Software for Screenwriters: Microsoft Word vs. STARC

When it comes to writing screenplays, your choice of tool matters. Sure, almost everyone knows Microsoft Word, but specialized apps like Story Architect offer far more features designed specifically for screenplay format and story organization. In this article, we compare the two and explain why it might be time to ditch Word today.

Comparison: Microsoft Word vs. Story Architect

Let’s skip the preamble — you already know MS Word. We’ll compare them point by point.

1. Purpose

• Microsoft Word is a universal word processor made for a wide range of tasks: letters, reports, articles, and even tables or formulas.
• STARC specializes in building stories — screenplays, novels, comics, plays, audio dramas — if you like, all within a single project.

2. Screenplay Formatting

• Microsoft Word lets you set up screenplay formatting manually using templates, macros, hotkeys, and other workarounds. But that takes significant effort and even some special skills — and the formatting can go off the rails at any moment.
• STARC has screenplay formatting built in. You also get extras: multiple format templates, show/hide beats, editorial notes. While you write, dropdown suggestions appear to speed things up (for example, character names). For maximum efficiency you can enable Focus Mode and writing sprints. And for the vibe — typewriter sound. In short, plenty to do besides fiddling with margins.

3. Project Organization

• Microsoft Word works with separate documents. For complex projects you’ll need extra resources: external spreadsheets, notes, and a pile of separate text files.
• STARC offers centralized organization: beyond the script itself, a project can include characters, locations, worldbuilding, a relationship map, a reference gallery — in short, a full project “bible.” All drafts live inside one project; there’s no need to keep resaving to new files where the numbering will inevitably break.

4. Reviewing

• Microsoft Word provides very basic reviewing tools that aren’t specialized for screenwriters.
• STARC gives writers robust notes and comments, easy navigation between them, plus revision mode and change tracking.

5. Interface and Usability

• Microsoft Word has a familiar, detailed, but fairly complex and dated interface. For screenwriters, it can feel overloaded — especially without a tuned screenplay setup.
• STARC offers an intuitive, elegant interface designed specifically for screenwriters — minimal and clear. Everything here is made for writers and their needs.

Story Architect: Free and Paid Features

STARC offers a range of features aimed at both users without a budget and those who are willing to invest in a paid version and get advanced tools to improve, speed up and simplify the creative process.

FREE subscription includes basic scriptwriting tools, making it accessible to writers on a budget. Some of them are:

• Unlimited number of projects;
• Cover generator;
• Session statistics;
• Characters / location / world profiles;
• Ability to work on screenplays, comics, audio dramas, stage plays and novels;
• Scenes numbers locking;
• Import and export scripts without any restrictions.

There are also PRO and CLOUD versions that gives you access to advanced features such as:

• Cloud Storage;
• Real-time collaboration and sharing features;
• AI Assistant;
• Cards module;
• Images gallery;
• Script breakdown module;
• And many more.

To sum up, Microsoft Word is a familiar, straightforward solution that arrived when there were barely any specialized apps for screenwriters and authors. But times change. There’s no need to limit yourself to a familiar yet imperfect tool when newer options have long since solved the pains you face (and will keep facing) in Word.