Turn off the "capitalize the first letter of every sentence" function in Options>Autocorrect. One of the first things I do when I hit a new computer. And if those instructions are wrongs, I'll fix'em later when I get Word in front of me.

Macros in Word to change margins work great for me.  I don't need to press enter for each new line of dialogue, and it's only one compound keystroke to add new speeches or switch to action (I use Alt-D for dialogue, Ctr-Shft-A for action).
I downloaded the trial version of some software a while back, and it wasn't any easier than macros.  And macros allow me to write it in Word, which means everyone here can read it (I can't read scripts I've seen posted as Final Draft docs).

I've used Sophocles for years.  It's simple to use!

I am currently writing my first script with Hollywood screenplay.  My problem is that when I open my script as a word file it is at least 20 pages more than what it is supposed to be.  I have tried formatting different things but it always comes out differently.  My script is at 100 pages and not finished and I don't really know how long it really is.  What do I do?

Rewrite.

I think I don't fully understand the problem. Did you write your screenplay in a particular software and then open it in Word to find it a different length? If so, then that can happen depending on the software you use. Final Draft holds its formatting in Word because it's all about the font.

Word's Courier New, which is as close as you'll get to proper font, has its lines a little wide, but it usually doesn't tack on 20 pages. It's actually about 2 or 3 pages for every 50 in FD.

Now, if you're writing in Word (which I do most of the time anyway), then I would recommend finishing your script first and seeing how long it comes out to be. You might be concerned at 100 pages, but if you're not done, you can't know whether you'll be too long or not. I have one sitting at 160 pages for its early draft.

Finish it first, and then go back over it and tighten it down. Trim the fat. Kill unnecessary dialogue or scenes. But finishing is key. Do that first.

Was that a hit or miss?

I just found another site that has free screenwriting software.

Plus, it has every type of form you'll ever need for making a film, like: Editing log sheets, continuity sheets, release forms etc

http://www.dependentfilms.net/files.html

Chris, that is an excellent site! Thanks for the tip.

I've never written in the script format. I'm not even a newbie yet, yet it does appear to me that there is some sort of formal rules that govern the formating from the few dozen of scripts that I've read. However, I do use Word almost everyday at work and can't imagine fussing with it that much to make the format (or learning the rules). Word is most annoying IMHO. I use EditPad for stories, poems and thoughts. It's a little 500kb exe that works anywhere. Show me the free software... i'm in. (assuming i'll ever write a script)

Quoted from photodrone . Show me the free software... i'm in. (assuming i'll ever write a script)

http://www.celtx.com

I use this myself, and I find it REALLY easy.  I used to be a RoughDraft guy, and that's a good free package as well, but I think Celtx has their margins set a little better, and it doesn't require any additional setup for it to remember locations and character names.

Now, I know a lot of you would roll your eyes and say "Final Draft hands down", and yes, I am a former Final Draft user, but I've rescently had a chance to give Sophocles a pretty thorough test drive, and in my opinion, Sophocles' functionality rivals, if not surpasses Final Draft in format and structure interactivity. Could Sophocles join the ranks beside Final Draft as the "industry standard"? Please post your comments.

I have had limited experience with Sophocles but had a copy when I first started writing and it helped me but at the end of the day at the time it was harder to convert into something people would be able to read.

Mind you, I had the trial version.

Final Draft and I on the other hand have had a documented love/hate relationship. It screwed me out of title pages until they released the patch, it screwed up half my scripts and forced me to revert to older files I had saved and many other things it has done. Plus the people they have to answer questions are stupid and have no answers but the pre-written garbage they spew from the website help forum.

I would say that for me as long as it works, it could be called Grease and I'd still use it. MS Word also has the specs built right into it.

I love my Sophocles.  

My only experience with Sophocles was the trial version. I wrote something with it that I then wanted to use with another piece of software. Problem was it would not let me convert it to something readable by other pieces of software. I couldn't even copy and paste it. I ended up having to retype what I had written into Final Draft - which is where I should have written it in the first place.  This might not be the case with the purchased version of the software but the whole experience soured me on Sophocles.

By the way. Alan. Cool little movie on your signature.

I've never had any experience with Sophocles. In fact, I'd never even heard of it until I read through this thread. But Final Draft rocks the house down. I've been on it for a little bit now and it's just got everything I need. I don't understand why there would be a better program because it just does everything I've ever needed it to do. And the dual dialog feature is just... words simply can't....


Sigh.


Cheers, Chismeister.

Just use Celtx. It's a really good program with quick PDF generation and its free. It used to have a couple of bugs but they've all been fixed now. There are people to help out with troubles and complaints too. Better than paying for either FD or Sophocles.