How you plan your first 1-2 years’ screenwriting will set the tone for the rest of your writing career.

Writing Skills

If you are new to writing, you should begin to develop your storytelling voice - write stories initially in any form to explore the essence of telling a story in words.

Whether new or just new to screenwriting, you also need to develop a solid command of the core craft skills, through practical work with experienced tutors:

• premise development and pitching
• character
• structure and narrative
• dialogue and description
• short scripts
• key genres: comedy, drama, coming-of-age, thriller, horror, fantasy/SF, crime.

Support Materials

Reading scripts is essential; most writers read far too few. Read as many as you can, especially from the genres that you are writing in.

Industry and Networking

Learn the basic structures of the TV and film industry.  Network with other writers and industry personnel.

Portfolio

By the end of your first 1-2 years, you should aim to have a portfolio that includes up to ten story ideas in synopsis form, one short script, one TV script and one feature length script.

To help you we provide:

• workshops on craft and on industry structure
• ongoing project development workshops
• residential courses
• script consultancy service for feedback and personal meetings
• free networking events
• free email newsletter which includes industry news
• free online resources, including script downloads, articles, script templates, recommended books and answers to frequently asked questions.