45 script writing skills every aspiring screenwriter should own.
Yes, some screenwriting skills involve raw talent, but becoming a professional screenwriter also involves many screenwriting skills and attributes which can be learned, honed and developed.
How many of the following script writing skills and attributes do you have? Use our checklist below to find out. In order to achieve any level of success in your screenwriter career, will you definitely need…
Screenwriting skills on mastering the craft.
1. To be able to develop interesting and original story ideas and concepts
2. To be able to develop multiple plot lines
3. To understand the meaning of an inciting incident
4. To understand structure within scenes, sequences and acts
5. To be able to develop realistic characters who we care about
6. To be able to clearly convey character motivations and actions
7. To be able to write with realism
8. To be able to write scenes with reversals that move the story forward
9. To be able to write script dialogue with subtext
10. To be able to absorb the work and style of successful writers
11. To be innovative
12. To take risks and push boundaries
13. To understand pacing
14. To have a clean and simple writing style
15. To be able to show not tell and write visually for the screen
16. To be able to express a screenplay theme
17. To be able to deliver genre expectations
18. To be able to subvert genre expectations
Script writing skills on practicality.
19. To write every day
20. To read the best screenwriting books and blogs on screenwriting
21. To research the best screenwriting contests for your screenplay
22. To listen to the best screenwriting podcasts
23. To research a screenplay’s subject matter, world and characters
24. To watch and analyze many great films
25. To write outlines of many great films
26. To read screenplays. A LOT of them
27. To know a bit about human psychology
28. To understand commerciality and be able to write for the marketplace
29. To be able to write synopses, outlines, treatments, loglines and pitches
30. To be able to write query letters
31. To research and know how to sell a screenplay
32. To be open to every opportunity
33. To be forthright and confident
34. To be able to pitch in a meeting
35. To be the person people want to work with
36. To be able to take criticism
37. To not get too “close” to your work
38. To be able to rewrite. Fast
39. To be able to persevere and take rejection after rejection
40. To be able to survive on an unsteady income
41. To be comfortable being alone and inside your own head
42. To understand the business
43. To move to LA (if possible)
44. To have contacts in the business
45. To possibly have made some short films and put your writing into practice
This is a list of script writing skills and qualities you should be working toward cultivating every day
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Let us know in the comments section what you think of our list. Are there any script writing skills you think we’ve left out? Which would you say you’re proficient in, and which need more work?
Liked this post? Read more about the script writing skills you’ll need to break into the industry…
How to Sell a Screenplay: 6 Most Popular Ways New Writers Make a Sale
How to Become a Screenwriter: A Pro’s Guide to Unlocking Your Career
How to Get a Screenwriting Agent and Manager in 10 Proven Steps
[© Photo credits: Unsplash]
I wish I could see a sample of a written screen play and I learn how to arrange my stories
We have a number of posts where you can read and download professional screenplays. Here’s 50 to get you started 🙂
#26 is so critical. I read 52 screenplays so far this year.
That’s great, Patrick – that will have really helped your writing 🙂
#46 – don’t even start its not worth the headache!
Good luck, Albert!
Normally I do not learn post on screenwriting blogs, however this write-up has forced me to reconsider just where Im at so thank you .
Thanks, Stuart.
Hi
Thank u for give lot of important imformation about script writing skill..
I had write a script..
Plz give some contacts.. For sold screept….
Give me advise
Hi, have you seen this post “How to Sell a Screenplay”?
Good question why to move to LA?
Have you seen this post> https://www.scriptreaderpro.com/moving-to-la/
Why move to LA?
You can see our reasons here: https://www.scriptreaderpro.com/moving-to-la/