Why You Should Write A Screenplay

Do you want to write a screenplay? This post is about the magic of screenwriting and why this may be the perfect place for writers to start.

Lights! Camera! Action!

[This post is an excerpt taken from our brand-new course, The Script.]

Movies will always have a special place in popular culture. Why?

They offer us a safe place to dream. They explore our secret fantasies, our deepest fears. They bring a mirror up to society; show us our secret selves. They make us think, they make us forget. They make us laugh, they scare us, and they make us cry.

Movies are a vicarious pleasure; they ultimate in escapism. They make us forget time and place, as they take us on a journey to a new world for an hour or two.

But before the cinema darkens, before the screen flickers to life, before the actors say their lines up or the titles roll, long before the director shouts “Action” or the editor works on shaping the movie comes … the words. The script.

It is the starting point. It is the genesis. The writer – yes, that’s you – comes first in the process.

Why You Should Write A Screenplay

Writing a script or a screenplay is a challenging and rewarding experience. A lot of new screenwriters find the writing process intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.

1. A screenplay is simply a story written in a unique format. If you can tell a good story, you can learn the writing techniques to create a compelling script.
2. Screenwriting is a craft, perhaps the most teachable of the literary arts. It’s a step-by-step process. It can definitely be learned.
3. It’s probably the simplest, most direct, most honest form of writing.

We highly recommend that you try it.

Top Tip: Take our FREE COURSE: Visual Storytelling | 30 Exercises For Screenwriters.

 by Anthony Ehlers

1. 5 Lies New Screenwriters Tell Themselves
2. 7 Deadly Rules For Creating A Villain
3. How To Write The Tragic Love Story – A 10-Step Formula
4. 5 Simple Ways To Keep The Writing Dream Alive
5. Why You Should Open Yourself Up To The Possibilities Of Story
6. 6 Superhero Writing Tips From Stan Lee

Top Tip: If you want to learn how to write a screenplay, sign up for our online course : The Script