Once you have learned the basics and written a number of scripts, you are ready to move on.

This is the time to be rigorous about seeing yourself in business terms. Any business needs to invest time and money to develop its full potential.

Writing Skills

Aim to strengthen weaknesses and fill in gaps in craft skills. Revisiting workshops you have already taken will bring deeper insights into these areas. (We offer substantial discounts for anyone who wants to take a course for the second time.)

Develop advanced craft skills, in particular:

• unorthodox structures,
• adaptation and true stories,
• exposition,
• unusual character types.

Become adept at pitching and confident in handling stories that combine more than one genre.

Support Materials

Reading scripts continues to be essential.

Industry and Networking

Deepen your understanding of the TV and film industry. You should seriously consider subscribing to at least one of the trades - such as Screen or Broadcast.

Widen your networking to include the larger accessible festivals, in particular, Cannes, Edinburgh and the annual Screenwriters' Festival in Cheltenham.

Marshalling your time and targeting your resources becomes more urgent. You can use informal writers groups or our development workshops to give you deadlines to complete your work.

Portfolio

Aim for a portfolio that includes 2-3 feature length scripts, and at least six serious, marketable ideas, including a one fully worked TV series proposal.

Aim to get a low-no budget short made for festival screening.

Widen your output of writing to help develop your voice and confidence - short stories, novels, stage plays, journalism. Journalism can bring in much needed cash, but be careful: the hourly rates are poor so ensure you still have time for developing your spec scripts.

To help you, we provide:

• workshops in basic and advanced crafts
• development workshops for scripts and proposals
• residential courses
• script consultancy service with advice on work and on the industry
• free email newsletter, including industry news
• free networking events
• links to other organisations, festivals and trades

Once you have completed this level you are ready to step up to the next.