Documentation
Screenwriting guides, product docs and the craft of the page.
Learn screenplay format, plan a shoot, and get the most out of EnsembleWriter's features. Written for writers, in plain words.
Using EnsembleWriter
Step-by-step guides to the editor, from your first scene to writing with others, exporting, and the writing record.
- Getting Started with EnsembleWriterLearn how to open EnsembleWriter, create your first screenplay, and understand the auto-formatting editor that handles industry-standard formatting for you.
- How Collaboration WorksLearn how to invite collaborators to your EnsembleWriter screenplay as editors, commenters or viewers, write together in real time with colored cursors, and manage your writing team.
- How to Share a ScreenplayStep-by-step guide to sharing your EnsembleWriter screenplay with others, including link generation, password protection, and access management.
- Private Drafts: Try a Version of Your Script Only You Can SeeStart a private draft of a screenplay in EnsembleWriter, rewrite while co-writers keep working, compare scene by scene and bring scenes back.
- Using the Beat Board: Plan Your Story on Index CardsPlan a screenplay on EnsembleWriter's Beat Board: a free canvas of index cards you can color, move and connect. Start from Story Spine, Three-Act Structure, Hero's Journey, Save the Cat, Freytag's Pyramid or Kishōtenketsu.
- Read Aloud: Hear Your Screenplay Performed with AI VoicesUse EnsembleWriter's Read Aloud feature to hear your screenplay narrated with distinct AI voices for each character. Learn how to assign voices, control playback, and start reading from any point in your script.
- How to Export Your ScreenplayLearn how to export your EnsembleWriter screenplay as a PDF, Fountain file, or EnsembleWriter JSON backup, and when to use each format.
- How to Convert Fountain to PDFStep-by-step guide to importing a Fountain screenplay into EnsembleWriter and exporting it as a properly formatted PDF.
- Non-AI Verified: How the Writing Record and Badge WorkHow EnsembleWriter records whether a script was typed, pasted or imported, and how the Non-AI Verified badge puts a signed record on your PDFs.
Plans and Account
What is free, what Pro adds, the school plan, and answers to the questions writers ask most.
- EnsembleWriter PricingCompare EnsembleWriter's tiers: writing without an account, a free account, and Pro. Learn what each includes, how much Pro costs, the school plan, and how to upgrade or cancel your subscription.
- EnsembleWriter for Schools: The School PlanGive every student and teacher at your school EnsembleWriter Pro for $80 a month, with no limit on how many people join. Invite people by their school email and manage the class list yourself.
- Frequently Asked QuestionsAnswers to common questions about EnsembleWriter: accounts, pricing, editor features, sharing, collaboration, and billing.
Screenplay Format
The complete guide to screenplay format and each of its building blocks: scene headings, action, dialogue, transitions, and more.
- Screenplay Format: The Complete GuideA complete guide to screenplay format — margins, font, the standard elements, spacing, page numbering, and a worked example. Everything you need to format a screenplay correctly.
- Scene Headings (Sluglines)Master screenplay scene headings and sluglines. Learn INT. vs EXT. formatting, time of day conventions, secondary scene headings, and common mistakes to avoid.
- Action Lines (Description)Learn how to write compelling screenplay action lines. Covers present tense, visual writing, character introductions, sound effects, and techniques for pacing your description blocks.
- Dialogue and ParentheticalsMaster screenplay dialogue formatting including character cues, parentheticals, V.O., O.S., CONT'D, dual dialogue, and techniques for writing natural dialogue with subtext.
- TransitionsLearn how and when to use screenplay transitions like CUT TO, DISSOLVE TO, SMASH CUT, MATCH CUT, FADE IN, and FADE OUT in modern screenwriting.
- Shots and InsertsLearn how to use INSERT, CLOSE ON, ANGLE ON, and POV shots in a screenplay, and when to let the director handle camera direction.
- Montages and Series of ShotsLearn how to format montages, series of shots, and intercuts in a screenplay. Covers training montages, passage of time, phone conversations, and proper formatting conventions.
- Common Screenplay MistakesAvoid the most common screenwriting mistakes: directing on the page, walls of text, on-the-nose dialogue, passive voice, orphaned sluglines, incorrect format, and overwriting.
- Screenplay Terminology GlossaryAn A-Z glossary of screenplay terms every screenwriter should know, from Action to V.O.
Story and Craft
Writing that reads well on the page: structure, writing visually, working with co-writers, and the scripts and books worth studying.
- Best Practices for Screenplay WritingLearn essential screenplay writing best practices including standard format, lean prose, show don't tell, white space, and professional standards used by working screenwriters.
- Writing VisuallyLearn how to write screenplays cinematically by conveying emotion, story, and character through what the audience sees rather than what they hear.
- Narrative Structures for Screenwriting: 17 Models ExplainedA complete guide to 17 narrative structures for feature film screenwriting — three-act, hero's journey, Save the Cat, Kishōtenketsu, nonlinear, and more — with page mapping, genre fit, pitfalls, and film examples for each.
- Collaboration EtiquetteBest practices for co-writing a screenplay in EnsembleWriter, including communication norms, handling disagreements, and keeping your collaboration productive.
- 10 Best Screenplay Examples of All TimeTen iconic screenplay scenes with analysis of why they work and links to open each one in EnsembleWriter.
- Best Screenwriting BooksA curated guide to the best screenwriting books for beginners and working writers, covering structure, craft, and the film industry.
Shot Lists
How to plan the shots for your film: a full example, a free template, and the shot list built into EnsembleWriter.
- Shot List Example: How to Make a Shot List for FilmA complete example shot list for a film scene, plus how to make your own step by step: which columns to include, how to plan coverage, and how to number and order shots. Free sample CSV.
- Using the Shot ListHow to build a shot list from your screenplay in EnsembleWriter: add and edit shots, place the camera and actors on an overhead blocking diagram, work on it with your crew, and export to PDF, CSV or a call sheet.
- Free Shot List Template for Film (CSV)Download a free shot list template for film and video: a blank CSV for Excel or Google Sheets and a filled-in sample shot list, with every column explained.
Screenwriting Software
Free screenwriting tools and honest comparisons of the major screenwriting apps.
- Best Free Screenwriting SoftwareAn honest, current roundup of the best free screenwriting software in 2026 — covering EnsembleWriter, WriterDuet, Trelby, KIT Scenarist, Causality, Beat, Fountain.io, and others. Strengths, weaknesses, and who each is for.
- Script Writing Software: A Practical GuideWhat script writing software does, what to look for, and the best free script writing software and apps for film, TV, and video. An honest, practical guide.
- Free Online Screenwriting SoftwareFree online screenwriting software that runs in your browser — no download, no install. Write and format screenplays on any device, with real-time collaboration.
- How to Write a Screenplay for FreeA practical, no-budget guide to writing your first screenplay from scratch in 2026. Free tools, industry-standard formatting, and what to do once you have a draft.
- Free Fountain EditorEdit Fountain screenplay files for free in your browser. Import .fountain, write with industry-standard formatting, export to PDF or back to Fountain. No install.