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The Fountain Markup guide
What is Fountain?
Fountain is a simple markup syntax for writing screenplays in plain text. Created by screenwriters for screenwriters, it allows you to focus on your story while automatically handling all the complex formatting requirements of professional screenplays.
Think of it as Markdown for screenwriters - a human-readable format that converts to beautiful, industry-standard PDFs (with the Screenwriter app!).
Fountain syntax guide
Scene headings
Scene headings (also called sluglines) indicate location and time.
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
EXT. PARK - NIGHT
INT. SARAH'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
Add a slugline with Screenwriter:
- Start with
INT.(interior) orEXT.(exterior) - you can start typing or tap these on the suggestions bar - Add location after a space or select a previous location from the suggestions bar
- Use
-to separate location from time (again provided by the suggestions bar!) - Add the time of day - you guessed it... all the common ones are provided in the suggestions bar
Character names
Character names go on their own line. You don't need to type them in caps, Screenwriter will format them for you when it exports the script.
In Screenwriter: Type @sarah and it automatically formats to SARAH - you'll find the @ symbol on the suggestion bar top save you hunting for it.
@sarah
I can't believe you said that.
@john
What was I supposed to do?
Once you have typed a character name in this way, Screenwriter will remember it and suggest it in the suggestions bar, so you don't need to type the whole name in again.
Dialogue
Dialogue directly follows character names. No special formatting needed.
@sarah
The coffee here is terrible, but I keep coming back. There's
something about this place that feels like home.
@john
Maybe it's not the coffee you're here for.
Do not add an extra, empty line after the character name, or it will revert to action text.
Parentheticals
Stage directions for actors go in parentheses, directly after the character name and before the dialogue.
@sarah
(looking out the window)
Do you ever wonder what would have happened if we'd taken
that job in Portland?
@john
(quietly)
Every day.
Action lines
Describe what happens on screen. No special formatting required. Remember - one shot per paragraph. Make sure there is a clear, empty line between each action paragraph.
Sarah stirs her coffee absently, watching pedestrians
hurry past the window.
The afternoon light casts long shadows across the table.
John checks his phone for the third time in five minutes.
Transitions
Scene transitions are formatted upper-case, right-aligned and end with a colon. You just need to type them in lower-case (remember the colon!):
fade in:
Sarah enters the coffee shop.
cut to:
ext. park - later
fade out:
Note: Most modern screenplays use minimal transitions. Use sparingly! CUT TO: is particularly redundant.
Advanced Fountain features
Forced scene headings
Occasionally, you might require non-standard scene headings.
Use . or ! at the start to force scene heading formatting.
.flashback - 1987
!the dream sequence
Character extensions
For when characters continue speaking or speak off-screen. Again, just type lower-case.
@sarah (con't)
And another thing...
@john (o.s.)
I'm in the kitchen!
@sarah (v.o.)
I should have seen it coming.
Notes and comments
Add notes and script that won't appear when you preview or export. Use these to add notes, ask questions, or block out sections of script that you think you might need later.
For a single line, prefix it with //
// Should we have Sarah lose the plot at this point?
For a larger section of text, wrap it in /* followed by */ at the end
/*
This section of text will not be exported or seen in the preview.
@sarah
The dillyfangs are creeping up on me!
@john
What?
*/
Fountain vs. Traditional software
| Feature | Fountain | Traditional software |
|---|---|---|
| Learning Curve | Minutes to learn | Hours of tutorials |
| File Size | Tiny (plain text) | Large proprietary files |
| Compatibility | Works everywhere | Software-dependent |
| Version Control | Perfect Git integration | Difficult or impossible |
| Cost | Free format | Expensive licenses |
| Collaboration | Easy text sharing | Complex file sharing |
| Mobile Writing | Any text app works | Limited mobile options |
| Future Access | Always readable | Format may become obsolete |
Fountain Resources
Official specification
- fountain.io - Complete syntax reference
- Fountain Apps - Compatible software list
Example scripts
Study professional scripts written in Fountain: - "Big Fish" by John August - "The Last Birthday Card" by Stu Maschwitz - Available on the Fountain website
Community
- r/screenwriting subreddit
- John August's blog (johnaugust.com)
Ready to Write?
Fountain markup removes barriers between you and your story. No complex software to master, no formatting to worry about, no subscriptions to maintain.
Just pure, focused screenwriting.
Use the Screenwriter app - the fastest way to write Fountain screenplays on iOS.