Writing a story is an art that comes in many forms. Understanding the type of story you want to tell and the tools/techniques required to execute it are very important. Two of the biggest forms of writing for longer stories are prose and script formats. Scripts are made for the stage or the screen, while prose is only meant for reading. We will dive into each form to better understand which is the best for your story.
Purpose and Structure
Prose
If you choose to write something in prose, the purpose typically falls along the lines of a novel, article, essay, short story, etc. These writings follow standard grammar rules and focus on the flow of sentences and paragraphs. The main takeaway from writing in prose is that your reader can be fully immersed in the world of your writing. You can add incredible detail to your story, thoughts, and emotions, and provide valuable descriptions that allow the reader to experience the story as they read. Prose is all about bringing a world to life with your words so that people can see your world in their heads.
Scriptwriting
Scriptwriting is a much different type of storytelling from prose. It is meant to act as a blueprint for the actors, directors, editors, etc., who will take your writing and bring it to life. The picture isn’t fully painted with scriptwriting; it is only outlined, but don’t take that to mean it is easy by any means. Scriptwriting has a very specific structure that focuses mainly on scene headings (where and when the scene takes place), character names followed by their dialogue, and action descriptions that describe what is happening in the scene. It is quite a simple format in its own complicated way. For a writer, it can be very difficult to transition to this way of writing because it requires you to use as few words as possible with just enough description to get the purpose, tone, and message across. You walk a very fine line with scriptwriting, and many writers will struggle with over- or under-writing.
Length and Pacing
Prose
Prose writing allows the writer a lot of flexibility to write as much as they want. If you wish to have your own creative liberties and write however you wish, in a voice that best suits you and in a format that works for your story, then prose will be your best option. The wonderful thing about prose writing is that you can really take your time to focus on deep and detailed descriptions. I’ve seen stories where the author takes several pages to describe one singular facial expression on one person’s face – and it was beautiful. Pacing and length for prose writing are entirely controlled by the author for however they choose to navigate their narrative. Chapters are utilized to break up the story and keep the pacing flowing a lot smoother.
Script
Scriptwriting does not allow so much freedom with your length and pacing. There are general guidelines to be followed, and failing to do so might result in your project ending up in the trash. A standard screenplay will be about 90-120 pages (relatively 1-2 hours long) and will typically be broken up into 3 acts, or for writers who prefer more structure, 8 sequences. Each section of the script needs a very specific role to be played; there needs to be a beginning, middle, and end to the story written in a way that keeps the audience engaged all the way through to the end. If you do not keep it structured and have enough depth to your story, it will simply never get sold, made, or seen by anyone.
Conclusion
Overall, writing a story takes time and a lot of love to be poured into each project. Understanding the type of story you want to write is the first step in the journey, and a very crucial one. Prose and script writing are very different, and each takes lots of practice. So, know your story and listen to the path it tells you to take
