How to Become a Screenwriter in Ten Easy Steps

photo credit: julianrod (PBUH)

Have you ever thought about becoming a screenwriter?

Many writers dream of having their novels translated to the big screen. However, you can always skip the novel completely and aim for a story that will go straight to film.

Here’s a fun, quick list of things ten you need to do to become a screenwriter. Some of these will help you develop a writing process that lends itself particularly well to films. Others are tips specific to the screenwriting and movie industry.

Ten Writing Tips to Help You Become a Screenwriter

1. Watch a LOT of movies. Watch award winning movies and watch B movies, made for television movies, old movies, new movies. Watch them all and pay attention to what works. What makes one film better than another? Was it something in the script or did the director do it?
2. Learn and memorize proper screenplay formatting. This is not optional. Most other items on this list are.
3. Read screenplays. Sounds kind of boring, but screenplays are very quick reads. You can get through a screenplay in about two hours. The more you read them, the more ingrained that formula will be, and the better you’ll understand the relationship between the screenplay and the final production.
4. Write a treatment. Use this to test out your ideas. Once you’ve finished brainstorming or outlining a screenplay idea, draft a treatment and see how your idea pans out in prose. This will tell you if the concept works, and will be a useful reference for you while writing the screenplay itself, and later on, the presentation treatment.
5. Get some software. There’s plenty of screenwriting software out there. You could always use Word or some other regular word processing application, but why would you do that when there are plenty of software options that will save you hours of formatting? Those hours would be better spent on developing your characters and plot!
6. Use that software to write your screenplay! Make sure you read tons of books on screenwriting, and visit every screenwriting site on the Web. Study character and writing dialog, plot, and setting. Make it work, make it good, and get it written.
7. Edit, proof, revise. Repeat. Repeat again. And again. One more time… It doesn’t matter if you’ve written the great American novel, an article for the tabloids, or a term paper. You should always review your work carefully over and over again.
8. Get coverage. Coverage is when you have someone review and critique your screenplay, and this someone should be well versed in screenplays (as opposed to other types of writing). This also often involves the use of a form and it will rate different aspects of your script (character, plot), and include a log line, summary, and analysis.
9. Write the presentation treatment. You’ll use this to sell your screenplay, so make sure it’s tight. While you’re at it, come up with your 30-second elevator pitch and then practice that on everyone you know until it’s perfect. You’ll be ready to introduce yourself as a screenwriter when you run into Steven Spielberg on an escalator.
10. Start pitching. Once your screenplay is polished and shiny, start shopping it around. Note that you can actually shop around an idea for a screenplay using a treatment but it needs to be just as polished. Consider entering some screenwriting contests and reach out to agents. If you have any connections in Hollywood at all, call in a favor.

Next, all you have to do is get real lucky. And sell your screenplay. Congratulations! After all that, you’re now officially a screenwriter. Good job! And you did it all in ten easy steps. Impressive!