How to Write a Screenplay in 30 Days (A Day-by-Day Plan for November)

You can write a feature screenplay in 30 days by writing about three pages a day. Most first drafts land around 90 pages, and 90 ÷ 30 = 3. The trick isn't talent or free time. It's deciding your story's big turns before day one, then protecting a small daily habit until November 30.

Plenty of writers are about to try exactly that. First Draft November starts on November 1 with a simple, free goal: a blank page to 90 pages in 30 days. And Stage 32's 12th annual November Write Club kicks off on November 2.

This guide gives you the math, a prep checklist, a week-by-week plan, and a free tracker. It works whether this is your first script or your fifteenth. And if Halloween week has you in the mood for horror, there's a horror version of the plan too.

Why November is suddenly the month for screenwriters

For years, novelists had NaNoWriMo and screenwriters tagged along. Then the organization announced it was shutting down in March 2025, citing long-running money problems.

Screenwriters have filled the gap themselves:

• First Draft November: organised by French director Hugo Thomas. It's free and you can use any software, even a notebook (ScreenwritingRx, Oct 19).
• Stage 32 November Write Club: weekly challenges every Monday in November, with prize drawings for writers who complete them (Stage 32).

Writing alongside other people helps. You don't need to join anything to use this plan, but a deadline you share is harder to quietly drop.

The math: why 30 days is realistic

A screenplay page is roughly one minute of screen time. Final Draft recommends aiming for 90 to 110 pages for a feature.

So a lean first draft looks like this:

Three pages a day is about one scene, or maybe two short ones. Plenty of writers manage it in an hour.

Can't write every day? Stage 32's planning advice suggests being realistic and planning around three or four writing days a week. On that schedule, aim for 5–6 pages per session instead. Same finish line, different rhythm.

Week 0: prep before November 1 (this is where scripts are saved)

Most 30-day attempts don't die in week one. They die in week two, when the writer realises they don't know what happens next. A little prep fixes that.

Before November 1, get these down:

1. A logline. One sentence: who wants what, and what's stopping them. If you can't write it yet, your idea needs another day of thinking.
2. Your ending. You don't need the final line. You just need to know where your character ends up. It's much easier to drive somewhere when you know the destination.
3. Five to eight big beats. These are the turning points: the inciting incident, the move into Act Two, the midpoint, the "all is lost" moment, and the climax.
4. A short scene list. Bullet points, not prose. Aim for about 40 one-line scene ideas. You'll change half of them, and that's fine.
5. Your writing slot. Pick a time and put it in your calendar. "Whenever I'm free" quietly turns into never.

Prep check: If you can tell a friend your story in 60 seconds, start to finish, you're ready.

The 30-day plan, week by week

Here's how the pages break down. The numbers are your running total at the end of each day.

Week 1: get your character moving (Nov 1–7)

Start with the scene you're most excited about if the opening scares you. Momentum matters more than order right now.

By day seven, your main character should have a problem they can't ignore. If they're still "thinking about it" on page 21, give them a push.

Week 2: the honeymoon ends (Nov 8–15)

This is the "fun and games" stretch, where the movie delivers what the poster promised. Comedy? Get your characters into trouble. Horror? Start the scares.

It's also when energy dips. Keep sessions short and consistent rather than long and rare.

Week 3: the hardest week (Nov 16–23)

The middle of Act Two is where most drafts sag. Your midpoint should change the game: a reveal, a win that costs too much, or a twist that turns the goal upside down.

If you're behind, don't try to write 15 pages in one night. Add one extra page a day until you're back on track.

Week 4: land the plane (Nov 24–30)

Write the ending you planned in week zero, even if it now feels wrong. You can change it in draft two. A finished draft with a weak ending is worth far more than a perfect half.

Use the last day or two as buffer. In the US, Thanksgiving falls on November 26 this year, so plan around it if it affects you.

Writing horror this November? Use the same plan, with these turns

Just finished a Halloween horror marathon? Horror is a great genre for a 30-day draft. The scares give every week a clear job.

