Screenwriter

Becoming a screenwriter starts with developing your talent as a writer, and the best way to develop your talent as a writer is to write. Your first project doesn't need to be a screenplay or TV script. You just need to start somewhere; essays, short stories, plays, etc. The idea is to become comfortable with the writing process, a surprisingly slow and frustrating experience, and find what they call your "voice." Over time, you'll discover if your talents lie primarily with comedy, drama or some combination of the two. Some people find it helpful to develop their writing skills in a structured educational setting, whether it's a college course, a film school program, or an online writing workshop. The advantage of taking a class is that there are deadlines and grades motivating you to sit down and get to work. At film school, in particular, you also have access to a community of artists, writers and filmmakers from which to draw inspiration and fresh ideas. And if you're lucky, the friends and connections you make in film school could lead to your first industry job.