Writing in Fountain
Fountain is a plain-text format for screenplays: you just type, and the
formatting rules below turn your text into a professionally formatted
script. Most of it happens automatically — you rarely need special symbols.
The basics
| Element | How to write it | Example |
|---|
| Scene heading |
Start a line with INT., EXT., or
INT./EXT. with a blank line before and after.
Use the toolbar buttons to insert one instantly. |
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY |
| Action |
Just type. Any normal paragraph is action / description. |
She pours the coffee slowly. |
| Character |
A line in ALL CAPS, with a blank line before it and dialogue
right after it. |
SARAH |
| Dialogue |
The line(s) immediately after a character name. |
SARAH
You're late. Again. |
| Parenthetical |
A line in (parentheses) inside a dialogue block. |
SARAH
(smiling)
You're late. Again. |
| Transition |
An all-caps line ending in TO:, surrounded by blank
lines. Or force any line with >. |
CUT TO: or > FADE OUT. |
A complete example
Title: THE LAST DRAFT
Author: Your Name
FADE IN:
INT. WRITER'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
A cramped studio. Coffee cups everywhere. JORDAN (30s,
sleep-deprived) stares at a blinking cursor.
JORDAN
(to the screen)
Just one good scene. That's all I ask.
The cursor blinks. Unmoved.
CUT TO:
EXT. CITY STREET - DAY
Jordan walks with new purpose, script pages in hand.
> FADE OUT.
Emphasis
| Style | Syntax |
|---|
| Italic | *italic* |
| Bold | **bold** |
| Underline | _underline_ |
Power tools
| What | Syntax | Notes |
|---|
| Forced scene heading | .RETURN TO BARN |
A leading period makes any line a scene heading. |
| Forced character | @McCLANE |
For names that aren't all-caps. |
| Forced action | !BANG BANG BANG |
Stops an all-caps line being read as a character. |
| Centered text | >THE END< | |
| Page break | === | On its own line. |
| Dual dialogue | CHARACTER ^ |
Caret after the second character's name. |
| Notes | [[fix this later]] |
Visible while writing, never printed or exported. |
| Boneyard | /* cut material */ |
Comment out whole chunks of script. |
| Sections | # Act One |
Outline structure for you — not printed. |
| Synopsis | = Sarah finds the key. |
Scene summaries for you — not printed. |
Title page
Start your document with key–value lines, then a blank line:
Title: MY SCREENPLAY
Credit: Written by
Author: Your Name
Draft date: 2026-07-08
Contact: you@example.com
Editor tips
- Spell check is on — misspelled words get the squiggly
underline; right-click for suggestions.
- Scene list in the sidebar — click any scene to jump to it.
- Ctrl/Cmd + S saves immediately (autosave runs anyway).
- DAY / NIGHT buttons set the time of day on the scene
heading your cursor is on.
- Share link gives you a private URL anyone can read,
even if the script isn't public.
- Export anytime as professional PDF, plain text, or
the raw
.fountain file (which any Fountain app can open).
Try it now — no account needed