Introduction

Writing a screenplay-formatted blog post should be extremely simple. Simple Script Markup (SSM) uses very simple rules to decide on various screenplay elements.

Details

Enclosing text inside of an

<ssm>

tag tells the plugin that the enclosed text is meant to be parsed by the plugin.

The rules are quite simple:

• Scene Heading - All Caps, formatted like so: INT. LOCATION or EXT. LOCATION
• Character Name - ALL CAPS, one space preceding the name, ending in a colon.
• Parenthetical - One space preceding the name, surrounded by parentheses.
• Dialogue - One space preceding the dialogue.
• Scene transition - ALL CAPS, ending with a colon.
• Action - Normal text

Example

Here is an example of text that will be parsed by SSM.

<ssm>
EXT. PLAYGROUND

This is action text.  This is meant to describe what is happening in the scene.  In this scene, CHARACTER 1 and CHARACTER 2 are having a conversation about SSM.

 CHARACTER 1:
 Did you notice the space before my name, as well as the space before this dialogue?

 CHARACTER 2:
 (annoyed)
 Of course I noticed.  That's how SSM works.

CUT TO:

INT. OFFICE

Some other stuff happens, and it's funny because office dynamics are hysterical.

END
</ssm>