Discover the Best Screenwriting Classes Online
Writing is a process that takes time, effort, and revision in order to master. However, even highly skilled and experienced writers need an extra set of eyes on their work or perhaps continuing education. Screenwriters especially need to keep up with current trends in entertainment and learn how to create a screenplay that will reach an audience. With online classes, you too can become a well-accomplished screenwriter by skillfully writing imaginative screenplays with fully developed characters, conflicts, and concepts.
Why You Should Learn Screenwriting Online
Screenwriting is a highly-desirable career choice that writers and creatives alike seek. By learning how to properly write a screenplay, you can one day find work in the entertainment industry writing for television shows, movies, or video games. While screenwriting can be a very profitable career choice, it is also for those who would consider themselves imaginative. Whether you want to write professionally or for personal reasons, screenwriting is a fun way to start.
Screenwriting also serves as a way to get involved in local entertainment. This skill can help you enter into the world of local theater productions, television programs, or live performances. Maybe you have always wanted to write and star in your own screenplay – by immersing yourself in the world of screenwriting, you can meet and share ideas with others who share your creative interests. This is a great way to get exposure within your community and make new friends through a shared hobby.
Virtual Screenwriting Classes
If you can’t find a screenwriting class nearby, don’t let that stop you from pursuing your dream. Consider enrolling in online screenwriting classes to help you create your screenplay. There are online courses offered all around the country, so you are sure to find one that best suits your needs and fits your schedule. You can learn all the fundamental aspects of screenwriting from the comfort of your own home.
With an online screenwriting class, you also save time and money on a commute. As any writer would tell you, finding time to write is part of the process and can prove to be tricky. Learning from home gives you ample time to write, revise, and perfect your screenplay. You’ll often provide your own supplies in online classes, but your instructor will give you a detailed list of necessary supplies. You can find these items in a local store or online shop, but you may find that you already have these items at your house. You will likely need a pen, a notebook, and, of course, your laptop.
Meditative Writing offers a TV and Screenwriting Alchemy course that focuses on your ideas, goals, and story. In this course, you will practice new techniques and tools for building a story, creating complex characters, and maintaining structure throughout your screenplay. In addition, this course teaches how to effectively include dialogue, action, and subtext within your screenplay to make your screenplay as well-developed as possible. This course will help you to reach a wider audience or even impress a producer. You can work within any genre and can work with any type of draft.
If you are entirely new to screenwriting and aren’t sure where to start, The Barrow Group Acting School has a beginner course designed for beginners. Enroll in the Screenwriting I: Introduction course and prepare to learn all about the screenwriting process. You will complete weekly reading and writing assignments, with supplemental viewing assignments and a final project. This 10-week course helps you maintain screenplay structure, include flowing dialogue, and develop characters that the audience will root for – or against.
Do you already have a screenplay in progress, but need help mastering the technical aspects? Writing Pad also offers a course for those with experience as a screenwriter. The Screenwriting III: A Master Screenwriting Workshop is led by an experienced screenwriter who will work directly with your screenplay and discuss your specific challenges and goals. The lectures relay useful information about screenwriting techniques and help you navigate any challenges you may encounter. Plus, the instructor customizes homework assignments so you can apply the lessons to your own written work. By the end of this course, your screenplay will feel much further along in the drafting process.
The New York Screenwriter’s Lab has a Film Screenplay Intensive course that equips you with the necessary tools, techniques, and skills to help you write a complete screenplay. In this course, you will learn how to avoid writing cliche characters, build a strong narrative, integrate good dialogue, and construct a scene. Plus, this course will also provide tips on how to break into the entertainment industry and deal with common challenges that tend to show up in screenwriting.
They also offer a 6-Week Film Screenplay Workshop at The New York Screenwriter’s Lab. This workshop teaches fundamental concepts of screenwriting so you can turn an idea into an entertaining and unique screenplay. You will receive feedback from an expert instructor as well as your virtual classmates. In this course, you will learn how to write a satisfying ending, how to create relatable, multi-dimensional characters, and how to make your writing feel fresh and compelling. By the end of this workshop, you will have more experience in screenwriting and have a better idea regarding the path that your screenplay will take.
