Scriptwriter

Also known as:

Writer, Script

Introduction

Scriptwriters write scripts for plays, films, and television or radio programmes. They may specialise in a certain type of writing such as comedy. The writing may be an original piece or the adaptation of an existing story. The work is often solitary.

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Work Activities

Scriptwriters write material for performers to speak. They write material for television and radio ranging from comedy and light entertainment to serious drama or documentary. There may be work in writing for live performances and for films. The types of material include:
• complete plays
• short or feature-length films
• follow-on episodes for a continuous television or radio drama or soap opera
• self-contained episodes for a comedy or crime series
• serialisations of novels or stories
• short sketches for comedy shows
• ideas or questions for panel games or quiz shows
• short stories.

Scriptwriters may write several different types of material and they often progress from one area to another. For example, they might start with radio and move on to work for television, and then to do their own series or plays. They may specialise in a particular category, such as thrillers.

Established scriptwriters work mainly on commissions from producers and follow a clear brief as to the length of performance, range of characters, situation and so on. They may also be asked to adapt a play or a book for broadcasting. The producers of long-running series rarely consider unsolicited manuscripts.

Scriptwriters who write single episodes for long-running series, or work as part of a team writing a soap opera, have to keep closely to the established format and/or storyline.

If they wish to work on an original idea, they first need to research the kind of material currently being used and the interests of individual producers and commissioning editors.

All scriptwriters, but particularly those who are not yet established, spend a significant amount of time developing contacts and marketing their ideas to producers.

Researching relevant background information, observing and listening to people to absorb realistic behaviour and speech, and planning a storyline, are all necessary activities before a scriptwriter can begin to write.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

All scriptwriters need an above-average command of English. When writing dialogue, you must be aware of the differences between the written and spoken word and be able to reproduce the rhythm of speech in a range of local dialects.

If writing for television, an understanding of its production techniques is useful, as is a good visual imagination and an eye for physical characteristics.

You should be able to come up with a constant stream of original ideas for situations, characters and storylines.

You must also have a strong belief in your own work and enough resilience to cope with rejection or radical alteration of your original script. A television or radio script undergoes a lot of revision by members of the production team between the time the scriptwriter drafts it and the time it goes on air.

As with all creative or performing arts you need networking skills for marketing your work to either an agent or a producer.

You need enough self-discipline to cope with the solitary nature of the work and to pace yourself to meet deadlines.

Virtually all scriptwriters word-process their work so you need to be able to use a computer.

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Pay and Opportunities

Scriptwriters are paid by the script - by the minute or by the play or episode.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

As a guide, writing an episode of The Archers (BBC Radio 4), earns around £650-£860, depending on the writer's input and experience.

Many scriptwriters are not able to support themselves entirely from scriptwriting, but for the few scriptwriters who are successful, earnings can be very high.

The main body of work is done from home, but attending shoots or rehearsals might involve evenings or weekends.

Most radio scriptwriting is for the BBC in the form of light entertainment, drama and short stories. There is more limited scope in writing for commercial radio stations.

The BBC, Channel 4, ITV companies and independent production companies may use television scripts.

Scriptwriting for films is a fiercely competitive area. Scottish Screen is the main Government agency, but there are also private video companies.

People often combine freelance scriptwriting with other work such as teaching, lecturing or research. Organisations such as the Scottish Arts Council and Creative Scotland sometimes run workshops and mentoring schemes pairing together beginner and established scriptwriters.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

A degree is useful, though not essential. Some scriptwriters have a background in the theatre or broadcasting, or they have journalistic experience.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course could be the way in.

These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

Relevant courses for scriptwriting include degrees or postgraduate courses in writing or scriptwriting.

A large number of centres offer creative writing courses by distance learning.

• 55% of writers and authors are self-employed.
• 35% work part-time.

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Further Information

Copyright protection: until recently BECTU could archive a scriptwriter's work to guard against breach of copyright. Due to space pressure they no longer offer this, However if you send them your script (or even your idea) they will log it and seal it and return it to you for safekeeping. This can be evidence of the date of your work in any future copyright dispute.

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New Developments

This occupation may involve homeworking.  Find out more about Working from home.