Unlocking Your Story: Top Contour Alternatives for Screenwriters

Contour, developed in collaboration with Emmy Award-nominated Jeffrey Alan Schechter, has long been a go-to for screenwriters seeking a fill-in-the-blanks story development system. Its character-based structure and emphasis on marketable movie secrets have helped many craft well-written stories from fade in to fade out. However, if you're looking for a fresh approach, different features, or a new price point, exploring a reliable Contour alternative is a smart move. This article will guide you through some of the best options available.

Top Contour Alternatives

Whether you prioritize distraction-free writing, robust outlining tools, or specific platform compatibility, there's a powerful writing software out there to help bring your cinematic vision to life. Let's dive into some excellent substitutes for Contour.

FocusWriter

FocusWriter is a simple, configurable, and themeable distraction-free text editor that serves as an excellent Contour alternative for writers who value a clean workspace. It's free and open-source, available across Mac, Windows, and Linux, and includes features like auto-saving, a daily progress tracker, and fullscreen support to keep you focused solely on your narrative.

Manuskript

Manuskript is another powerful open-source tool for writers, offering a comprehensive suite of features that make it a robust Contour alternative. Available for free on Mac, Windows, and Linux, it boasts an outliner, character management, plot development tools, a distraction-free editor, and even a visual timeline, helping you organize every aspect of your story.

Byword

Byword is a commercial Contour alternative designed specifically for Mac, iPhone, and iPad users who appreciate writing with Markdown. While not open-source, its focus on making writing enjoyable through a clean interface, Markdown support, and features like Dropbox integration and a grammar checker make it a strong contender for Apple ecosystem users.

WriteRoom

For Mac users seeking pure focus, WriteRoom is a commercial full-screen writing environment that serves as an excellent minimalist Contour alternative. It's designed to eliminate distractions, offering a clean UI and basic notetaking capabilities, allowing you to immerse yourself completely in your screenplay.

True Novelist

True Novelist is a free, web-based Contour alternative created to simplify the novel-writing process, which can easily be adapted for screenwriting. It features auto-saving, customizable options, the ability to divide your work into infinite sub-divisions, a night mode, and an outliner, making it a flexible online writing tool.

Quilter

Quilter is a minimalist, focused writing app designed for elementary OS, making it a niche but effective open-source Contour alternative for Linux users on that specific platform. Its strengths lie in low memory usage and a distraction-free UI, providing a lean environment for drafting your script.

Each of these Contour alternatives offers a unique set of features and focuses. We encourage you to explore them and find the one that best aligns with your personal writing workflow, preferred platform, and specific needs for developing your next big story.