Ways into screenwriting: getting started

What is the course about?

The course is designed to introduce you to some of the fundamental concepts and skills required to be a screenwriter. The course will include analysing extracts and film clips and taking part in writing exercises.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- 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.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

• Genres of film and their conventions
The key stages of developing a film or television script
Generating ideas for scripts
Writing pitches and loglines.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Develop original ideas for scripts and produce new writing
- Discuss and analyse excerpts from screenplays/television scripts with confidence
- Give and receive constructive feedback on work-in-progress with sensitivity, insight, and confidence
- Identify the key stages of developing a film or television script
- Analyse the features of a successful pitch for a film or television show
- Write an original logline for a film script.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is aimed at complete beginners. You'll need good levels of spoken and written English to participate fully.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Interactive tutor presentation, group discussion and analysis of scripts/clips, peer feedback, writing exercises.

All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.

For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.

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?

City Lit runs a term-long introductory course, Ways into screenwriting, which will explore the subject in greater depth. Students can then proceed to Developing your screenwriting.

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.