How to Format a Screenplay in Google Docs

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870535 How to Format a Screenplay in Google Docs

Whether you’re an aspiring screenwriter looking to write your first script or a seasoned pro working on your next big project, Google Docs can be a great free tool for writing screenplays. While it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of paid screenwriting software, Google Docs has all the necessary formatting features to arrange your script properly.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of formatting a screenplay correctly in Google Docs, from setting up the document to arranging scene headings, action lines, character names, dialogues, transitions, and more. We’ll also cover some tips and best practices for writing scripts in Google Docs.

Set Up Your Google Doc for Screenplay Formatting

The first step is to set up your Google Doc file so it’s optimized for writing scripts:

  • Create a new Google Doc. Give it a filename reflecting your script’s title.
  • Set margins to 1.5 or 2 inches on all sides. This gives enough white space on the sides for binding.
  • Choose the font Courier Prime at either 12pt or 14pt size. The standard screenplay font, Courier Final Draft, isn’t available on Google Docs. But Courier Prime looks very similar.
  • Line spacing should be set to single-space.
  • Indent paragraphs by 0.5 inches. This helps clearly distinguish action paragraphs from dialogues.
  • Turn off hyphenation so words aren’t broken across lines unnaturally. This feature is under Tools > Hyphenation.

Once you’ve set up page layout and fonts, you’re ready to start formatting your script elements.

Format Scene Headings Consistently

Scene headings indicate when and where a scene occurs. They are written in ALL CAPS and follow a specific format:

INT. LOCATION - TIME OF DAY

For example:

INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

Use line breaks before and after scene headings to clearly distinguish them from action lines. Be consistent with how you format and punctuate all your sluglines.

Pro tip: Create text snippets for your commonly used scene heading formats like INT, EXT, DAY, NIGHT. Then easily insert these snippets instead of retyping each time.

Structure Action Lines Properly

Action lines make up most of your screenplay. They appear below scene headings and describe the visual details unfolding on screen – settings, characters’ actions, dialogues.

Format action lines following these guidelines:

  • Use paragraph breaks to separate distinct actions and beats.
  • Keep paragraphs 3 lines or less. Break them up for easy reading.
  • Don’t indent the first line of action paragraphs. Indentation is only for dialogues.
  • Use sentence case – capitalize the first word of each sentence.
  • Insert a page break when you reach the bottom of a page to prevent widows/orphans.

Here’s an properly formatted action line example:

JANE, 20s, enters the busy coffee shop in a hurry. She gets in line behind two OTHER CUSTOMERS.

One barista, EMILY, early 20s, makes a latte at the espresso machine. The other, LUKE, a tall 20-something, rings up a customer at the register.

Format Character Names and Dialogues Correctly

Anytime a character speaks, their name should appear above their dialogue like so:

JANE
Can I get a vanilla latte, please?

Format character names and dialogues using these guidelines:

  • Always put the character name on a separate line above their dialogue.
  • Capitalize the character names and center align them.
  • Use paragraph breaks before and after character names to distinguish dialogues.
  • Indent dialogue paragraphs 0.5 inches. This indicates it’s spoken words.
  • Dialogue is written in sentence case just like action lines.

Here’s properly formatted character name and dialogue:

JANE  
Can I get a vanilla latte, please?

EMILY
Sure thing. What size?

JANE
Medium, please.

Use Transitions to Indicate Scene Changes

When you want to transition between scenes or show a passage of time, use transition phrases like:

  • CUT TO:
  • LATER
  • AN HOUR LATER
  • NIGHT
  • NEXT MORNING

Format transitions like so:

  • Write in ALL CAPS
  • Center align on a line by itself
  • Use line breaks before and after transitions.

For example:

JANE smiles, excited to finally get her coffee.

CUT TO: 

INT. JANE'S OFFICE - DAY
Jane walks to her desk holding her coffee.

Additional Screenplay Formatting Tips

Here are some other formatting tips for writing scripts in Google Docs:

  • Use asterisks around italicized text to indicate a voice over or off-screen sound.
  • Insert triple asterisks centered* in between scenes to indicate act breaks.
  • Hyphenate words broken across lines like so: data-base
  • Create bookmarks for easy scene navigation in longer scripts.
  • Add page numbers using the Insert > Page number menu.

Why Format Screenplays Properly?

You might be wondering…why go through all this trouble to format scripts in Google Docs? Why not just write it like a regular document?

Proper screenplay formatting isn’t just about looks – it’s about professionalism and readability. As both an artistic and technical document, a script needs to arrange story information clearly.

Consistent formatting helps readers visualize your story and builds your credibility with producers, directors, and actors who may read your work. It also helps you improve as a writer by distinguishing scene elements.

So take the time to format correctly. It’s worth the effort!

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