How long does it take to write a screenplay?

If you have a great idea for a movie, is now a good time to take off to write it?  First time screenplay that is.

• Answer:

  Any time is a good time to start.  Just do the preparation.  Know the film industry guidelines and expectations.  Check out questions like: Some great tips.  My answer (with some updates) for it is below. I always tell newcomers to AVOID paralysis of analysis, which means don't fall into the trap of reading every book, going to every podcast, listening to every instructor, following "secret formulas" of "gurus", etc.  Get FINAL DRAFT.  There are other alternatives as far as screenwriting software, but this is the film industry standard and beyond the books mentioned below, it'll be the best money you spend for your aspirations of becoming a screenwriter.  You'll need it down the road either way, so best to just nab it now and learn it.     Buy The Screenwriters Bible and How Not to Write a Screenplay, both of which give you the guidelines and expectations of the industry.  Go to http://www.mypdfscripts.com and read every script to every movie that you love.  Watch movies.  Study them.  Beyond that, write, write, write.  It's the only way to learn.  Reading scripts at the studio level changed my writing a hundred fold so read as many as you can, for both good and bad movies. Know that your first script will likely be your worst.  Get through it.  Learn.  Make the mistakes and then learn from them.  Then start another and another.  Hone your craft.  Your best education, again, will be reading scripts and watching movies.  Those two books give you the necessary knowledge you need.  Too many other books out there by Robert McKee and others are based on theory and, while good food for thought, don't offer the answers you need and certainly don't offer the secret formulas to success.  There aren't any.  Trust your storytelling.  Learn the guidelines and expectations.  Give yourself a deadline... no more than six months.  Three is better.  Have fun...