Screenwriting For Beginners

How to Get Started with SoCreate for Beginners

Follow these 7 simple steps to write your first SoCreate screenplay! While SoCreate looks radically different than traditional screenwriting software, it outputs the same Hollywood-ready script.

Step 1: Add a Location

A story always takes place somewhere, so let's start by adding a Location as the first step to creating your script. To add a Location:

Click the blue "+Location" button in the Tools Toolbar on the right side of your screen and type in the name of the Location (ex: Coffee Shop or Bed Room) where your story takes place.
Select a photo and set the other details if you want to, but they are not required.
Click the checkmark to add your Location.

Step 2: Add Action

Now that you have added a Location for where your story takes place, the next thing you need to do is write some Action happening in that Location. To add Action:

Click the "+ Action" button on the right-hand side of your screen.
Type the Action of what is happening at this moment.

Action should be short and direct in most cases. For example, "A man in a red suit limps over to the table where a disheveled woman is already sitting. She looks up and whispers.”

Step 3: Add a Character & Dialogue

Now that you have added Action and we can visualize what is happening let's create a Character and have them speak. To add a Character:

Click the “+Character” button on the right-hand side of your screen.
Type the Character's name (ex: Dylan or Maria) and fill in the Character details if you want to.
Click the checkmark to add your Character.
Now, start typing to give that Character something to say! For example, “Can you see me?”

Step 4: Add Another Character

Now that you’ve added one character add another to give your first Character someone to interact with! Remember, adding a Character is as easy as:

Clicking the “+Character” button on the right-hand side of your screen.
Filling in the details.
Now, start typing to give them something to say to your other Character! For example, “Of course, I can see you! What do you mean?”

Step 5: Continue Adding Action & Dialogue to Complete Your Scene

You’ve learned everything you need to know to write your first full Scene in SoCreate! Just keep adding Action and Dialogue until you complete the Scene.

Characters you’ve already created will be stored on the left-hand side of your screen in your Story Toolbar.
Click their face to insert a Dialogue item for them so you can give them more to say!

Step 6: Add a New Scene

Now that you’ve finished your first Scene, it’s time to add a new one! To add a new Scene:

Click the blue “+Story Structure” button on the right-hand side of your screen.
Choose “Add Scene” from the menu and decide whether the Scene should happen before or after Scene 1 you just wrote. Then, click the checkmark to add your new Scene.
Add a Location where the Scene takes place, then add Characters (if they don’t already exist) and Action as you learned in previous steps.

Continue adding new Scenes until you’re finished with your story! A feature-length screenplay contains 40-60 Scenes, and a 30-minute TV show contains 12-20 Scenes.

Step 7: Preview & Export

Once you’re finished writing your first SoCreate screenplay, it’s time to share it with the world! Most industry professionals expect to see your screenplay in a very specific format. But don’t worry; SoCreate does the formatting for you!

Just click the SoCreate logo in the upper left-hand corner of your screen.
From the dropdown menu, click “Export / Print.” SoCreate will generate a preview of the story you wrote in the traditional screenplay format, which the industry expects.
From here, you can Print it or Export it to PDF format.

Writing with SoCreate is more fun and productive than using traditional screenwriting software like Final Draft. Best of all, your stories are always with you in the cloud and accessible on any device.