Vertical Drama Script Self-Check Checklist: 30 Yes/No Checks Before You Submit

Who this checklist is for

Writers who have finished a draft of a vertical drama and are about to send it to an editor, producer, or platform, and small teams that want one shared review standard. The checklist does not write the script for you; it catches the most common structural problems before you submit.

How to use it

Every item is a yes/no question. Run the format group first, then each episode, then the overall beats. Any "no" sends you back to the matching template before you submit.

Format rules live in the [vertical drama script format template](https://news.shorstory.com/en/articles/vertical-drama-script-format-template/), episode pacing in the [short drama beat sheet template](https://news.shorstory.com/en/articles/short-drama-beat-sheet-template/), and terms in the [short drama glossary](https://news.shorstory.com/en/articles/short-drama-glossary/).

1. Format (6 checks)

• Does each episode start on its own page, with episode number and target runtime at the top?
• Does each episode carry HOOK, TURN and CLIFF labels, each on its own line?
• Is each episode limited to 3–5 scenes, with no scene running across episodes?
• Do scene headings state INT/EXT, location and DAY/NIGHT so production can break them down?
• Does each action paragraph describe a single shot that can be boarded directly?
• Does each episode end with a "for next episode" line and open with a "from last episode" line?

2. Episode hooks and cliffhangers (6 checks)

• Is there a conflict image within the first 3 seconds, not an establishing shot or blocking?
• Does the hook make clear who is against whom without voice-over explanation?
• Does the turn land after roughly 40% of the episode rather than at the start?
• Is the cliffhanger an open question or an unfinished action, not an emotional summary?
• Does the first shot of the next episode answer or advance the previous cliffhanger?
• Do three consecutive episodes avoid using the same type of cliffhanger?

3. First 10 episodes beats (6 checks)

• Are the core conflict and the protagonist's goal on the table by episodes 1–3?
• Is there at least one clear payoff in the first 10 episodes, not just sustained pressure?
• Are identity, relationship and secret reveals spread across episodes rather than stacked in one?
• Does the last free episode deliver one payoff and leave the series' biggest question open?
• Can every episode in the beat sheet be summed up in one line: what changed?
• Have you filled in hook, turn and cliff types for episodes 1–10 in the beat sheet and checked for repeats?

4. Dialogue and framing (6 checks)

• Are most lines 12 words or fewer, with no monologue longer than three sentences?
• Is key information carried by action and expression rather than characters explaining to each other?
• Is the framing mostly close-ups and medium close-ups that fit one face or two people in portrait?
• Does each scene have one main conflict instead of three threads at once?
• Are character names and forms of address consistent across the whole script?
• Have you cut lines that only deliver backstory without moving the conflict?

5. Submission and compliance (6 checks)

• Have you checked episode length and total episode count against the platform's latest requirements (guides commonly cite 60–100 episodes)?
• Have you attached a one-page synopsis, character notes and the first-10-episode beat sheet?
• Is the script free of unlicensed real names, brands or plot taken from other works?
• Are violence, minors, medical or legal storylines handled according to platform rules?
• For adaptations, are adaptation rights confirmed and stated in the submission note?
• Are file name, version number and date clear enough that an editor can tell which draft is current?

One-page quick reference

Copy or print this table and tick each group before you submit:

Method and limitations

• The editorial team compiled this checklist from public vertical drama writing guides and our own published format and beat sheet templates; it covers no specific title's plot.
• Numbers such as runtime, scene count and line length are rules of thumb from tool vendors' public guides, not official platform rules.
• Platform submission and content rules change; we did not verify each one, so check the platform's latest notice before submitting.

Sources

Accessed October 30, 2026 (Asia/Shanghai): - Dawnwood, "How do I format a vertical drama script?": https://dawnwood.ai/guides/vertical-drama-script-format/ - Filmustage, "How to Write a Vertical Drama Script": https://filmustage.com/blog/how-to-write-a-vertical-drama-script/ - Character App, "Vertical Drama Script Template": https://www.character.app/blog/vertical-drama-script-template

Related research & methods

Vertical Drama Script Format Template: One Page, Three Labels

How to Break Down a Short Drama: A 12-Column Beat Sheet for Hooks and Paywall Episodes

Short Drama Glossary: 50+ Terms from Paywall Episode to Rejected Mate, in English and Chinese

How to Write the Episode 1 Cold Open for a Vertical Drama: The First 3 Seconds