The Guardian and Observer have put out a useful series of booklets called How to Write. The plays and screenplays one came out on Tuesday 23rd September. If you missed it, it's on their website at www.guardian.co.uk/books/series/howtowrite.
One article stresses the importance of good layout, as the first contact with judges, producers, directors, actors etc is with the written page. It is possible to find downloadable formats (see the BBC Writersroom) but you may prefer to set up your own. The essentials are that the font is of a reasonable size (11/12pt), and that there is a clear distinction between dialogue and stage directions. If you know how to use Styles, you can set them for your layout:
Set Style 1 to have a hanging indent wide enough to accomodate your longest character name.
Set Style 2 with a wider indent and italics for stage directions.
If you keep the formatting panel open as you type you can easily jump between styles.
You can use Autocorrect to set up all your characters' names. Nothing more infuriating when you have a run of quick-fire dialogue if you have to keep typing the name on every line! Give Autocorrect the first letter (or two) and correct it to the full name in Caps. Much faster. You can also set P for Pause or other words than you will use repeatedly.
If anyone has any other more useful tips, please post them.
Jacquie
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