Fountain is just text. That's not a limitation — it's the point. Your screenplay lives in a format that works everywhere, opens in anything, and will still be readable in fifty years. No software lock-in. No subscription required. Just words.
The best file format is one you can open with anything. Fountain delivers.
What Makes Fountain Different
Traditional screenwriting software saves your work in proprietary formats. Final Draft uses `.fdx`. Movie Magic uses `.mmsw`. Open one in the other? Good luck. Open either in a text editor? Gibberish.
Fountain files are `.fountain` or just `.txt`. Open them in any text editor on any device. Notepad. TextEdit. Vim. Your phone's notes app. The words are right there, readable and editable.
The formatting is built into the text itself. Scene headings start with `INT.` or `EXT.` and the software figures it out. Character names are in caps. Action is just paragraphs. Simple rules, powerful results.
Tip
A Fountain file is future-proof. Proprietary formats come and go. Plain text is forever. Your grandchildren could open your screenplay.
Write Anywhere
Because Fountain is plain text, you can write on anything that handles text. That's everything.
On Your Computer
Use CoffeeDraft for a dedicated screenwriting experience with live preview and proper formatting. Or write in any text editor you love — VS Code, Sublime, iA Writer, even Word. The file doesn't care.
On Your Phone
Waiting in line? Write a scene. Stuck on the train? Revise dialogue. Any notes app that syncs plain text files works. iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive — pick your poison.
Note
The best writing app is the one you have with you. Fountain means your screenplay is always accessible, even on devices that have never heard of screenwriting software.
On E-Ink Devices
Tablets like Boox run Android apps that handle plain text beautifully. Write on a paper-like screen, sync to the cloud, polish in CoffeeDraft later. No compatibility headaches.
Offline
No internet? No problem. Fountain files don't need servers, activation, or license checks. The file is the file. It works.
Your screenplay shouldn't require a wifi connection to exist.
Open Everywhere
Write in one app, preview in another, export from a third. Fountain's openness means you're never trapped.
Multiple Apps, One File
Start a draft in CoffeeDraft. Open it in Highland for a different writing experience. Check it in a mobile app on the bus. Export a PDF from whichever tool you prefer that day.
The file stays the same. The apps are interchangeable.
Tip
Don't like how one app handles something? Switch apps. Your work doesn't care. This is impossible with proprietary formats.
Collaboration Made Simple
Send a Fountain file to anyone. They don't need your software. They don't need any screenwriting software. They can read it in a text editor and understand every word.
Version Control
Because Fountain is plain text, it works with Git and other version control systems. Track changes line by line. Branch your drafts. Merge revisions. Collaborate like developers do.
Note
Professional coders solved version control decades ago. Fountain lets screenwriters use those same tools. No more "Script_v3_FINAL_really_final_v2.fountain" chaos.
The Syntax Is Simple
Fountain's rules are minimal and intuitive. You probably already know most of them.
Scene headings start with `INT.` or `EXT.` — standard industry practice. Character names go in CAPS before their dialogue. Action is just paragraphs of text. Parentheticals go in (parentheses).
That's it. That's a properly formatted scene. No menus. No style panels. No clicking through options. Just type.
Tip
Fountain's syntax mirrors how screenwriters already think. Scene headings, character names, dialogue — the format follows the logic of the craft.
Advanced Features When You Need Them
Fountain handles complex formatting too. Dual dialogue for overlapping conversations. Lyrics for musical numbers. Notes for yourself that don't appear in output. Title pages with all the metadata.
The syntax stays simple even as the formatting gets sophisticated. Learn the basics, add complexity as needed.
Warning
You don't need to memorize every Fountain feature. Start with the basics — scene headings, characters, dialogue, action. The rest is there when you need it.
Freedom Is the Feature
Proprietary formats serve the software company. Plain text serves you.
Your screenplay shouldn't be held hostage by subscription fees or discontinued products. It shouldn't require specific hardware or operating systems. It shouldn't break when you upgrade or switch tools.
Fountain files just work. Today, tomorrow, and decades from now.
Your words deserve a format as permanent as the story you're telling.
The Takeaway
Fountain isn't about features. It's about freedom. Write anywhere. Open everywhere. Keep your work forever.
No lock-in. No subscriptions. No compatibility nightmares. Just your screenplay, in a format that respects your ownership of your own words.
The words are what matter. Fountain makes sure they stay yours.