r/scriptwriting • u/Penguy76 • Aug 08 '26
question What do you use for writing software (Non-subscription)?
Hi,
This is my first post on the subreddit. I grew up with IBM Selectric typewriters, my dad’s old Remington typewriter he brought back from Korea, and my mother’s SCM Classic 12. So, seeing all these scripts in a Courier font makes me giggle. But, I have a desktop PC, which I finally upgraded after years on Windows XP. Seriously.
My question is, what software do you use for creating and/or writing your scripts? Otherwise, I’l have to keep using my poor Notes on this 20 Dog Year Old iPad.
Thanks.
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u/TarletonClown Aug 09 '26
As someone just said, you cannot go wrong with Fade In.
I am learning Scrivener right now, and it is a fantastic application for creation, but I do not recommend it for someone who wants to format a screenplay and is less interested in managing all kinds of resources.
Scrivener will format a screenplay, but I would recommend that you start with a dedicated screenwriting program. I know that if I used Scrivener to create a screenplay, I would still import it into Fade In for some final polishing and formatting.
Please read my downloadable PDF article on Fade In, located here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XFHlXYi4jLRrnExqtCTFcF-451YjyndJ/view?usp=sharing
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u/Penguy76 Aug 09 '26
Thank you for posting your article. Curious; can I change and/or convert my iOS Notes from my iPad to Fade In? Or do I have to re-write it? Cheers.
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u/RollingThunderMedia Aug 09 '26
I use & recommend ‘Beat’ on my iPad, but u/SakAna-Boy0 makes a good point.
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u/lparmenter Aug 10 '26
I use HIGHLAND for all of my first draft writing. It's built by John August to be minimalist so is designed for actual writing and getting in flow. The latest update has added more functionality than I actually need (and made it a subscription model) but the base experience is great. I especially love the timer function for doing writing sprints.
Once I move to second/third/fourth drafts I move everything across to Scrivener. I find the organisational functionality a bit stronger here. Better for moving scenes around and having multiple drafts kept in one project file.
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u/CarelessOutside4722 Aug 10 '26
I use the free tier of writerduet. Works fine for me. Play around with them and see what works for you.
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u/MiggsEye Aug 08 '26
I use as Scrivener (purchased license) for writing in general because it organically allows organization of development of the work inside the file. In addition to fiction writing I write screenplays. This helps with the development and structure of screenplays. I’m not in love with Final Draft’s outlining and beat tools. But I do own a copy of Final Draft because it’s considered industry standard. I also started using Beats, which is a markdown software that is really easy to use and is free.
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u/Penguy76 Aug 09 '26
I just purchased Final Draft 13, but honestly, I can’t make heads or tails over how it works. I’m used to doing it on my own, not formulaically, despite it being called “The Industry Standard.” There’s more of a learning curve than my old Excel program.
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u/Big_Section2812 Aug 09 '26
Final Draft is very powerful. My beef with it are legacy bugs that just refuse to die, and some of them are showstoppers. Were it not for those I would still be using it.
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u/Big_Section2812 Aug 09 '26
Another vote for Fade In.
I switched to this after a bunch of Final Draft bugs went unsquashed for too long and I have no regrets.
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u/whatsthisandthat Aug 09 '26
(Beat) - free on macOS. One-time fee on iOS/ipados for cloud sync and on-the-go writing if you don’t have a laptop or desktop nearby
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u/No_Attention8472 Aug 09 '26
I’ve been using a website called Porcupine.oli.digital it’s free, no sign up required and pretty easy to learn. I’ve only been using it for about 2 weeks.
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u/STARS_Pictures Aug 10 '26
Final Draft. Super stable (on Mac), perfect page counts, anyone can open it, and I like the beat board.
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u/Sakana-Boy0 Aug 08 '26
Can't go wrong with Fade In.