Every great film and television show ever made started out as simple words on a page. Before the director can direct, or the actors can act, and even before the set can be built, a story exists on paper. The screenplay is the backbone of the film or show; where everything begins. Screenwriters and scriptwriters are people who have something to say. They have questions to ask of the world around them, jokes to tell, and ideas to express. They are able to inspire others to take on their stories and help tell them. Developing your own unique voice, asking the questions you want to ask and telling the stories you want to tell – script and screenwriting schools, will help you learn all of these writing techniques and more.

Students at screenwriting schools take classes in writing for television as well as for film. Depending on the specific school you attend, you may also take classes in playwriting – writing for the theater. You will learn the basics of how to write the traditional three acts that exist in almost every screenplay, and how to write effectively for hour and half-hour long television episodes that are timed for specific commercial breaks. You may also get a chance to network with industry professionals and make contacts that will help jumpstart your career after graduation. Most importantly, you will get to write and develop your talents. It has been said that the hardest part of a script and screenwriting career is getting your script read. It is beneficial to have a writing agent or industry contacts. Attending script/screenwriting schools is a great way to make contacts and learn how others before you broke into the business.

Your Dream Job is “Write” Around the Corner!
Working as a screenwriter or a scriptwriter means that you won’t have a traditional salary, the way you would if you had a standard, 9-5 office job. You will be paid on a project-by-project basis, and your yearly earnings may be small to start. Head writers on television shows typically make a hefty yearly salary, though it can take many years in the industry to work your way up to a head writing gig. Many young writers take jobs or internships as writer’s assistants on television shows as a first step. Script/screenwriting school provides a good base for wannabe writers to break into a writing career. They will learn the mechanics of writing scripts and screenplays as well as the ins and outs of the industry. Students will learn how to write both original work and scripts that intend to match the style of a particular show (called “spec scripts,” these are often necessary to get hired on a writing staff for a preexisting television show).

There are many different programs available for script/screenwriting students. Many specific script and screenwriting schools are graduate programs, providing master's degrees. However, undergraduate students who want to jumpstart their writing careers right away  often find script and screenwriting programs at universities that emphasize the arts, or they may major in telecommunications at a more traditional liberal arts university. Program length will vary from a few weeks to a few years, depending on the writing school and the particular screenwriting program. Some are even available online and can be completed from home. Find out more about script and screenwriting schools and degree programs, then get set to write that masterpiece.