Learn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This is a practical course that provides a basic grounding in the craft and terminology of screenwriting. Writing exercises, group discussion and presentations by the tutor will teach you the key skills, including structure, character and dialogue. At the end of the course you should have produced a short screenplay and an outline for a full-length project.
Students say: "Good group and atmosphere - I probably achieved more than I could ever have dreamt possible"; "I really liked the pace, the information and knowledge given"; "Always interesting and very encouraging and motivating"; "It gave me the ability to actually write a screenplay rather than just think about it.".
What will we cover?
- Deciding what to write - generating ideas, testing ideas, research - Theme, genre and originality - Creating and sustaining believable characters - Story structure - Dialogue and subtext - Plot development, pacing, set-ups and pay-offs - Editing your own work and other people’s - Formatting your screenplay - An introduction to how the industry works.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Respond to and assess pieces of writing with sensitivity - Understand the basic principles and jargon of screenwriting - Appreciate the differences between writing for different genres and media - Present a script in standard industry format - Write a treatment - Write a short film script.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Through discussion, presentations, viewing of film and TV extracts. There will be writing exercises both during and outside the class, evaluated by your tutor and fellow students.
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring a pen and paper.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
If you would like to continue developing your skills at the introductory level, you are welcome to enrol on another term of Ways into screenwriting though we recommend you do so with another tutor so as to experience a fresh approach. Or, if you feel comfortable you can progress to Developing your screenwriting where you will produce more of your own work and explore key concepts in greater depth. Information from the tutor concerning other courses will also be offered.
All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.
Nico is a British-Brazilian screenwriter, whose scripts have been optioned and developed by the likes of Warp Films, Revolution Films and The Bureau Film Company. Nico’s most recent film, The Old Man and the Land (2023), starring Rory Kinnear and Emily Beecham, directed by Nick Parrish, premiered at the Critics’ Picks strand at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PO¨FF). In development, Nico has a thriller script with BAFTA winning producer Afolabi Kuti, and is also in development on a time-travel love story with the same team who made Daphne at The Bureau. As well as his work in feature films, he has TV projects in the works.
Clive FordSee moreSee less
Clive Ford writes for film and stage. He graduated from UAL with an MA in screenwriting. He currently works as a lecturer at the University of Creative Arts in Farnham and at the University of Bedfordshire where he teaches writing for the screen.
Dawn KingSee moreSee less
Dawn is an award-winning writer working in theatre, film, TV, radio and other forms. Her new play ADDICTIVE BEAT, produced by Boundless, runs at Dilston Gallery, Southwark, 21st Sept to 7th October. Recently her play THE TRIALS had a sold out run at Donmar Warehouse. It was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Dawn is currently working on a radical reinterpretation of THE CHERRY ORCHARD from the perspective of the trees, for director Katie Mitchell at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg. She is also working on the feature film PIG CHILD for Delaval Film and the BFI and adapting her play FOXFINDER for the screen with Elation Pictures and the BFI.
Bob SchultzSee moreSee less
As a screenwriter, Bob Schultz has focused on high-concept stories told on a budget, finding success writing on spec, working for hire, ghostwriting, and providing consultation for independent producers in Los Angeles, New York, and London. His screenwriting portfolio includes more than 20 credits either produced, in production, or in development, and his series of Christmas shorts (Advent) will release throughout December 2025. Beyond screenwriting, Bob has cultivated a significant body of prose fiction work, with award-winning stories published in American newspapers including The Ravena News-Herald, the Greenville Record, and The Paper (Fort Pierce, Florida), international magazines (Script magazine, Daily Grindhouse), and short story anthologies (most recently Twisted, Volume 3: The Final Chapter, 2024). His latest anthology of short stories (The Athenaeum Club Mysteries) is set to be published in the winter of 2025, and his first novel (Operation: Coronation) in early 2026. Bob has served as an instructor and mentor at colleges and universities in the USA, England, and Sweden, as well as worldwide at festivals, conferences, and through private instruction.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/ways-into-screenwriting163677Ways into screenwritinghttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/a/ways_into_screenwriting_2-square_1.jpg269269GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Writing/Writing for stage and screen/Writing for stage and screen/Courses/vm/Writing Courses/Screen Play and Playwriting/Courses/vm/Writing Courses/Courses/vm/Film season/Courses/Writing/'Ways into' courses/Courses/Writing/Courses/Writing/Writing for stage and screen22851591203320181338513545135811360512285135811360516532018Learn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project. <div data-content-type="html" data-appearance="default" data-element="main">This is a practical course that provides a basic grounding in the craft and terminology of screenwriting. Writing exercises, group discussion and presentations by the tutor will teach you the key skills, including structure, character and dialogue. At the end of the course you should have produced a short screenplay and an outline for a full-length project.<br />
