Screenwriting software - Who likes what?

[StarshipDefiant]

A question to people that may do this professionally, or simply for fun, what screenwriting software's do you like, and why? What makes them better for you, then other programs? I've looked at a couple in the last few years, like Final Draft and Movie Magic Screenwritter, and liked the templates for the covers and character listing in Final Draft (as they were premade templates), but couldn't find anything of the like in Movie magic Screenwriter, yet there seemed to be something good about that one to, that i just couldn't put my finger on... what also ruined my experience, is that the program didn't respond to my system colors (which are darker ones for ease of use on my eyes) to well.

So back to the topic at hand, who likes what and why?

 

[RJDiogenes]

I like Celtx because it's free. Also it handles multiple formats, from screenplays to theatrical plays to radio plays to comics. I actually haven't used any other programs, so I can't do a comparison, but I've liked working with this one.

 

[Candlelight]

I've been using Final Draft for about six years now and wouldn't want to change.

I tried Celtx but the shortcuts I've gotten used to in FD were slightly different, so opted to stay put.

 

[T'Baio]

Final Draft is the way to go.

 

[Harvey]

Final Draft, if you can afford it.

Celtx if you can't.

I've used both, and both software packages will get the job done (and both have their individual kinks that are kind of annoying).

 

[Professor Zoom]

Final draft. I know use it for plays as well. A ton of templates, easy to use (though that maybe out of habit now) and easily goes to PDF.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

Add me to the Final Draft list. It's easy to share revisions, and when I was editing during lunch breaks, I could just pull up the PDF and read it.

 

[Jetfire]

I like Celtx because it's free. Also it handles multiple formats, from screenplays to theatrical plays to radio plays to comics. I actually haven't used any other programs, so I can't do a comparison, but I've liked working with this one.

I downloaded it...I am going to try and write some stuff...it looks pretty good.

 

[RJDiogenes]

^^ Good luck.

 

[selina]

Final Draft, if you can afford it.

Celtx if you can't.

I've used both, and both software packages will get the job done (and both have their individual kinks that are kind of annoying).

Agreed. Personally, I prefer Final Draft but it's rather expensive. Unfortunatly there's only an english version of this software, so if you write in another language every word is underlined red and you can forget about the spell check. Ah well, it's still a very comfortable thing to use, but celtx will get the job done as well.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Celtx has a bunch of Dictionaries.

 

[selina]

Cool . Thanks .

 

[gturner]

Pish posh on those suggestions.

There are really only three options.

1) Don't write anything down. Instead memorize your story like Homer.

Rage, Goddess, sing the rage of Peliuses son, Achilles. Murderous, doomed, ...

Yes, Chryses approached the camp to win his daughter back, bringing a priceless ransom, and bearing a staff wrapped in the wreathes of the god, the distant, deadly Archer.

I memorized the first 45 minutes of the Fagle's translation of the Iliad. It's not a big hurdle.

2) Shoot a bald eagle, pluck its feathers, and use them to make quill pens. Most real writers have used a method like this.

3) Buy a manual typewriter, preferably one previously owned by a writer of crime fiction who was killed while researching a story.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Cool . Thanks .

You're welcome.

 

[gturner]

I used Final Draft when I submit scripts to SyFY.

You did know that all the wrestling was all scripted, didn't you?