The simplest building blocks of a good story are found in the Three Act Structure. Separated by Plot Points, its Act 1 (Beginning), Act 2 (Middle), and Act 3 (End) refer not to where in time in the story they lie but instead fundamental stages along the way.

In the  Beginning you introduce the reader to the setting, the characters and the situation (conflict) they find themselves in and their goal. Plot Point 1 is a situation that drives the main character from their “normal” life toward some different conflicting situation that the story is about.

Great  stories often begin at  Plot Point 1, thrusting the main character right into the thick of things, but they never really leave out Act 1, instead filling it in with back story along the way.

A screenplay, or movie script, is not unlike a home-cooked meal. It can be wonderful or it can be terrible. Adding ingredients that don’t belong in it, or too much of anything, and you end up with a mess fit for the trashcan. As with any great dish, each aspect of the screenplay story has to have a reason for being. I’m sure you’ve been in a situation where you suffered through a film that left you feeling hollow, saying to yourself “I can do better than that!” Here, I will show you the basic ingredients that will start you on your way to writing that movie you know you’ve been carrying around inside.

Be sure to take this article at your own pace, digesting it at your leisure. Now then, onto the work. Let’s get our utensils in order first.

Workspace: The first thing you should do is either get yourself a macro for Word that automatically formats in screenplay form or buy scriptwriting software. Doing the formatting yourself is time-consuming and frustrating. I and many others use Movie Magic’s Screenwriter 2000, while many others use Final Draft. Either program serves its purpose: automatically formatting your script in such a way that helps you concentrate on your story and not on which buttons to press. I personally prefer the dedicated software over the macro. Purchase only if you are serious about writing. They are expensive programs.