What is an outline?

An outline is something used by a writer in the early stages of script development to pin down ideas and get a sense of story structure. It is a diagnostic document; written by the writer to help the writer and not intended for public consumption. It can take any form or shape, be any length, and be written on anything from file cards to a computer.

One of the commonest ways of getting to grips with a story is by writing a Step Outline. This means breaking a story down into the steps that make up its basic progression. It's a useful exercise but it's important to keep it simple. You shouldn't be thinking yet about scenes, acts or any other structural units. Just concentrate on the story itself:

Step 1: Goldilocks gets lost in the woods
Step 2: She finds the three bears' house.
Step 3: She goes into the house and finds it empty . . . and so on.

What is a treatment?

A treatment is a selling document. It is used either to generate interest in a script before it is written or to sell it once it is completed. (Sometimes a producer will ask to see a treatment first, even if you do have a script.)

It should it be between 4 & 8 pages and it should tell the story clearly but it should not be entirely plot driven. It must retain some of the mood, atmosphere and feel as well. Pace is important. It should be single spaced and written crisply in the present tense. Use dialogue if it helps – but only for colour and sparingly.

It is not easy to write a good treatment! Many writers say that it is harder, and takes longer, than writing a script. It is however a very useful exercise in itself because it exposes mercilessly any flaws or weaknesses in a story.

A One Pager is also a selling document but it is more in the style of a classic Hollywood pitch; a verbal trailer where the main idea is to whet the reader's appetite for more.

The most important thing about it is: it fits on one side of A4. The second most important thing: the fewer words and more white space, the better. It has to create interest in the story but to do this it doesn't have to tell the whole story (not to be confused with a synopsis!)

A One Pager is designed to let the reader imagine the project and also indicate who the possible audience might be.