Scriptwriting for Beginners: Writing for Radio, Theatre, Film and TV

Do you have an idea for a film, television, radio or theatre script but don’t know how to begin? Have you written a script but need to redraft or reinvigorate it? Would you like to write better dialogue, more exciting plots, or bring your characters to life?

This is a beginners course that provides students with a practical and theoretical guide to scriptwriting. You will learn how to develop characters, story and plot, as well as how to structure your script and write dialogue.

In this course we will focus on writing the beginning of your script, covering the basics of scriptwriting to help you be able to write a full-length script. There will also be a Scriptwriting 2 course, later in the academic year, if you wanted to build and develop your scriptwriting skills.

The module is delivered online through the Blackboard learning platform and all units delivered via Panopto presentations. Activities and tasks will be embedded into each unit so students can practise the techniques they have learned and develop their skills. Alongside the learning materials on Blackboard, the tutor will be on hand to answer any queries and provide guidance throughout the course. The course will also offer the students the opportunity to get detailed feedback on their draft before the final submission.

This module can be studied as a stand-alone course, but it is also an optional module for the Certificate of Higher Education in Creative Writing at Aberystwyth University.   

Assessments
Script outline 200 words (20%)
Submit the first section of a script; 1800 words (80%)

Note

This module is at CQFW Level 4