Screenwriting is all about writing content for TV or film. It is an interesting career, all the amazing movies and TV shows you enjoy watching were created because someone wrote the script perfectly.
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.
You can achieve your dreams of becoming a screenwriter by taking lessons online. The best thing about online screenwriting lessons is that you have an opportunity to learn the skill from professionals who would otherwise have been inaccessible.
The online screenwriting lessons are created for everyone, in a situation where the lessons have been created to target a particular learning group; the instructor will indicate who can take the lessons.
It is best to start from scratch, learning all about screenwriting from professionals who have won many awards and have a glowing reputation as screenwriters. What’s’ more, the online screenwriting lessons are immersive and engaging. You can learn in a community of friendly people who are always willing to assist you to achieve your goals of becoming a proficient screenwriter.
Many of the screenwriting lessons you will find online feature practical exercises that will help you use the skills you have learned to improve your ability to write the perfect scripts for TV or film.
Here are the top websites that offer outstanding screenwriting lessons.
17 Websites to Learn Screenwriting Lesson Online Reviews
1) MasterClass Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting
Aaron Sorkin has created this masterclass for people who want to discover how he has achieved so many outstanding accomplishments as a screenwriter. This masterclass features 35 lessons that have been premade as videos.
The visual content in this course is of a high-quality with clear audio. Aaron Sorkin is an Oscar winner and one of the best screenwriters in our time.
This masterclass is woven around teaching students all about the use of intention and the obstacles that contribute to the formation of a good story for TV or film. People who take this course will also learn how to develop ideas for stories, and the basic steps to develop the different characters that will make the story come alive.
Also, there are lessons on how to write for an audience and the essentials that must be considered when doing research for a story. Aaron reveals how he maintains a writing habit that helps him increase productivity and how the participants in this course can achieve the same thing.
The exercises in this course are targeted at helping the participants to make their first attempt at writing content for TV or film, depending on their interests. There are a series of group workshops and case studies on different outstanding content that has been developed into award-winning films or TV shows.
2) MasterClass Shonda Rhimes Teaches Writing For Television
Shonda Rhimes has created this masterclass for screenwriters who want to learn and improve their skills in writing content for television. Shonda Rhimes is a prolific screenwriter and she has written content for some of the best TV shows we watch today such as Scandal, Private Practice, and Grey’s Anatomy, to mention a few.
This masterclass in screenwriting is a unique opportunity to learn from Shonda Rhimes directly. The lessons in this course last for about six hours; she has created the content for this masterclass to cover the essential areas of screenwriting, teaching her students how they can get their career as screenwriters started.
Shonda Rhimes begins this course with a lesson that shows her students how to start writing content for TV independently. The lesson aims to improve the confidence of the participants to start writing content for TV without doubts about their ability.
The students in this course are thought how to find ideas for stories, the process of developing the content and writing the script to attract the targeted audience.
Also, the people who take this course are guided on how to research the story and the process of character selection. The course outline covers the entire process of writing a script which includes the structure, pilot, effective habits that can help the student start and finish projects as well as how to write authentic dialogue.
The course ends with a case study on Grey’s Anatomy, which is revealing and helpful to help the students create better content for TV.
3) MasterClass David Mamet Teaches Dramatic Writing
David Mamet is one of the popular screenwriters who have created outstanding content for drama. His works have been produced with outstanding results many times because of how perfectly they were written.
This masterclass features 26 lessons that are presented as high-quality videos. David Mamet teaches the people who take this course the basic principles that must be followed when writing content for drama.
The lessons cover essential topics such as how to identify the purpose of drama before writing content for the TV or film presentation. Also, the students are guided and taught the different rules that must be followed to write great content for drama.
This is a great course for people who want to learn how to develop ideas for stories. The lessons on this topic cover essential areas such as character development, choosing and learning how to structure a plot, and researching content for the task.
This course also features different case studies that help the people taking this course to differentiate between drama and tragedy, and how to maintain the content to reflect drama.
There are also tips and tricks on how to develop the scenes, create authentic dialogue and how to develop the narrative for the plot. This is a comprehensive masterclass that can be started and completed conveniently.
4) Udemy – Screenwriting Lessons
There are over fifty online screenwriting lessons on Udemy. These courses have been created by trained writers and teachers who use the educational platform to teach students how to create and develop content for TV or film.
The screenwriting lessons on Udemy are diversified, this is because the instructors have different areas of expertise and have created their lessons around the different areas of specialty.
You can find screenwriting lessons that cover the essentials of writing the perfect script for drama, TV shows, documentaries, and comedy. The online screenwriting lessons on this site are created as flexible courses that can be taken at the students’ convenience. They are video lessons that feature the instructors; some teachers offer their students downloadable content for further studies.
