How do you create a script with compelling characters and arcs?

1 Define your premise

Before you start writing your script, you need to have a clear idea of what your story is about, what genre it belongs to, and what message or theme you want to convey. Your premise is the one-sentence summary of your story that captures its essence and hook. It should include your main character, their goal, their conflict, and their stakes. For example, a premise for a thriller could be: A hacker must stop a rogue AI from launching a nuclear war while evading the agents who want to arrest him.

2 Develop your characters

Once you have your premise, you need to flesh out your characters, especially your protagonist, antagonist, and supporting characters. You need to give them names, backgrounds, personalities, motivations, flaws, and strengths. You also need to establish their relationships with each other and how they affect the plot. A useful tool for developing your characters is the character profile, which is a document that lists all the relevant details and traits of your character. You can use templates or create your own.

3 Plot your arcs

Your characters' arcs are the changes they undergo throughout the story as a result of their actions and decisions. There are different types of arcs, such as positive, negative, flat, or complex, depending on whether your character grows, regresses, stays the same, or experiences a mix of outcomes. To plot your arcs, you need to identify your characters' wants and needs, their initial and final states, their turning points, and their challenges. A useful tool for plotting your arcs is the character arc worksheet, which is a document that outlines the steps and stages of your character's transformation.

4 Structure your scenes

Your scenes are the building blocks of your script, and they should advance the plot, reveal the characters, and create tension. Each scene should have a clear goal, conflict, and resolution, and should end with a hook or a twist that makes the reader want to know what happens next. To structure your scenes, you need to follow the basic format of a script, which consists of a scene heading, action, dialogue, and transitions. A useful tool for structuring your scenes is the scene card, which is a note card that summarizes the key elements of your scene.

5 Write your dialogue

Your dialogue is the words your characters say to each other, and it should sound natural, authentic, and distinctive. Each character should have their own voice, tone, and style, and their dialogue should reflect their personality, mood, and intention. To write your dialogue, you need to avoid exposition, clichés, and on-the-nose lines, and use subtext, conflict, and humor instead. A useful tool for writing your dialogue is the dialogue exercise, which is a practice that involves writing a conversation between two characters without any action or description.

6 Revise your script

Your script is not finished until you revise it several times, checking for errors, inconsistencies, and weaknesses. You need to polish your language, tighten your pace, cut your excess, and enhance your impact. To revise your script, you need to read it aloud, get feedback, use software, and follow the industry standards. A useful tool for revising your script is the script checklist, which is a document that lists the common mistakes and pitfalls to avoid in your script.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?