Screenwriting apps: On the go
At the core of every community the world over is the desire to speak and learn from each other. We don’t know if ancient Egyptians got writer’s block, but we do know writing a screenplay can feel daunting at times. Fear not, dear writer, as your life is about to get a whole lot easier. We thank the Silicon Valley tech boffins who have created a number of apps to help us lowly bards in the creative process when screenwriting on the go.
Naming App
Free; in-app purchases
Okay, it’s not a bespoke app for writers, but it’s still pretty useful for thinking up character names.
iAnnotate
$9.99
This app works a little bit like printing out paper and annotating by hand. Use it to annotate your research, your notes or even your drafts.
Final Draft
$19.99
We all know the classic Final Draft, and many of us swear by it. It’s available for your iPad now, which makes writing your screenplay on the go easier than ever.
Hanx Writer
Free
An experiential app created by Tom Hanks, this is basically a typewriter in your pocket, so you can pretend to be a Golden Age of Hollywood writer, without the finger strain.
Lists for Writers
$2.99
This app is a godsend for those with writer’s block and those struggling to get started – provides prompts to help you brainstorm ideas.
A Novel Idea
Free; in-app purchases
This app for all writers helps with plotting, planning, and execution. We’re not crazy about the UX, but it really helps for getting your thoughts in order.
Index Card
$2.99
At times, we like to do things the old-fashioned way. I love nothing more than working with index cards after I write my beat sheet, but more often than not they end up a badly organized mess. This app keeps your index cards organized and supercharged. We can’t rate this app highly enough.
Weekend Reader
Free
Weekend Reader is the agent assistant’s dream. It properly formats screenplays so you can read them on the go. Get your friends and family to download it when you ask for notes on your new script.
Fade In
$4.99
Fade In is a fantastic (cheaper) alternative to Final Draft.
