How Long Does It Take To Write A Movie Script?

Factors That Affect How Long It Takes to Write a Script

Let’s break down the key factors that influence your screenwriting timeline.

1. Your Experience Level

For beginners, writing a screenplay can feel like navigating uncharted territory. You’re learning industry formatting, mastering the three-act structure, and developing your unique voice—all of which take time.

Tip: Don’t rush. Focus on learning the basics and creating a solid story. Your first script is as much about the process as the product.

2. The Complexity of Your Story

A straightforward romantic comedy may take less time to write than a sprawling sci-fi epic with intricate world-building and multiple subplots.

Example: Compare the simplicity of Before Sunrise (two characters talking over one night) with the complexity of Inception (layers of dreams and shifting timelines). Both are brilliant, but one likely took far longer to craft.

3. Time You Can Dedicate

Are you writing full-time or squeezing in pages between work and family commitments? Your availability, and the tools you use, play a big role in determining your timeline.

Exercise: Create a realistic writing schedule. Even one hour a day can lead to significant progress over time.

4. Research Requirements

Some scripts demand extensive research, whether it’s diving into historical events or understanding a specialized profession. The more research your story requires, the longer it may take.

Example: Writing The Social Network required Aaron Sorkin to immerse himself in the world of tech startups and legal battles.

5. Revisions and Feedback

The first draft is just the beginning. Professional scripts often go through multiple rewrites based on feedback from peers, producers, or mentors. Rewriting can add weeks—or even months—to your timeline.

Quote: “Writing is rewriting. A writer must learn to deepen characters, trim writing, intensify scenes. To fall in love with the first draft to the point where one cannot change it is to greatly enhance the prospects of never publishing.”

— Richard North Patterson

A Step-by-Step Timeline for Writing a Script

Here’s a general breakdown of how long each stage of the process might take.

1. Brainstorming and Outlining (2–4 Weeks)

Before you write a single word of dialogue, spend time brainstorming your story’s core elements:

• Who is your protagonist, and what do they want?
• What are the major plot points?
• What themes or messages do you want to convey?

It’s much easier to write this out plainly, instead of while you’re scripting, and it’s MUCH easier to fix potential problems at the outline level and beat sheet stage than at the script stage. 

Tip: Use a beat sheet or outline to map out your story before starting your draft. This can save you hours of frustration later.

2. First Draft (6–12 Weeks)

Once you have an outline, dive into your first draft. The goal here is not perfection—it’s to get your ideas on the page, which is what the actualiz FirstDraft tool is all about.

• Write consistently, even if it’s just a few pages a day.
• Don’t worry about editing as you go; that comes later.

Exercise: Aim for 3–5 pages per day. At this pace, you can finish a 90-page script in about 4–6 weeks.

3. Revising and Rewriting (4–8 Weeks)

After finishing your first draft, take a break for a week or two. When you return, approach it with fresh eyes:

• Tighten dialogue.
• Strengthen character arcs.
• Cut unnecessary scenes.

Tip: Share your script with trusted friends or mentors for feedback. A fresh perspective can reveal issues you may have overlooked.

4. Final Polishing (2–4 Weeks)

Once the major revisions are done, focus on polishing your script:

• Ensure formatting is flawless, use tools like actualiz to take care of this for you.
• Check for spelling and grammatical errors.
• Read it out loud to catch awkward dialogue or pacing issues.

Tips to Speed Up the Screenwriting Process

If you’re eager to finish your script faster without sacrificing quality, here are some actionable tips:

1. Set Daily Goals

Consistency is key. Whether it’s writing a certain number of pages or dedicating a set amount of time each day, small daily steps lead to big progress.

Exercise: Try the “Pomodoro Technique”—write for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and repeat.

2. Use Writing Tools

Free tools are great, but sometimes free costs more than a paid tool with the amount of added time you’ll spend.

Screenwriting software like actualiz.io can help you create a one sheeter, beat sheet and 20 – 30 pages of professionally formatted first draft in just a few minutes. Plus, it’s a full-featured script editor so no need to worry about tedious formatting.

3. Avoid Perfectionism

Perfect is the enemy of good.

Your first draft shouldn’t be perfect, it should be complete from start to finish.

Accept that it will have rough edges—it’s part of the process. There’s an old saying, “sometimes you need a sledgehammer and sometimes you need a scalpel. Wisdom is knowing when to use which one.”

In other words, writing the first draft is using a sledgehammer.

Focus on the logistics of the story in your first draft – getting characters from point A to point B, and making sure the story is well paced, with story beats occuring where they should in the script. 

Once you get the structural stuff out of the way, then it’s time to go back and fine tune your script (the scalpel) in the rewrites. The rewrites are where you’ll hyper fixate on every single word of dialogue to make it perfect, and add subtext and more character depth. 

But solidify the foundation of your story and get rough first draft out of the way first.

4. Stay Accountable

Find a writing partner or join a screenwriting group to stay motivated and receive constructive feedback.

Final Thoughts: How Long Should It Take You?

The time it takes to write a movie script depends on your story, experience, and circumstances. Whether it takes you six weeks or six months, the key is to keep writing. Progress, no matter how slow, is still progress.

Remember, every great screenplay starts with a single idea. Stick to your schedule, embrace the process, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The important thing is to finish—and then make it better.

Now, grab your notebook, fire up your laptop, and start writing the story that’s been waiting to be told. Your script won’t write itself, but with dedication, it will get written.