Table of Contents
Quick Answer
Write a feature-length screenplay (90-110 pages) in 30 days using AI for beat sheets, scene outlines, and dialogue drafts, formatted in Final Draft or WriterDuet.
- 15 Save the Cat beats = your blueprint
- 1 page = 1 minute of screen time
- Dialogue: AI drafts, you punch it up
What You'll Need
- A premise (logline + genre)
- WriterDuet (free) or Final Draft ($250)
- Assisters or Sudowrite
- A Save the Cat beat sheet template
- 30 days of daily writing
Step 1: Write a Tight Logline
"[Protagonist] must [active goal] or [stakes]." Example: "A disgraced surgeon must perform an underground transplant to save her sister — or lose her last chance at redemption."
If you can't compress to one sentence, the concept isn't tight enough.
Step 2: Fill the 15-Beat Sheet
Prompt AI: "Using Save the Cat's 15 beats, map my screenplay. Logline: [yours]. Page ranges: Opening Image p1, Catalyst p12, Break into 2 p25, Midpoint p55, All Is Lost p75, Finale p85-110. Give one paragraph per beat."
Step 3: Expand Beats Into 40-Scene Outline
Prompt: "Break my beat sheet into 40 scenes. Each: scene slugline, 2-3 sentence action summary, POV, tension score 1-10."
Step 4: Build Character Voice Samples
For each main character, prompt: "Give me 5 sample lines of dialogue for [character]. She's [trait]. Her speech pattern: [description]. Make each line sound only like her — not generic."
Step 5: Draft Scenes at 3-5 Pages/Day
Open WriterDuet → create scene → prompt: "Draft Scene 22: INT. HOSPITAL BASEMENT - NIGHT. Sarah confronts Dr. Chen. Goal: get the organ. Subtext: betrayal. End on a page-turn moment. 3 pages."
Rewrite dialogue in character voices.
Step 6: Format Correctly
WriterDuet auto-formats. Key rules:
- INT./EXT. LOCATION - TIME
- Action = present tense, visual
- Dialogue centered, character name above
- No camera directions ("PAN TO") unless you're also the director
Step 7: Read Aloud Test
After each act, read dialogue aloud (or use WriterDuet's Table Read feature). If it sounds like narration — rewrite. Screenplays are for the ear.
Step 8: Polish With AI Critique
Prompt: "Analyze Act 2 for: pacing drops, subtext density, on-the-nose dialogue, character agency. List top 5 fixes."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Writing novelistic action lines (screenplays are visual, not internal)
- Letting AI write dialogue verbatim (sounds generic)
- Too much setup before inciting incident (must hit by p12)
- Ignoring industry format (gets tossed in first 5 pages)
- No clear protagonist goal per scene
Top Tools
Tool
Use Case
Free Tier
Best For
WriterDuet
Screenplay editor
Yes
Free formatting
Final Draft
Industry standard
No ($250)
Studio submissions
Assisters
Beats + dialogue
Yes
Full workflow
Sudowrite
Scene drafting
Trial
Creative expansion
Coverfly
Contest submissions
Yes
Feedback + access
FAQs
Can AI-written screenplays sell? Managers and producers are divided. AI-assisted: fine. Pure AI output: low sale rate.
What's the page count for a feature? 90-110 pages. Comedy 95, drama 105, thriller 100.
Do I need Final Draft? WriterDuet (free) produces industry-format PDFs accepted by all agents.
How long to write a spec script? First draft in 30 days; 3-6 months to polish.
Should I write TV or feature? TV is more open to new writers in 2026. Feature is still prestige.
Does AI help with dialogue? Drafts only. You must add subtext and rhythm.
What about WGA rules on AI? WGA 2023 contract allows AI as writer tool but bans studios from forcing AI scripts. Stay on the writer side.
Conclusion
A screenplay is architecture. AI gives you scaffolding; you provide the voice, subtext, and cinematic moments. 30 days of focused work and you have a draft.
Try Assisters free →