<br />
<b>Students say:</b> <i>"Good group and atmosphere - I probably achieved more than I could ever have dreamt possible"; "I really liked the pace, the information and knowledge given"; "Always interesting and very encouraging and motivating"; "It gave me the ability to actually write a screenplay rather than just think about it."</i>. <br />
<br />
This is a live online course. You will need:<br />
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.<br />
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.<br />
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.<br />
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.</div>144.73036037Ways into screenwriting269269https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/a/ways_into_screenwriting_2-square_1_47.jpgInStockEveningMonKeeley StreetAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2026-09-14T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceSep 2026WritingHW018269269Ways into screenwriting269175269Nico Mensingaways-into-screenwriting/hw018-2627Learn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.0000-Available|2026-09-14 00:00:00This is a practical course that provides a basic grounding in the craft and terminology of screenwriting. Writing exercises, group discussion and presentations by the tutor will teach you the key skills, including structure, character and dialogue. At the end of the course you should have produced a short screenplay and an outline for a full-length project.<br><br><b>Students say:</b> "Good group and atmosphere - I probably achieved more than I could ever have dreamt possible"; "I really liked the pace, the information and knowledge given"; "Always interesting and very encouraging and motivating"; "It gave me the ability to actually write a screenplay rather than just think about it.".Learn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.- Deciding what to write - generating ideas, testing ideas, research<br> - Theme, genre and originality<br> - Creating and sustaining believable characters<br> - Story structure<br> - Dialogue and subtext<br> - Plot development, pacing, set-ups and pay-offs<br> - Editing your own work and other people’s<br> - Formatting your screenplay<br> - An introduction to how the industry works.- Respond to and assess pieces of writing with sensitivity<br> - Understand the basic principles and jargon of screenwriting<br> - Appreciate the differences between writing for different genres and media<br> - Present a script in standard industry format<br> - Write a treatment<br> - Write a short film script.Through discussion, presentations, viewing of film and TV extracts. There will be writing exercises both during and outside the class, evaluated by your tutor and fellow students. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Please bring a pen and paper.If you would like to continue developing your skills at the introductory level, you are welcome to enrol on another term of Ways into screenwriting though we recommend you do so with another tutor so as to experience a fresh approach. Or, if you feel comfortable you can progress to Developing your screenwriting where you will produce more of your own work and explore key concepts in greater depth. Information from the tutor concerning other courses will also be offered.<br><br>All students are invited to join us at <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href=" https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>.Writing for stage and screenWriting for stage and screenvirtual3036040Ways into screenwriting269269https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/a/ways_into_screenwriting_2-square_1_50.jpgInStockEveningWedKeeley StreetAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2027-01-13T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceJan 2027WritingHW019269269Ways into screenwriting269175269Bob Schultzways-into-screenwriting/hw019-2627Learn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.0000-Available|2027-01-13 00:00:00This is a practical course that provides a basic grounding in the craft and terminology of screenwriting. Writing exercises, group discussion and presentations by the tutor will teach you the key skills, including structure, character and dialogue. At the end of the course you should have produced a short screenplay and an outline for a full-length project.<br><br><b>Students say:</b> "Good group and atmosphere - I probably achieved more than I could ever have dreamt possible"; "I really liked the pace, the information and knowledge given"; "Always interesting and very encouraging and motivating"; "It gave me the ability to actually write a screenplay rather than just think about it."<br><br><b>The Tutor</b><br>With a career that spans over two decades, Bob Schultz has carved out a substantial niche in the realm of screenwriting and independent film production. With a focus on high concept stories told on a budget, Bob has found success writing on spec, working for hire, ghostwriting, punching up, and providing consultation for independent producers in Los Angeles, New York, and London.