Writing Scripts using [...] ?

[dennismv]

Do you write your scripts in a text-editor (Notepad/Textpad and the like), MS Word or the like, or a specialized Screenplay editor ?

I usually start writing in Textpad, as I can just go with the flow and type things without thinking about formatting or names of characters, etc. I add that stuff later.
When my script is more mature and I'm just re-writing parts of it, I put all the formatting in, as then I have more time to do this. I don't want to think about these things during the early stages, as they are somewhat distracting. Even using a specialized editor you still have to type in names, instead of just keeping up with a dialogue.

i.e. I do the dialogues like this
-- person one
-- person two
-- person one, etc.

But now I'm starting to wonder if I should use MS Word. Or a specialized editor.

I plan to post my scripts online, so this is one of the things to consider for me. For example, I can easily convert any plain text to HTML. I don't like MS World's "save as HTML" feature, so I would probably convert it to HTML via some other means. As for specialized editors, I think they usually save as .rtf, so that's similar to Word I suppose.
So, I wonder -- what do you prefer and how do you write your scripts ?

[WeirdEars]

Definitely ScriptSmart from the BBC. When it comes to layout, it rocks! And it's FREE!

[foxwood]

I use Final Draft, it makes writting scripts a breeze, but it is far from free. I know somewhere there is a plug in for MS word that will do script formating.

[Passit]

Definitely ScriptSmart from the BBC. When it comes to layout, it rocks! And it's FREE!

i discovered scriptsmart relatively recently and it is brilliant. theres some good tutorials there too.

[Mr.Anderson]

i have some sort of plug in for MS Word for writing scripts, it works really well too i just cant think of what its called. My friend just gave me a copied version on a disc. ill see if i can found out the name

[Vor]

i use celtx now i used to just use simple word programs....

[maj_barnes]

I just use MSWord because I'm lazy.

[BrownCowStudios]

I've been using a free script template for Word for over a year and it's been great!

[fi11m-m4k3r]

Celtx here...

[Markus]

Celtx here too

[fi11m-m4k3r]

Celtx on paras!

[LiegeCentrino]

I'm with Foxwood. Final Draft is fairly pricey but it is industry standard and so easy to use. I've never used anything else since getting my copy...

[crossfire]

I just use MS Word, and i dont even put my scripts into proper format, i dont find it that important, as long as the message is conveyed, who cares how it looks.