (2016). How to creatively solve problems and brainstorm. Available from Slideshare at
https://www.slideshare.net/LinkedInSpecialist4/how-to-creatively-solve-problems-and-brainstorm?qid=90581ec4-a505-45d7-
a89a-e5403596b6f1&v=&b=&from_search=2 (Accessed on 22/08/2021).
• MasterClass. (n.d.). Tips for screenwriters: how to write a script in 6 basic steps. Available from
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-script#1-write-your-logline (Accessed on 22/08/2021).
• Rabo, A. (2018). Creative writing. Available from Slideshare at
https://www.slideshare.net/huwagtumawidmaynamataynadito/creative-writing-102799006?qid=a004d2b2-7f27-4ba9-8e07-
c8ce0bc93f80&v=&b=&from_search=14 (Accessed on 24/08/2021).
• Reid, S. (2016). Nine novel editing tips. Available from Slideshare at https://www.slideshare.net/SophieReidWriter/nine-novel-
editing-tips?qid=1274b348-6859-485d-ac98-15ba9b707d00&v=&b=&from_search=16 (Accessed on 22/08/2021)
• Stedman, R. (2016). 11 tips that will make you be a better writer. Available from Slideshare at
https://www.slideshare.net/RachelStedmanMBA/11-tips-that-will-make-you-be-a-better-writer?qid=d40ee3c1-41b2-4928-a0ea-
5036926c6e41&v=&b=&from_search=8 (Accessed on 24/08/2021).