It is easy to choose the right course on Udemy because the instructors have described their lessons. There are screenwriting courses for all levels while the tag is specific if the teacher has created the course for a particular group of learners.
There are introductory screenwriting courses for beginners, screenwriting lessons for novels and lessons that teach people how to write scripts that can be resold to make a profit. There are lessons that cover the essential process and tips on creating a pilot, and how to describe a screenplay. Overall, this is a good site to learn screenwriting techniques because the offers are diversified.
5) Lynda.com - Screenwriting Courses Online
This educational website has a page dedicated to different screenwriting lessons online. The courses on this page are for students who want to learn how to write content for TV or film. The lessons feature training programs and tutorials that cover the different aspects of screenwriting.
The screenwriting lessons on this site have been creatively packaged to cover the basic and other essential aspects of screenwriting. For example, the students who take this course will learn all about developing the plot for a feature, writing the content, narratives, creating dialogue and the pilot for their productions.
Also, the students will learn particular screenwriting techniques that can be used to write outstanding content for TV shows or films which need humour, drama, or romance. There are screenwriting lessons on this site that covers the essential aspects of writing content for commercial advertisements. This is essential are of marketing where screenwriters are in high demand.
People who use this site will also find awesome screenwriting lessons that teach participants how to create content for public announcements, and informational videos that can be used on social media.
The lessons that can be found on this site last for a short time, usually less than 15 minutes. They have been arranged in a format to make it easy for the students to start and complete the course.
6) Takelessons – Screenwriting Lessons Online
Takelessons is an online educational platform that can be used by everyone to update or improve their screenwriting knowledge and techniques. On this educational site, there are over twenty teachers who have created profiles to offer their services as coaches for screenwriters.
The lessons on this site last for a few minutes and are scheduled conveniently to meet the needs of the participants.
The screenwriting lessons on this site cover the essential aspects of screenwriting that can help beginners start their careers without any issues. There are courses on Takelessons that cover more advanced learning areas. These courses teach the different aspects of screenwriting that can help intermediate or advanced learners to improve or update their writing techniques.
The teachers on the site have all been checked through a verification process before they can create profiles to teach other people about screenwriting. There are teachers on the site who speak different languages. This is one of the features that have attracted more students who are interested in learning how to write content for TV or film in other languages.
The language that the teacher would prefer to use for communication is indicated on their profile. Also, the teachers have been rated by previous students so it is easy to find a teacher who has been successfully helping others to become professional screenwriters.
7) Superprof – Online Screenwriting Lessons
The screenwriting lessons on this website are delivered via webcam which allows the students to interact and learn directly from the different tutors on the site. The screenwriting lessons can be received from over one hundred teachers who have signed up on the site.
The teachers have been checked and vetted by the administrative team to ensure they have the qualifications and experience to offer lessons on screenwriting.
On the site, the screenwriting lessons have been created by professionals in the creative sector for film and TV such as multi-media professionals, English teachers, award-winning writers, and published writers. There are lessons on screenwriting that have been created by filmmakers who also reveal their secrets and the best tips that can help the participants in the course to achieve their dreams.
The lessons on this site are charged per hour and they have flexible timing for convenience. The teachers on this site offer the first lessons on screenwriting for free. This is a good idea because it gives the participants an opportunity to test the course to know if it is a good fit for them before making a purchase.
The screenwriting courses on this site cover essential topics such as writing scripts for drama, suspense, or thrillers. The participants interested in writing content for films and TV will find the appropriate lessons on this site.
8) Creativelive – Online Screenwriting Lessons
This is one of the comprehensive educational websites that offer screenwriting lessons for learners at all levels. The screenwriting lessons are presented as video files that cover the essential aspects of writing scripts for TV or film.
The videos for each lesson are high-quality and have good audio. They are presented by qualified and experienced screenwriters and teachers. You can also find lessons on screenwriting that have been created by filmmakers on the site.
The screenwriting lessons have been reviewed by the past students so it is easy to find a course delivered by a competent teacher who has been helping other students to achieve their goals.
On this site, there are screenwriting lessons that can help beginners to discover their talent for writing scripts and how to find inspiration when handling screenwriting projects. There are also lessons that teach the students how to use the best screenwriting techniques to create and build scenes, characters and writing the perfect plot for their content.
There is a lesson that explains the process of developing a concept for the script, and the best screenwriting techniques to define a story with the right mix of emotion and intrigue.
There are lessons that teach the tips and tricks of storytelling to help writers generate conflict and suspense to keep the readers engaged. The courses are short and easy to complete.