<br><br>While also finding success as an instructor, mentor, and professor independently and in academia, it’s his hands-on experience in screenwriting and producing that sets him apart from other instructors. With more than 20 credits either produced, in production, or in development, You can reach Bob via https://linktr.ee/bobschultz.Learn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.- Respond to and assess pieces of writing with sensitivity<br> - Understand the basic principles and jargon of screenwriting<br> - Appreciate the differences between writing for different genres and media<br> - Present a script in standard industry format<br> - Write a treatment<br> - Write a short film script.Through discussion, presentations, viewing of film and TV extracts. There will be writing exercises both during and outside the class, evaluated by your tutor and fellow students. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Please bring a pen and paper.Writing for stage and screenWriting for stage and screenvirtual3036061Ways into screenwriting269269https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/a/ways_into_screenwriting_2-square_1_48.jpgInStockEveningWedOnlineAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2026-09-16T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceSep 2026WritingHW293269269Ways into screenwriting269175269Clive Fordways-into-screenwriting/hw293-2627Learn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.0000-Available|2026-09-16 00:00:00This is a practical course that provides a basic grounding in the craft and terminology of screenwriting. Writing exercises, group discussion and presentations by the tutor will teach you the key skills, including structure, character and dialogue. At the end of the course you should have produced a short screenplay and an outline for a full-length project.<br><br><b>Students say:</b> "Good group and atmosphere - I probably achieved more than I could ever have dreamt possible"; "I really liked the pace, the information and knowledge given"; "Always interesting and very encouraging and motivating"; "It gave me the ability to actually write a screenplay rather than just think about it.".Learn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.- Deciding what to write - generating ideas, testing ideas, research<br> - Theme, genre and originality<br> - Creating and sustaining believable characters<br> - Story structure<br> - Dialogue and subtext<br> - Plot development, pacing, set-ups and pay-offs<br> - Editing your own work and other people’s<br> - Formatting your screenplay<br> - An introduction to how the industry works.- Respond to and assess pieces of writing with sensitivity<br> - Understand the basic principles and jargon of screenwriting<br> - Appreciate the differences between writing for different genres and media<br> - Present a script in standard industry format<br> - Write a treatment<br> - Write a short film script.Although this is an introductory screenwriting course, previous writing experience is useful. An ability to write and speak fluent English is vital.Through discussion, presentations, viewing of film and TV extracts. There will be writing exercises both during and outside the class, evaluated by your tutor and fellow students. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Please bring a pen and paper.If you would like to continue developing your skills at the introductory level, you are welcome to enrol on another term of Ways into screenwriting though we recommend you do so with another tutor so as to experience a fresh approach. Or, if you feel comfortable you can progress to Developing your screenwriting where you will produce more of your own work and explore key concepts in greater depth. Information from the tutor concerning other courses will also be offered.<br><br>All students are invited to join us at <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href=" https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>.Writing for stage and screenWriting for stage and screenvirtual3036097Ways into screenwriting269269https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/a/ways_into_screenwriting_2-square_1_49.jpgInStockEveningThuKeeley StreetAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2026-09-17T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceSep 2026WritingHW693269269Ways into screenwriting269175269Dawn Kingways-into-screenwriting/hw693-2627Learn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.0000-Available|2026-09-17 00:00:00This is a practical course that provides a basic grounding in the craft and terminology of screenwriting. Writing exercises, group discussion and presentations by the tutor will teach you the key skills, including structure, character and dialogue. At the end of the course you should have produced a short screenplay and an outline for a full-length project.<br><br><b>Students say:</b> "Good group and atmosphere - I probably achieved more than I could ever have dreamt possible"; "I really liked the pace, the information and knowledge given"; "Always interesting and very encouraging and motivating"; "It gave me the ability to actually write a screenplay rather than just think about it.".Learn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.• Exploring genres and their key conventions<br>• Structure in scriptwriting: three-act structure and scene writing<br>• Basic formatting conventions for screenwriting<br>• Creating characters and writing convincing dialogue.