Discover Classes. Earn Rewards.

Writing Scripts 101 Level I (Self-Paced)

Unleash your creative potential and see your words come to life on the big screen, TV, or stage with Gotham Writers Workshop's Writing Scripts 101. Discover the essential techniques of dramatic writing and explore the exciting world of screenwriting, TV writing, and playwriting. Join us and embark on a thrilling journey into the art of storytelling.

  • Beginner
  • 18 and older
  • $364
  • Online Classroom
  • 47 hours & 30 minutes over 2 sessions

Start Dates (1)

  • $364
  • Online Classroom
  • 47 hours & 30 minutes over 2 sessions
  • Includes $25 Reg Fee
    Class accessible anytime within the session dates
  • Includes $25 Reg Fee
    Class accessible anytime within the session dates
6 seats left
Book
Show all 2 sessions
  • Tue, Apr 16 at 12:00am - 11:45pm
  • Tue, May 28 at 12:00am - 11:45pm
Showing 11 of 1

Class Description

Description

What you'll learn in this tv writing class:

Do you dream of seeing your work performed, up there, somewhere? A spellbinding movie. An addictive TV show. A gripping play. The thrill of dramatic writing is that, if you’re lucky, you get to see your work soar to life once all the elements—the work of directors, designers, cast, crew—are added to the vision of your script.

Here you will gain an introduction to writing for movies, TV, and plays, and you’ll also learn techniques fundamental to all forms of dramatic writing. It’s a sampler platter, with no pressure to work on a specific project or settle on which type of dramatic writing you prefer.

If you’re eager to enter the excitement of writing scripts, the show begins right here.

This course lets you explore types of dramatic writing, and the techniques that go with them. 

Course components:
  • Lectures
  • Writing exercises
Writing Scripts 101 is for beginners or anyone who wants a refresher. Students must be 18 years or older.

Please Note:
  • This course includes screenwriting, TV writing, and playwriting.
  • The 101 courses do not include workshopping of student projects, but students write and receive feedback on writing exercises and assignments.
Course Syllabus:

The Core of a Dramatic Story:
Desire and conflict. Dramatic structure. Character—personality, actions, change.

Scenes:
Objective/obstacle. Scene pointers—beginning/middle/end, compression, stage directions, Dialogue—illusion of reality, reflecting character and situation, subtext.

Playwriting:
What makes it a play?—live-ness, theatricality, scene approach. Shaping a play—plot, character, and other considerations. Play scenes analyzed.

Screenwriting:
What makes it a movie?—Hollywood vs. indie, visual storytelling, scene approach. Shaping a movie—plot, character, and other considerations. Movie scenes analyzed. 

TV Writing:
What makes it a TV show?—stories expanded over time, serial vs. episodic, types and forms. Shaping a TV episode—plot, character, and other considerations. TV scenes analyzed.

The Dramatic Life:
Getting ideas. Studying and stealing. Doing it—writing and revising, finding production.

Content may vary among individual classes.

Important:

  • Schedule posted is the Start and End date of the class. You may access the class at any time, day or night, within the schedule provided. Please see Online Class Delivery for more details.
  • Registrants will receive email instructions and information on how to access the online classroom.

Remote Learning

This course is available for "remote" learning and will be available to anyone with access to an internet device with a microphone (this includes most models of computers, tablets). Classes will take place with a "Live" instructor at the date/times listed below.

Upon registration, the instructor will send along additional information about how to log-on and participate in the class.

Refund Policy

All Classes (except One-day and Zoom Intensives and Write-Ins):

  • For a refund or credit, contact us three business days or more before your class starts. You can either choose to hold a full credit with us good for one year on other Gotham classes OR you can opt for a refund less a $25 administrative fee and your $25 registration fee ($50 total).
  • If you need to withdraw after your class has started (or two business days before it starts), you won’t receive a refund, but you’re welcome to a Gotham credit less the price of Week 1 and your $25 registration fee, but we need to hear from you three business days or more before Week 2 meets for that to happen. After that point, no credits are available.

One-day and Zoom Intensives:

  • You may reschedule a One-day or Zoom Intensive one time, if you notify us two business days before the class begins. After that first reschedule, there is a $25 rescheduling fee.
  • If you notify us three business days or more before your class begins, rescheduling is free. If you notify us less than three business days before your class begins, there is a $25 rescheduling fee. If you don’t notify us until after your class begins, we cannot reschedule you.
  • You may get a refund (minus a $50 fee) if you notify us three business days or more before your class begins.

Write-Ins:

  • If you withdraw 1 business day or more before it begins, you’re welcome to a full credit good for one year toward another Write-In. No refunds are available.
  • If you simply don’t show up and don’t notify us in advance, you forfeit your money.

A few more things:

  • Credits are valid for one year and cannot be changed into refunds down the road.
  • Simply not attending class or notifying the instructor does not mean you've officially withdrawn.
  • Some exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis for medical emergencies with a doctor's note.
  • Refunds take up to six weeks to process.

Please understand, we can't issue a refund after classes have started, even if you miss your first class. Similarly, we can't offer you a credit one day before your second class or after that. We understand that other obligations get in the way of attending class, but these policies allow us to get other interested writers into class early enough to have a good experience, and this allows us to offer our classes at a reasonable price.

Important Notes:

  • Students are allowed to join a class in the second week.
  • Only those who pay the tuition in full can be guaranteed a place in class.
  • Class dates and times may be subject to change. A substitute may be assigned or make-up classes added to the end of the term.
  • Auditing and the recording of classes are not allowed.
  • For all classes, students receive a record of payment and registration.
  • Gotham reserves the right to remove any student at our discretion.
  • Gotham does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, socioeconomic status, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, or marital status.
  • Our courses are not intended to provide instruction that will result in the student's acquisition of occupational skills.

In any event where a customer wants to cancel their enrollment and is eligible for a full refund, a 5% processing fee will be deducted from the refund amount.

Reviews of Classes at Gotham Writers Workshop (745)

Benefits of Booking Through CourseHorse

  • Booking is safe. When you book with us your details are protected by a secure connection.
  • Lowest price guaranteed. Classes on CourseHorse are never marked up.
  • This class will earn you 3640 points. Points give you money off your next class!

Questions & Answers (0)

Get quick answers from CourseHorse and past students.

Similar Classes

Gotham Writers Workshop

Gotham Writers Workshop is a creative home in New
York City and Online where writers develop their craft and come together in the
spirit of discovery and fellowship. We’ve been teaching creative writing to
students since 1993.




We believe that everyone has a story to tell.
Indeed, many stories. Keep your...

Read more about Gotham Writers Workshop

CourseHorse Approved

This school has been carefully vetted by CourseHorse and is a verified Online educator.

Gotham Writers Workshop

Give This Course as a Gift Card

  • Thousands of classes
  • No expiration
  • Unique and memorable gifts for any occasion
  • Personalized
  • Explore a passion, gain a new skill, discover a new hobby, engage in a memorable experience
  • Instant delivery
  • Lock in a price with the Inflation Buster Gift Card Price Adjuster™

Buy a Gift Card

Book this Class as a Group Event

Booking this class for a group? Find great private group events

Or see all Professional Group Events

Explore group events and team building activities ranging from cooking, art, escape rooms, trivia, and more.

CourseHorse Gift Cards

  • Creative & unique gift for any occasion
  • Thousands of classes & experiences
  • No expiration date
  • Instant e-delivery (or choose a date)
  • Add a personalized message
  • Lock in a price with the Inflation Buster Gift Card Price Adjuster™
Buy a Gift Card
gift card with the CourseHorse logo gift card with the CourseHorse logo
Loading...