The Script School Story Development private course provides a hands-on approach to screenwriting. In this two-hour session, you will share strategies and ideas with your instructor and peers to receive useful feedback. All you have to do is come prepared with a screenplay, movie, or TV idea and the professional screenwriter instructor will help you craft a well-thought-out story. By focusing on a theme and crafting a basic storyline, you will then be able to create engaging characters and conflict to further develop your screenplay.
Perhaps you want to blend your artistic abilities with your writing abilities. Writing Pad has a Graphic Novel/Comic Book 101 course that helps you achieve that goal. Graphic novels and comic books are fantastic ways to mesh these two talents and, with the help of an experienced graphic novelist, you will learn the various techniques that help create your book. In this course, you will compare screenplays and graphic novel script pages, discuss dialogue and character development, and learn more about marketing strategies.
Private Online Group Screenwriting Classes
Do you want to schedule a screenwriting class as a fun team-building event for your business or organization? Maybe your book club is interested in learning how to write complex stories and develop characters. CourseHorse has many screenwriting classes for private groups online to choose from. Your group will learn a new, helpful skill and find a creative outlet for storytelling.
The Virtual Team-Building Improv Workshop is a great way to get your group to work together, learn a creative art form, and explore their imaginative side. This event will teach a myriad of improv techniques designed to make your group collaborate as a team and make quick-paced decisions Your teammates will practice communicating with one another, collaborating various viewpoints, and allowing yourself to have fun in the process.
Perhaps you want to test your cinema knowledge before you take a swing at writing a screenplay. This Virtual Trivia: Movies course is a fun, interactive way for your group to explore different genres, learn more about actors, and have healthy competition. The group facilitator provides challenging yet entertaining trivia questions for your group to figure out together and in teams. Games typically last an hour but can be modified depending on your group's needs. This is a fantastic way to learn more about the big screen with colleagues or close friends.
For your convenience, CourseHorse will send any necessary supplies directly to each group participant. All your group will have to do is show up prepared to learn and have fun together. This makes the event even more enjoyable.
There are zero booking fees when you sign-up for a class with CourseHorse. For an additional $150 fee, you can customize your event to fit your group's needs. This may include a specific lesson, an extra game, or a second event. Please reach out to CourseHorse via the contact form on their website to learn more about the available options.
Group sizes differ from event to event, but you don’t have to worry about knowing your exact group size when you book. As long as the minimum number is met, you can add or subtract group members up until a week before the event. You will receive a confirmation of your event within 24 hours of your reservation.
CourseHorse recommends using the Zoom platform, but you can make accommodations depending on your group's needs. CourseHorse can also use Microsoft Teams, Google Meets, and WebEx. Many courses can come to your office, party, or house if that is preferable.
Online vs. In-Person Screenwriting Classes
Both online and in-person screenwriting classes have advantages. By enrolling in an in-person class, you have greater access to your local community, which helps make new friends. You will also learn faster with a hands-on instructor rather than with a self-paced resource. The instructor will be able to provide clear feedback and answer any questions you may have.
However, there are many who can’t access in-person classes for many reasons. While self-paced courses are readily available, you are still on your own without someone to provide feedback on your writing or answer your questions. Online classes fill this void by providing a live, experienced teacher and remote classmates. Online courses are a great option as they provide you with other like-minded individuals to help you through the screenwriting process.
When enrolling in an online course, consider the experience level of the instructor and whether they have worked as screenwriters in the past. It is also important to ask if class materials will be provided or if you need to bring them to class yourself. Make sure your online class fits within your weekly schedule so you never miss a class. Lastly, it is essential to ensure you have time carved out of your day to write as well as a comfortable place within your home where you can be productive.
Can I Learn Screenwriting for Free Online?
There are free resources online that will help you start screenwriting. These resources are a great way to help you get started or assist you along the way. However, you will benefit greatly from enrolling in a course with an expert instructor who will help guide you through the challenges and answer any questions that may arise. This is the faster, easier way to learn a new skill.