Two tips for writing horror on a deadline:

• Write for a location you can actually get. It keeps the draft grounded and makes it far easier to shoot later. Our low-budget horror film guide explains why.
• Write what we hear, not just what we see. A creak upstairs on the page becomes a cheap, effective scare on set. (More in our horror sound design guide.)

For more on building scares that escalate, see How to Write a Great Horror Movie (and Actually Finish It).

What to do when you get stuck

You will get stuck. Everyone does. Here's what tends to work:

• Skip ahead. Write [FIGHT SCENE GOES HERE] and move on. Come back later.
• Write the scene badly on purpose. Permission to be terrible unlocks more pages than any trick.
• Ask "what does each person want?" Most flat scenes have characters who want the same thing, or nothing. Give them clashing goals. (Our guide to writing dialogue goes deeper.)
• Change location. Same scene, different place. A breakup in a quiet kitchen plays very differently from one at a kid's birthday party.
• Talk it through. Say the scene out loud, explain it to a friend, or brainstorm with a writing assistant.

On that last point, an AI brainstorming partner can be useful when you're stuck. Not to write your script, but to throw out options so you can react. In FinalBit's free screenplay editor, the AI Co-Pilot sits next to your page to help you "break writer's block, punch up dialogue, or brainstorm plot twists." You can also start from a beat sheet, so your week-zero prep lives right beside your draft. Keep your own voice in charge, and treat the suggestions as a sounding board.

Tools: keep it simple

You don't need expensive software to write 90 pages. First Draft November itself says any software works, even a notebook.

What actually matters for a 30-day sprint:

• Automatic formatting, so you're not fighting margins at midnight
• Auto-save and version history, so one crash doesn't cost you a week
• Works on the devices you have, so you can steal 20 minutes on a lunch break

We compared the options in The 5 Best Free Screenwriting Tools in 2026. FinalBit's Basic plan is $0 with no credit card. It includes one script and 100 AI Co-Pilot requests, which covers one November draft with room to spare.

December 1: what to do with your finished draft

First, celebrate. Most people who say they'll write a screenplay never finish one.

Then:

1. Put it away for at least a week. Fresh eyes catch what tired eyes skip.
2. Read it in one sitting, start to finish, and make notes but no fixes.
3. Get feedback before you rewrite. Our guide to script coverage costs compares free, AI, and paid human options.
4. Plan draft two around the biggest problems first: story, then scenes, then lines.

30-day screenplay checklist

• Logline written
• Ending decided
• 5–8 major beats listed
• ~40 one-line scene ideas
• Daily writing slot in the calendar
• Tracker printed or saved
• Writing buddy or challenge joined (optional)

Ready to start on November 1?

Set up your script tonight so day one is all writing. Start your first draft free in FinalBit's screenplay editor → No credit card, automatic formatting, and an AI Co-Pilot ready for the days the words won't come.

FAQ

Can you really write a screenplay in 30 days?

Yes. A feature first draft is usually 90–110 pages, so 30 days works out to about three pages a day. That's often one hour of writing. The key is planning your major story beats before you start.

How many pages a day should I write for a screenplay?

Aim for three pages a day to finish a 90-page draft in 30 days. If you can only write three or four days a week, aim for five to six pages per session instead.

What is First Draft November?

First Draft November is a free screenwriting challenge: start a blank script on November 1 and finish about 90 pages by November 30. It's organised by director Hugo Thomas and works with any software.

Is there a NaNoWriMo for screenwriters?

NaNoWriMo shut down in 2025. Screenwriters now use First Draft November (90 pages in 30 days) and Stage 32's November Write Club, which runs weekly challenges through November.

Should I outline before writing a screenplay in a month?

Yes, but keep it light. A logline, your ending, five to eight major beats and a one-line scene list are enough. Most month-long attempts stall in week two because the middle wasn't planned.

Can I write a horror screenplay in 30 days?

Yes. The same three-pages-a-day plan works, and horror's structure helps: set up normal life in week one, escalate the scares in week two, reveal the threat at the midpoint in week three, and stage the final confrontation in week four.

What should I do if I fall behind?

Don't try to catch up in one marathon session. Add one extra page a day until you're back on target, and skip any scene that's blocking you. You can fill it in later.