FORMATTING E-MAIL CONVERSATIONS

by

Dave “Dr. Format” Trottier 

QUESTION

How would I format an e-mail conversation between two people? 

ANSWER

My answer applies to text messaging, instant messaging, emailing, and the like.  The general principle is you should indent any written dialogue as you would oral dialogue.  

What follows assumes the entire scene is handled at one location, Burt's room.  Also, instead of using BURT as a secondary scene heading (as I do below), I could write BACK TO SCENE or BACK TO BURT.  Finally, the following is just one of many ways to handle the situation.  

Burt types on his laptop. 

ON BURT'S LAPTOP SCREEN 

         "Jan, be mine." 

BURT 

stands up and paces around his desk until he hears a little

PING. He scrambles to his laptop.

Although the above is the correct method, you can get away with omitting the references to the laptop screen as long as you’re absolutely clear.   Here’s an example: 

Burt types on his laptop: 

         "Jan, be mine." 

Burt stands up and paces around his desk until he hears a little

PING. He scrambles to his laptop.  Jan's words appear: 

         "I’m yours." 

Burt pumps his fist, then types with a flourish: 

         "Tonight?"

And finally, there is another method that’s even simpler:

Burt types on his laptop:  "Jan, be mine." 

Burt stands up and paces around his desk until he hears a little PING. He scrambles to his laptop.  Jan's words appear:  "I’m yours." 

Burt pumps his fist, then types with a flourish:  "Tonight?"

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Dave Trottier is an award-winning teacher, in-demand script consultant, and screenwriter (10 scripts sold; 3 produced). 

He is also the author of The Screenwriter’s Bible (now in its fifth edition) and the friendly host of keepwriting.com.