How to Install & Use Minimalist Screenwriter

1. Download the file

Go to the download page and save minimalist-screenwriter.html anywhere on your computer. It’s a single file, typically well under a megabyte.

2. Open it in your browser

Double-click the file and it will open in your default browser. If it doesn’t open automatically, right-click, choose “Open with”, and pick Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox.

3. Learn the four keys that matter most

Enter moves you to a new line, already formatted as whatever element comes next.
Tab cycles the current line through the six element types.
⌘/Ctrl + 1–6 jumps straight to a specific type from anywhere.
⌘/Ctrl + Enter starts a brand-new scene, no matter where your cursor is.

4. Watch the sidebar build itself

As you write scene headings, each one appears in the left sidebar, numbered in order. Click any entry to jump back to that scene.

5. Save your work

Click Save (or press ⌘/Ctrl + S) to download your screenplay as a project file. Use Open to load it back in later.

Your file never leaves your computer. There is no server, no account and no cloud step involved.

6. Export a PDF

Click Export PDF. Your browser’s print dialog opens, already formatted to standard screenplay margins. Choose “Save as PDF” as the destination.