Help

Help for Story Distiller users is available in three forms. You can download the manual in PDF form or access screenwriting tips and page-specific help files via the links below.

If you’re in need of support for a problem, or would like to offer feedback, please go to our Support page.

How to use the application. A short, general overview of the interface.

How the Story Distilling™ process works. A not-so-short, specific guide. Get yourself a coffee…

The Project page. The first page you will see each time you start Story Distiller.

The Story page. Although Story should be fairly self evident, many of the operating concepts here apply across the app., so this page should be worth a visit.

Unique to Story Distiller, we track your compliance to several metrics used to gauge how your story will represent people who are not male, caucasian or heterosexual. Our Equal Representation page will answer all your questions on the subject.

The Characters page. Character is critical to story. We provide you with tools to hone and perfect this central element of yours.

Where would your characters be with the relationships that define them, try them and fill them with joy? Read How to Create Great Relationships for an explanation.

The Arcs and Plots page. Click here for a more detailed explanation as you take the first step towards Distilling your story.

Timeline. A specific guide to the Timeline page, central to our unique Distilling process.

Scenes. What now? The scenes and beats process explained. Powerful stuff.

Scene Beats. A sub page of Scenes and a vital part of the distilling process, Scene Beats deserves a section of its own.

Scene Timing. Film making has been described as painting with time. Pacing is essential to the art of story telling for the screen. Here’s how we do it.

The Storyboard page. Demonstrates one of Story Distiller’s most powerful features and tells you how to get the most out of it.

Moving to writing your draft. Are you excited? You should be.

Story Bible is a project dependant record of the things that keep your project consistent.

The Nursery. Age-old wisdom tells us that writers will have to “kill their babies” in the pursuit of the perfect story. Independent of story projects, the Nursery is where you protect your babies. Jot down ideas for stories, scenes, shots or snatches of dialogue to guard against premature inclusion.

Screenwriting is different from other forms of writing. For those new to the medium, we have some screenwriting tips here to help you become a better screenwriter.