Screenwriting vs Published Writing
Screenwriting and Published Writing (by which I mean writing published in books or magazines) serve the same goal: to deliver a cohesive narrative to an audience.
However, the method in which they do this differs widely and it is worth taking the effort to point out some of the key differences:
Published Writing is usually a solitary effort while Screenwriting is inherently collaborative. Yes, writers in Published Writing can and will collaborate and yes, there are editors who can be heavily involved. However, in Published Writing, the goal is to allow the writer to present their ideas clearly for their readerships. However, in Screenwriting, everything is collaborative and the screenwriter’s task is not simply to create a narrative vision for themselves but also for the director and producer and the slew of other staff members who will be working on the project.
Published Writers have more individual control over their creative narratives than Screenwriters. In published writing, the writer is writing out their own ideas and perspectives and have full control over their work. This is not true with screenwriting due to its collaborative nature. However, working with other creatives can present more opportunities to learn how different people work and also see how various members of a team can contribute to one project.
Published narratives can write thoughts and feelings. Scripts cannot. A number one rule in screenwriting is that you cannot write the characters thoughts, realizations or feelings. All of these things must be shown either through the actions or the dialogue.
Scripts have to be written to fit within strict limits. Due to the expense of film and the limits of television, screenwriters are very limited the amount they can write for a project. They are also very limited in their format. Each script must have a discernible Act 1, Act 2 and Act 3 that follow the basic stage drama guidelines.
These are just a few points to highlight the key differences between these two styles of writing and hopefully answer a few questions for those people interested in one format versus another.
