script writing software final draft alternative

The smart screenwriter in today’s age is always scanning the horizon looking for the best composing tool available while waiting to pull the trigger on Final Draft when the time’s right. To be frank, if you aren’t at least having a casual look around at the alternatives to the most critical piece of software you’ll use as a writer, you are, as we say in the UK, “ being a bit of a muppet”. I’ve yet to see a single Final Draft advocate come up with a list of objective reasons why it’s better than the competition. They want you to join the cult so the cult grows stronger. Those that argue it’s the best screenwriting software option out there often do so because they simply haven’t tried the modern alternatives and feel a sense of exclusivity in using the same tools as their heroes. So, given that Final Draft itself is designed for composing screenplays and is so commonly used within the industry, why not just roll over and use it by default? Well, beside the hefty $250 price tag for what’s essentially a glorified text editor, it’s arguably a clunky composition tool with an ugly interface that lacks many useful story-writing features.

It’s important we separate composition from collaboration. When it comes to collaboration however, you have little choice but to fall in line much like the average office worker needs to know how to use Microsoft Office or a graphic designer needs to be familiar with the Adobe Creative Suite. Therefore, you should use what brings out the best in you as a writer just like a painter finding the right brushes or a musician selecting the right instrument. When it comes to composing a screenplay (i.e just writing), there is no industry standard other than being able to output a correctly formatted pdf. But the industry standard side of Final Draft only really applies to the file format, the revision work-flow, and the various bits of software related to production that plug-in to it. You will find most industry members assume you use it.

Final Draft is an industry standard, that’s undeniable. I’m presenting this as alternatives to Final Draft and dismissing the notion that it’s an essential purchase to aspiring screenwriters but I want to establish the context here.

Script writing software final draft alternative