Screenplay Writing Software

Do I Need Screenwriting Software?

I'm writing my first screenplay, do I need to buy a software so it looks ligit or does Microsoft word work just as good. If so, how do I type it out so its layed out like a normal screenplay should be?

Public Comments

1. Here is what you should get. It is called Celtx. I downloaded it and it is easy to use. http://www.celtx.com/ Have fun creating and not formatting. It is free too.
2. The computer-generated physical appearance of the document no doubt is important, as it will hopefully make you include the stuff which should be there, about sets, movement of actors, and on and on. But may I suggest that once you have seen the stuff laid out by the program mentioned, or better yet, getting your hands on a well-done example, simply put yourself in the place of everyone needed to stage the play, and give them everything they will need in the real world to do their job without having to guess at parts of it and improvising. To preserve your vision of it all while being burdened by this stuff, consider writing it in notes/novel form first, with a good outline. Regards, Larry.