Screenwriter

Typical Salary

To

Typical Hours

37 to 39 variable

freelance / self-employed managing your own hours

How To Become a Screenwriter

You can get into this job through:

a university course
a college course
applying directly
specialist courses run by private training providers

College / University

You could do a degree or postgraduate qualification in creative writing, English or journalism, but this is not essential.

2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

When you're starting out you may find it useful to take a college course to help develop your skills and understand dramatic structure. Courses are available in:

creative writing
scriptwriting

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship are not listed for this job.

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

If you want to get directly into this job, you may have an advantage if you have writing and storytelling experience from another field like journalism, advertising copywriting or acting.

You'll normally start by coming up with your own screenplays and ideas, and trying to sell them to agents and producers. Once you've had some work accepted and started to build a professional reputation, producers might then commission you to produce scripts for them.

Other Routes

You could take short courses in screenwriting run by film schools, regional screen agencies and private training providers.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of English language
excellent written communication skills
persistence and determination
excellent verbal communication skills
the ability to use your initiative
the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
ambition and a desire to succeed
knowledge of media production and communication
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

Your day-to-day activities may include:

coming up with themes and ideas
researching background material
developing believable plots and characters
laying out the screenplay to an agreed format
preparing short summaries of your ideas
selling your ideas or ‘pitching' to producers
getting feedback on your work from producers or script editors
rewriting the script before arriving at an agreed version
networking with agents and producers
handling your own tax and accounts, if freelance

Working Environment

You could work in an office, from home, at a film studio, at a TV studio or on a film set.

Career Path & Progression

Career Path & Progression are not listed for this job.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Career tips

As a new writer, you could get yourself noticed by entering screenwriting competitions. These competitions are run by broadcasters and regional screen agencies to discover new talent.

You can also find advice about submitting your work to the BBC at BBC Writers Room.

Further information

You can get more advice on writing careers in film and TV from ScreenSkills.

You can get more information on working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.