How to become a Screenwriter

How to become a Screenwriter Thinking about becoming a Screenwriter? Here’s looking at you kid… (and other vague movie references)Screenwriters are writers who create scripts for movies and TV shows, also known as screenplays.Most Screenwriters work on their own concepts, although some more experienced writers may be commissioned to develop adaptations of existing ideas. But whether they produce their own story, or are provided with something to work on, the process from concept to completion can take anywhere from a few months to several years to complete.N.B. Sequels may take considerably less time…Typical responsibilities for a Screenwriter may include:Creating and developing conceptsComing up with charactersWriting and editing scriptsProducing treatments to help sell the screenplayPitching stories to producers and studio execsRewriting and finalising scriptsIs it right for me?To become a Scriptwriter, you’ll need natural creativity and originality from the outset.It’s a highly competitive industry, and without intriguing storylines and three dimensional characters, your script is unlikely to get picked up. You’ll also need excellent sales and presentation skills, as you’ll often by pitching your ideas to the people who can make it happen.Because ideas like Baby Geniuses don’t come around every dayOther key skills include:ObjectivityImaginationPatienceExcellent organisation skillsA good knowledge of formatting and structureA complete immunity to terrible plot holesWhat's it really like? I started writing as a hobby really. Initially it was short stories, but I had one idea that I loved, and ended up working on for about a year. With a few more tweaks (and a pretty intensive screenwriting course) I finished off, and started looking around for agents to help me sell the script to producers. Unfortunately, the first one didn’t get picked up, but another screenplay I wrote eventually was â€" and is now being turned into a TV movie. It’s been a pretty crazy journey, and s elling the script was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I get paid to come up with stories and see them brought to life. And that’s a pretty incredible feeling. Get qualifiedYou will not need any specific qualifications in order to become a Screenwriter. However, attending specific screenwriting classes may help to build experience and perfect your craft.