Tips for Becoming a Screenwriter

Whether you’ve got an idea for an original movie script or you’re writing a spec script for your favorite TV show, here’s what to keep in mind when considering a screenwriting career.

1. 1. Perseverance. Being a screenwriter will likely involve a fair amount of rejection. You need to keep writing even when you really don’t feel like you have anything left in the tank. Read other screenplays and take note of what worked and what didn’t—this can help improve your own scriptwriting and you might find inspiration. There are thousands upon thousands of scripts floating through Hollywood—persistence while you improve your craft is the only thing that will make you stand out.
2. 2. Location, location, location. The movie business really is centered in Hollywood, and most production companies are based in Los Angeles. (There are exceptions, of course, and those exceptions are likely in New York City.) This doesn’t mean you have to pack up and move to the City of Angels to make it, but to break-in to the business at any level, to pitch your screenplay to execs in person, and to network with others in the film business, having a presence in Los Angeles it certainly will help.
3. 3. Marketability. Consider the current trends in filmmaking when determining whether people will want what you’re writing. There’s no harm in having a visionary script, but it might be easier to get your foot in the door if you have a few scripts that appeal to mainstream tastes.
4. 4. Competitions. It’s true that film industry professionals often scour competitions and film festivals for new talent, and while these can be a great way to get discovered—and the big break stories make them very, very tempting—they can also be a good way to throw lots of money at something that may not pay off. Instead of submitting to as many competitions can, do your research and choose one or two festivals or programs that seem promising and offer good prize money.
5. 5. An agent. An agent should act as your advocate in the daunting film industry, pushing your screenplays and for you to get involved as a writer on other projects. In other words, an agent helps find you jobs and negotiates contracts on your behalf. Finding an agent can be just as difficult as getting your script sold, as many agencies and agents will likely reject you before you find one who takes you. Remain persistent in finding an agent and keep sending your portfolio out.

At a basic level, all you really need to become a screenwriter is a high threshold for rejection, infinite patience, a compelling writer’s voice, and lots of ideas. That being said, there are resources that help along the way.

1. While pursuing a graduate degree in screenwriting is not a necessary step to becoming a screenwriter, there are many schools that offer two-year MFA programs. Screenwriting courses are a great way to learn about the structure and form of scriptwriting. Obtaining an MFA also affords graduates the ability to teach—which will pay the bills while you shop around your brilliant script. Of course, knowing all that, also keep in mind that scripts are judged on whether or not they are good—not the pedigrees of their authors.
2. If a self-directed study is more your style, another way to build skills and practice is to dive into screenwriting books. A few starting points: Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting(1997) by Robert McKee devotes a whole chapter to understanding the various types of genres in storytelling. For a more in-depth review, check out Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies: a Screenwriter’s Guide to Every Story Ever Told (2007), which is actually a guide to a small number of movies, each of which is analyzed and broken down in terms of genre.
3. Screenwriting software. All great scripts begin as first drafts, and most first drafts begin in software uniquely formatted for scripts. Final Draft is one of the more popular screenwriting programs, but there are lots of options out there. The key is to make your submissions as professional and readable as possible, so all they see is your story, and not your formatting fumbles.
4. Script registration. Once you’re ready to send a script out, you should register it with the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA). Doing this is one way to help protect your intellectual property, and it’s only about $20 for each script (though note that this is not the same as obtaining a copyright from the Library of Congress). When you send your script to studios, directors, agents, and screenwriting competitions, having it registered will help ensure you idea isn’t taken.

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