How do you outline a screenplay?
Start with a one-sentence logline, then list the major story beats: the setup, the inciting incident, the turning points and the ending. Break those beats into scenes, one line each, on cards you can move around. Only start writing pages once the order of scenes works.
1. A logline
One sentence: who wants what, and what stands in the way.
2. The beats
Setup, inciting incident, the point of no return, the midpoint, the low point, the climax and the resolution.
3. Scene cards
One card per scene, with its heading and what changes in it. If nothing changes, cut or merge it.
4. Write
With the cards in order, drafting becomes filling in rather than inventing.
True-Script includes an outline, a beat board, scene status and character notes, all linked to your script.
Why outline at all?
An outline is a map of your story before you write the scenes. It lets you fix structural problems, such as a sagging middle or an ending that hasn't been set up, while they are still cheap to fix. Rewriting a ten-line outline takes minutes; rewriting forty pages of a draft that went the wrong way takes weeks. Even writers who like to discover the story as they go usually benefit from a loose outline of the main turning points.
Four ways to outline
- Logline: one or two sentences describing the protagonist, their goal and what stands in the way. If you can't write one, the story probably isn't clear yet.
- Beat sheet: a list of the key story moments: the opening image, the inciting incident, the first act break, the midpoint, the low point, the climax and the final image.
- Scene list: one line per scene, saying where it happens and what changes. A feature usually has 40 to 70 scenes.
- Treatment: a prose version of the story, from a page to a dozen pages, written in the present tense. Treatments are often used to pitch.
A simple three-act guide
- Act one (about the first quarter): introduce the world and the protagonist, then hit them with the inciting incident that sets the story in motion.
- Act two (the middle half): the character pursues the goal against growing obstacles. A midpoint reversal raises the stakes, and the act ends at a low point.
- Act three (the last quarter): the character makes a final choice and the story reaches its climax and resolution.
From outline to pages
Once each scene on your list has a clear purpose, start writing pages, but treat the outline as a guide, not a contract. Characters will surprise you. When they do, update the outline so it stays useful. Many writers find it quickest to dictate the first draft of each scene straight from the scene list; in True-Script you can talk your way down the list and have formatted pages at the end of the session.
Common questions
Do professional screenwriters outline?
Most do, in some form. An outline makes the first draft faster and avoids rewriting whole acts later.
How long should a screenplay outline be?
Anything from one page of beats to fifteen pages of scene descriptions. Use whatever length helps you see the whole story clearly.
Is a treatment the same as an outline?
A treatment is a type of outline written as prose, often for pitching. Scene lists and beat sheets are more practical for writing.