Chapter 15

Page Break Rules

The Rules:

  • Do not break dialogue or stage directions in mid-sentence.
  • Do not page break between a character name and the dialogue that follows.
  • See Continuing Dialogue for instructions about how to break in the middle of a character's dialogue.

Page Breaking rules like the above can be automatically dealt with. If there were any one software product that could truly be said to have changed the world for scriptwriters, it has been the 'Stand Alone Script Formatter.' These products store your character names, scene locations, margin settings, and CASE settings for all elements. They have note annotation, index card like viewing, voice read back of character dialogue, even online copyright registration. In other words, they let you concentrate on your writing by doing virtually everything else. The time you'll save makes this money very well spent.

Binding

The Rules: Three-hole punch your play using brads in the top and bottom holes, leaving the middle hole empty.

Unless a theater has specific guidelines, binding varies. I prefer to package my plays like screenplays.

Want a more secure script? Some writers like to three-hole punch script covers to use as front and back covers. When a theater requires a "securely bound" script, I particularly favor a folder (it works with a standard three-hole punch) with a card backing and a see-through front. Whichever method you prefer, The Writers Store carries all of the supplies necessary to package your script appropriately for submission. For ten-minute plays, a secure staple in the upper-left corner is usually sufficient unless the theater tells you otherwise. Do not paperclip scripts unless directed to do so by the theater, ditto with loose scripts (the US Register of Copyrights is the exception to the loose script rule).