• Develop original ideas for scripts and produce new writing<br>• Discuss and analyse excerpts from screenplays/television scripts with confidence<br>• Give and receive constructive feedback on work-in-progress with sensitivity, insight, and confidence<br>• Identify at least three different genres and their key conventions in screenwriting and apply knowledge where relevant to your own work<br>• Identify parts of the three-act structure in narrative and their specific function, and demonstrate understanding in your written work<br>• Identify at least five basic script formatting conventions and demonstrate these in your written work.Although this is an introductory screenwriting course, previous writing experience is useful. An ability to write and speak fluent English is vital.Through discussion, presentations, viewing of film and TV extracts. There will be writing exercises both during and outside the class, evaluated by your tutor and fellow students. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Please bring a pen and paper.If you would like to continue developing your skills at the introductory level, you are welcome to enrol on another term of Ways into screenwriting though we recommend you do so with another tutor so as to experience a fresh approach. Or, if you feel comfortable you can progress to Developing your screenwriting where you will produce more of your own work and explore key concepts in greater depth. Information from the tutor concerning other courses will also be offered.<br><br>All students are invited to join us at <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href=" https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>.Writing for stage and screenWriting for stage and screenvirtual269269175HW018,HW019,HW293,HW693NONEMon,Wed,Thu14/09/26 - 23/11/2617:30 - 19:3017:3019:3011 sessions (over 11 weeks)1111 weeks or longerWeekdayKSKeeley Street,OnlineNico Mensinga,Bob Schultz,Clive Ford,Dawn KingBeginners, Some experienceAvailable courses2026-09-14T00:00:00+00:00,2027-01-13T00:00:00+00:00,2026-09-16T00:00:00+00:00,2026-09-17T00:00:00+00:00EveningSep 2026,Jan 2027Writing269269Ways into screenwritingways-into-screenwriting/hw018-2627,ways-into-screenwriting/hw019-2627,ways-into-screenwriting/hw293-2627,ways-into-screenwriting/hw693-2627Learn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.0000-Available|2026-09-14 00:00:00This is a practical course that provides a basic grounding in the craft and terminology of screenwriting. Writing exercises, group discussion and presentations by the tutor will teach you the key skills, including structure, character and dialogue. At the end of the course you should have produced a short screenplay and an outline for a full-length project.<br><br><b>Students say:</b> "Good group and atmosphere - I probably achieved more than I could ever have dreamt possible"; "I really liked the pace, the information and knowledge given"; "Always interesting and very encouraging and motivating"; "It gave me the ability to actually write a screenplay rather than just think about it.".,This is a practical course that provides a basic grounding in the craft and terminology of screenwriting. Writing exercises, group discussion and presentations by the tutor will teach you the key skills, including structure, character and dialogue. At the end of the course you should have produced a short screenplay and an outline for a full-length project.<br><br><b>Students say:</b> "Good group and atmosphere - I probably achieved more than I could ever have dreamt possible"; "I really liked the pace, the information and knowledge given"; "Always interesting and very encouraging and motivating"; "It gave me the ability to actually write a screenplay rather than just think about it."<br><br><b>The Tutor</b><br>With a career that spans over two decades, Bob Schultz has carved out a substantial niche in the realm of screenwriting and independent film production. With a focus on high concept stories told on a budget, Bob has found success writing on spec, working for hire, ghostwriting, punching up, and providing consultation for independent producers in Los Angeles, New York, and London.<br><br>While also finding success as an instructor, mentor, and professor independently and in academia, it’s his hands-on experience in screenwriting and producing that sets him apart from other instructors. With more than 20 credits either produced, in production, or in development, You can reach Bob via https://linktr.ee/bobschultz.Learn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.- Respond to and assess pieces of writing with sensitivity<br> - Understand the basic principles and jargon of screenwriting<br> - Appreciate the differences between writing for different genres and media<br> - Present a script in standard industry format<br> - Write a treatment<br> - Write a short film script.,• Develop original ideas for scripts and produce new writing<br>• Discuss and analyse excerpts from screenplays/television scripts with confidence<br>• Give and receive constructive feedback on work-in-progress with sensitivity, insight, and confidence<br>• Identify at least three different genres and their key conventions in screenwriting and apply knowledge where relevant to your own work<br>• Identify parts of the three-act structure in narrative and their specific function, and demonstrate understanding in your written work<br>• Identify at least five basic script formatting conventions and demonstrate these in your written work.Through discussion, presentations, viewing of film and TV extracts. There will be writing exercises both during and outside the class, evaluated by your tutor and fellow students. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Please bring a pen and paper.Writing for stage and screenWriting for stage and screenconfigurable
159113605Writing for stage and screenhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing/writing-for-stage-and-screen/writing-for-stage-and-screen-11/2/285/13581/13605/1591/Courses/Writing/Writing for stage and screen/Writing for stage and screen
