Recommended "Index Cards/Scene structure" software?

[liquid...@gmail.com]

Hi.

Firstly, congrats on Trelby - it works great and is simple to use.

I'm starting on my first screenplay and learning from a couple of books as I go. I've got the stage where I'm being recommended to use Index Cards to build up my story. Could you recommend any third-party products I should use?
I tried checking your resources page (which led me to KeepNote, which I now use!).

Now, I know Trelby doesn't have/need this feature, but I wonder whether there any Structure/Outline features planned for the product?

Thanks again,

Paul

[Anil Gulecha]

Outlining would be possible once the scene navigator lands in a release.. until then theres many utilities you should be able yo find via google.

~Anil

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[liquid...@gmail.com]

Thanks. Will look forward to getting that Scene Navigator feature in the next release.

Yes, of course Google was my first choice. But when I didn't find any obvious solutions, I thought I'd ask the opinion of the group.

Thanks again.

[kyl...@gmail.com]

Check out a free screenwriting program called CeltX. It has an index card mode that lets you fill out scene details and shift cards around.

https://www.celtx.com/desktop.html

I don't know if you'll be able to export your cards from CeltX to Trelby, though.

Kyle

[Simon Webb]

fwiw, i have had the index card feature in Movie Magic Screenwriter 6 and also Final Draft 8, and thought I played with those features I really have NEVER used them for writing a spec screenplay. Just so much simpler to develop and outline a story and scenes using a word processor (LibreOffice Writer is what I use, free). The new Final Draft 9 has even newer features such as outlining character arc, theme, but I find such features superfluous for a screenwriting program; char arc, theme, etc.-- just easier to outline those when using a word processor to beat out and outline a story, scenes.  I think some of these commercial screenwriting programs keep reaching for features to pitch for their upgrades, features not really needed or all that useful, but they have to do that entice writers to open wallets and be lured into upgrades.

[Ian Kementsetsidis]

First of all, good luck on your first screenplay. I will say "well done" when you finish it, 'cause the majority of wannabe screenwriters don't write. They think about writing, they talk about writing, they read books about writing, but they never write. Second most common phenomenon is that when they start writing, they stop around the end of act one. I know personally a lot of people who have loads of first act scripts. Somehow they never move to the second... It is worth it. Having a complete script is an amazing feeling; it feels like a baby, your own, which has been nurtured into a grown, complete, and complex human being. The same way you nurture a story - from an idea (a "what if", an image, a situation that happened to you in real life) to a complete, tridimensional, well crafted story, with rich and unique characters, with their own individual voice and agenda. It is truly awesome, and the sense of accomplishment at the end beats every other feeling you ever experienced; except maybe the birth of your kids! Haha.

If I were you, I'd read only a couple of books (these how-to manuals) on screenwriting. If you read one, or a couple, is like you've read all of them. It is far more important to read screenplays. I cannot stress that enough. Back in the day it was next to impossible to find screenplays; now, in this day and age, with internet, google, or this awesome website (http://scridx.com) you can find any script you want, download it and study it. That would be the first thing to do. It only takes a couple of hours to read a script. Read one every day for a week. At the end of the week you will have read seven. It's enough to give you the confidence to launch your screenwriting software (unfortunately if you're a mac user, like me, Trelby is not an option) and start writing.

Prior to that you should do your prep; it's like cooking. If you wanna cook something you have to make sure you have the ingredients. You have to research what ingredients you need and in which order they will be used. That is called outlining. Who's your protagonist, what does he want, and how will he make it happen. As always, there are obstacles. Someone else might want the same thing. Therefore we have conflict. Conflict is drama. It's very easy really. Like cooking. Initially it might seem impossible (or extremely difficult), but it's not. And the more you cook, the more confident you are, the better you become, and then you even start improvising. Using other ingredients than what the recipe suggests. That's your personal touch. Your voice.

Don't expect your first script to be a masterpiece. It takes time to master the craft. And it takes time to learn what works and what doesn't. And always keep in mind that your first draft is shit. I think even Hemingway said (if I'm not mistaken) that "the first draft of everything is shit"! It really is... David Mamet said something equally profound; writing is like sex; some of us are naturally good at it, some of us are not so good, but we all get better with practice. Or something along these lines.

As for the technique to use (outlining, not outlining, using index cards, not using index cards, writing backstories of characters or not) it really is simple; like sex. Some like it being on top, others not. Some like foreplay, others don't. It's all about YOU feeling comfortable, and enjoying yourself. People do things differently; just because one way works for someone doesn't necessarily means that this is the "right" way. There is not such a thing as "right" way. Experiment and you will discover what "way" works for you.

Let me say that I'm not an expert - I'm just offering my advice, which you are free to disregard. I don't even know why I've written this thing; it's a Trelby post here, not a screenwriting one. I hope the guys who run it will forgive me. And I also hope, in an effort to be cheeky, to one day have the Trelby for Mac working. Haha...

Best regards,

Ian Kementsetsidis 

[liquid...@gmail.com]

Wow, thank you Ian for that "thomping" reply post! 

Really appreciate the advice and glad to see that, from what you've suggested, I'm on the right lines. It's mostly a matter of commitment (which I am already struggling to maintain *eek!*).

Finally, thank you for connecting the analogy of scriptwriting to sex - pure brilliance!  Will try to keep it up! ;o)

Paul.

[Simon Webb]

Scrivener rocks for story development, index cards, full screen view mode unlike anything i have seen elsewhere; even has limited screenwriting mode formatting and can import/export final draft (and thus Trelby files indirectly as Trelby can import/export final draft files .fdx).