Fountain format is a plain-text markup language designed specifically for writing screenplays. If you have ever wanted to draft a script in any text editor, on any device, without being locked into expensive or proprietary software, Fountain is how you do it. The format was created so that a screenplay written in a simple .fountain or .txt file would automatically convert to properly formatted pages when you needed them.

The short answer to what Fountain format is: it is a set of simple, readable writing conventions that tell software how to render a plain document as a professional screenplay. You write naturally, follow a few lightweight rules, and any Fountain-compatible app handles the rest. No toolbar clicking, no style sheets, no crashes mid-scene.

The Origin and Purpose of Fountain

Fountain was developed by John August and Nima Yousefi and released as an open standard. The motivation was practical: screenwriters were tired of being dependent on one expensive desktop application and losing work whenever that app changed its file format. By making the specification open and free, the community guaranteed that a Fountain file written today will still be readable and usable years from now, regardless of what happens to any individual software company.

The format draws on an earlier convention called Markdown, which writers in other fields had already adopted for the same reason: clean, human-readable plain text that can be converted to polished output. Fountain adapts those ideas to the specific needs of screenplay structure, adding syntax for scene headings, action lines, character cues, dialogue, and more.

How Fountain Syntax Actually Works

The beauty of Fountain is that most of it looks like a screenplay already. Here are the core rules:

  • Scene headings are automatically recognized if they begin with INT., EXT., INT./EXT., or EST. You can also force a line to be a scene heading by starting it with a period: .COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT
  • Action is any paragraph that does not match another element. You just write it.
  • Character cues are written in ALL CAPS on their own line, immediately above dialogue. SARAH, for example.
  • Dialogue follows directly beneath the character cue, on the next line. No special marker needed.
  • Parentheticals are wrapped in parentheses inside the dialogue block, just as you would type them anyway.
  • Transitions like CUT TO: are recognized automatically when they end with a colon and appear flush right, or you can force one with a greater-than symbol: > CUT TO:
  • Title pages use key-value pairs at the very top of the document: Title: My Film, Author: My Name, and so on.
  • Notes meant only for the writer and not for the rendered page go inside double brackets: [[remind yourself to fix this scene]]

That is the whole core of it. A screenwriter who knows standard screenplay format can read a Fountain file cold and understand exactly what they are looking at, even before it is rendered.

Dual Dialogue and Other Advanced Elements

Fountain handles more complex formatting too. Dual dialogue, where two characters speak simultaneously in side-by-side columns, is marked by placing a caret (^) after the second character cue. If you want a deeper dive into when and why to use that technique, the post on dual dialogue in screenplays covers the craft side in detail. Fountain just gives you a clean way to mark it up without fighting a formatting toolbar.

Lyrics are wrapped in tildes. Centered text uses greater-than and less-than symbols around the line. Section headings (for organizing a draft, not visible on the final page) use pound signs like Markdown headers. Synopsis lines start with an equals sign. Each of these was added because real working screenwriters needed them, and the syntax stays consistent with the document-first philosophy: when in doubt, make it look as much like a real screenplay as possible.

Which Apps and Tools Support Fountain

Because Fountain is an open standard, a wide ecosystem of tools has grown around it. Highland 2 on macOS is one of the most polished native Fountain editors. Slugline is another macOS-focused option. On iOS, apps like Highland and Quill support it. Writers on Windows and Linux often use editors like Trelby or simply write in any text editor and convert using command-line tools. The open-source Afterwriting browser tool can convert a Fountain file to a PDF at no cost.

Final Draft and Fade In can import and export Fountain as well, so Fountain works as a universal exchange format even when your collaborator uses a different primary tool. That interoperability is one of its most practical advantages on a working production.

Why Fountain Matters for Your Writing Process

The case for Fountain is not just technical. It changes how you write. When you are not clicking menus or fussing with auto-correct that keeps lowercasing your character names, you stay in the scene. The cognitive overhead drops. Writers who switch to a plain-text workflow frequently report that early drafts feel faster and less precious, which is exactly what a first draft needs to be.

There is also a version control advantage. Because Fountain files are plain text, you can track changes in Git, compare drafts side by side in any diff tool, and recover work that a bloated binary file format would have scrambled. For writers who collaborate, this is genuinely significant.

If you write in Fountain but want professional feedback without abandoning your workflow, Better Draft accepts Fountain files and gives you real script coverage, structural analysis, and margin notes alongside them. You stay in the tool you prefer; the feedback comes to you.

Fountain vs. Traditional Screenplay Software

The honest comparison: traditional screenplay software like Final Draft offers a polished, all-in-one experience with features like production scheduling integration and beat boards. Fountain-based tools are lighter, faster, and free or cheap. Neither is universally better. Writers who need deep production coordination often stay with industry-standard software. Writers who prioritize focus, portability, and cost often move to Fountain and never look back.

Pacing your pages is equally important regardless of which tool you use. If you are working on the rhythm and momentum of your screenplay, the guide to theatrical pacing is worth reading alongside your formatting decisions.

The important thing is that Fountain gives you a choice. You are not forced into a subscription to write a properly formatted script. The spec is free, the community is active, and your files belong to you forever.

Getting Started With Fountain Today

The fastest way in: download Highland 2 on Mac, or go to the Afterwriting browser tool, paste some text following the syntax rules above, and hit render. You will see a formatted screenplay page in seconds. The official specification at fountain.io is short and readable, nothing like a technical manual. Most writers internalize the rules in a single afternoon.

If you want to take your Fountain draft further and get the kind of editorial feedback a working writer actually needs, Better Draft's plans start at $16 a month, with a free tier available so you can try coverage and structural notes before committing.

FAQ

Is Fountain format the same as Final Draft format?

No. Final Draft uses a proprietary binary file format with the extension .fdx. Fountain is an open plain-text format. Final Draft can import and export Fountain files, but the two are distinct formats with different underlying structures. Fountain files are readable in any text editor; .fdx files are not.

Do I need special software to write in Fountain?

You can write a Fountain screenplay in any plain-text editor, including Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on Mac. Dedicated Fountain apps add features like live preview, automatic formatting hints, and PDF export, but they are optional. The barrier to entry is essentially zero.

Will a Fountain file look professional when I submit it?

Yes, when exported to PDF through a Fountain-compatible app, the output follows standard industry screenplay formatting: 12-point Courier, proper margins, correct element placement. Industry readers cannot tell from the PDF how the file was written. What matters is the formatting on the page, not the tool used to produce it.

Can I use Fountain for television scripts as well as features?

Fountain works for any screenplay format, including multi-camera sitcoms, one-hour dramas, and limited series. The syntax handles act breaks and scene numbering. Some writers use section headings to separate acts, which renders as organizational structure in the editor but can be excluded from the final PDF output.