The elements of writing scripts that I cover in workshops:

Scripts are stories

• Have a strong narrative structure.

• Give your central character a narrative arc – take them on a journey.

• Build conflict into the narrative to ratchet up the dramatic tension – give your characters desires, then put obstacles in their way.

• Pace the conflict – give your audience time to react and process.

• Use different types of conflict:
  Internal – within the character
  External – between people OR with the environment.

• This video clip is an introduction to the concepts of conflict and drama:

Scripts have two types of text

• Dialogue – the words said by your characters
  People rarely speak in well-formed full sentences.

  Less is more – let your audience fill in the gaps and react in the silences.

  Register: Different levels of formality of language is used in different situations. This is often reflected in the vocabulary.
  Characters should all have their own unique speech patterns.

  Emotions affect the rhythm and pace of speech.

  Use beats – pauses – to assist your actors or audience. A beat usually indicates a shift in a character’s thinking or feeling.

• Stage directions – to tell the cast and crew how to bring the script to life. Describe:
  the setting – the time and place –  of each scene
  essential actions
  directions for lines if the subtext isn’t clear from the context.

Show, don’t tell

• Wherever possible, let action carry the narrative forward.

• Trust your audience to interpret actions.

• Use silence and stillness to reflect changes and to engage your audiences.

• This video clip, produced by the Technology 4 Learning unit of the NSW Department of Education, explores the idea of action in scripts:

Characters

• Characters are revealed by:
  what they say
  what they do
  how others react to them.

• Characters can be round or flat, dynamic or static.

• Give your characters authentic dialogue: unique speech patterns, vocabulary and rhythms

• Reflect the way people that speak – give your characters pauses, fragmented sentences, slang terms, hesitations.

• Explore the concept of character types by viewing this video:

Finally -

• Workshop your script with actors - improvise and experiment.

• Consider what can be staged, and different theatrical forms.

• Use all the tools at your creative disposal: props, costumes, sets, music, sound effects.

• Remember, you are running the first lap in a creative relay race. Your script will be the basis of a production created by a cast and crew, then appreciated by audiences.

• Here is an excerpt from a script showing one possible layout. Note the way stage directions are distinguished from the dialogue. Remember, your script should be easy for actors and others to read.