As any screenwriter knows, coming up with a good story is only half of the work involved in writing a screenplay.  The next step for any screenwriter to take in writing a screenplay is to decide where to write it.  This is probably the most crucial step in developing a screenplay because as you may already know by now, a screenplay must be written in an exact and precise professional format designed to meet the industry’s standards.

         Some screenwriters, especially those new to the screenwriting industry, may attempt to use a basic word processor; however, writing a screenplay this way can be very difficult and time consuming.  I highly suggest avoiding this option altogether because Hollywood agents and producers are extremely strict when it comes to accepting screenplays and if one line in your screenplay doesn’t meet the industry’s standards, you risk the chance of your screenplay being rejected altogether.  That being said, anyone serious about the screenwriting industry should invest in a Screenwriting Software. 

There are literally hundreds of different types of screenwriting software, however I suggest that you purchase software that is well-known and is used frequently by the industry’s top professionals.  The two top and most frequently used are Final Draft and Movie Magic.   Both Final Draft and Movie Magic are highly used and are recommended by Hollywood professionals as well as various well-known literary agencies.  So, which one is the best choice? 

Now, before you decide which screenwriting software is best for you, please understand that neither software will make you write or become a better writer.  The task of writing a good screenplay is solely your responsibility.  As a screenwriter, I’ve used both Final Draft and Movie Magic and even though both have their pros and cons, I personally I prefer Final Draft. 

When using Movie Magic, I have found that it helps shorten the length of my script, which is good (the less lengthy script, the better).  However, I have also discovered that it uses incorrect margins by default.  This may not seem like a big issue,   but in the screenwriting industry there are really strict guidelines when it comes to formatting a script.  Just one formatting mistake can be the difference between a rejection and a success.  Movie Magic seems to overlook that. 

Movie Magic also gives you the option of having some paragraphs in your screenplay run on through a page break, or cut off.  Although this may seem like a good thing (the more options the better, right?), it is not.  Again, in the screenwriting industry, there are certain formatting rules and when one of those rules requires a specific number of lines per page, the option of a run on through a page break or cut off should be disregarded. 

As much as I do like Movie Magic, I prefer Final Draft because by default, Final Draft uses correct margins, so that you as a screenwriter can focus on writing instead of having to worry about changing any of the writing settings when you open the program.  Final Draft also does not give you as many writing options as Movie Magic.  This may sound like a bad thing, but when Final Draft automatically formats your script according to industry standard, why would you want any other option?

         Although, I am partial to Final Draft, both Final Draft and Movie Magic are the best of the best when it comes to screenplay formatting software.  The decision is completely up to you which one to choose.  I do strongly suggest; however, that you do invest in one of them.  Both will save you countless hours of time and frustration because they do practically everything that you as a screenwriter would typically have to do on your own.  And if it were up to me, I’d go with Final Draft.  You will find that it is worth every penny.