9) Skillshare.com – Online Screenwriting Lessons
The screenwriting lessons on this site have been prepared by experienced writers, teachers, and filmmakers. The lessons are popular because they cover a vast scope of topics regarding screenwriting. The reviews for this site indicate that the teachers are helpful and willing to support the students to achieve their dreams of becoming the best screenwriters.
This is a comprehensive online screenwriting course that can help students at all learning levels to develop their creative ability to write the best content for TV or film. The lessons last for a few minutes and can be taken at a convenient schedule. This allows the students to learn at their own pace.
There are screenwriting lessons that cover essential aspects such as how to develop a plot and storyline for a TV or film project. The screenwriting lessons on this site can also be taken to learn the art of storytelling for commercial advertisements, marketing campaigns or for content that is targeted at a particular group of people in the public.
Students on this site will find screenwriting courses that teach the techniques or writing content to tell a compelling visual story in different contexts. For example, there is a lesson that covers the techniques of writing scripts for thrillers and suspense-filled content.
10) MyBluprint.com – Online Screenwriting Lessons
This is a generalised educational website where students can learn all about screenwriting for different types of visual content. The lessons on screenwriting that have been published on this site have been created by professional screenwriters, English language teachers, and filmmakers. The lessons are presented as videos that have high-quality visuals and good audio.
On this site, there are six comprehensive screenwriting courses that cover the essential areas every student should know. The diversified context on this site is a good idea because it helps the students to gain knowledge and more experience to know more about screenwriting and eventually decide on a niche that they will like to focus on.
The screenwriting lessons on this site feature courses that cover the essential tips for screenwriting to help beginners start their careers. This lesson features some important goals that everyone who takes this course must develop to get ahead in their career. There is another fantastic screenwriting course about thinking like a screenwriter. This course teaches the students how to think creatively when creating content for TV or film.
There is a course that covers the essential process of developing a story and how the writer can improve their content with an infusion of empathy, romance, suspense or horror. The screenwriting lessons on this site last for about thirty minutes and they are scheduled to offer students a convenient way to achieve their dreams.
11) Coursera – Online Screenwriting Lessons
The online courses for screenwriting on this website have been created by professional writers and award-winning filmmakers. The courses provide a smart and convenient way to learn all about screenwriting.
Many of the screenwriting courses on this site have been created by professionals who are affiliated with different reputable universities. The courses cover different aspects of screenwriting so people who are interested in particular topics can focus on the course instead of taking generalised courses that cover topics they are already familiar with.
There are screenwriting courses that cover the process of developing a plot, pilot and storyline for different types of visual content.
Students who use this site can also find screenwriting courses that cover writing techniques for different types of media. The creative writing lessons on the site are created to help the students to write world-class content that can be sold to film producers; this can be the start of a promising and lucrative career.
There are over twenty screenwriting courses on this site. Each course features a couple of lessons that last for a few minutes each. The tutors have been rated by past students on a scale of five, to help beginners make a better decision when choosing a tutor on the site.
12) Indie Film Screenwriting Lessons Online
This is a comprehensive website for students who want to learn how to write outstanding scripts for Indie films. The screenwriting lessons on this site have been categorised in a simple layout to make it easy for the students to find the courses they are interested in taking.
The different courses have been appropriately labelled and they feature high-quality videos and clear audio. The screenwriting lessons on this site cover a diverse scope, which is best because the students can learn about different methods that will essentially improve the content they create for film or TV.
On this site, there are screenwriting lessons focused on award-winning films that have been globally acknowledged in the Indie film industry. The students are taught the techniques and processes used by the writer to create the content that makes those films outstanding.
There are videos that cover the biography of screenwriters who have accomplished great things in the film industry. The case studies on this site also feature some of the best TV and film productions in the Indie film industry.
Some of the best screenwriting lessons on this site that will catch the attention of students include the lessons on how to write a compelling story and ending for different types of content. There is a comprehensive course on how to write dialogues for TV content, and much more.
13) Futurelearn.com – Online Screenwriting Lessons
This is a website that offers comprehensive courses on screenwriting. The learning content on this site has been created for beginners who are just starting their career in screenwriting.
During the course offered on the site, the participants will learn all about screenwriting, the fundamentals, basics, and the principles of screenwriting that can help them achieve their dreams. The learning program on the site is flexible; the students who take the screenwriting course can choose to participate in the two-week-long study program. There is a shorter course on screenwriting that lasts for three hours.
The courses and other learning options on the site have been clearly described to help the participants understand their learning targets during the program. The screenwriting courses include lessons that explore the different techniques that can be used to bring out the features of a story.
The students will also take lessons that cover the process of developing a concept for stories and the structure. There are lessons that teach topics such as developing the plot, creating a pilot and characters for a script.
At the end of this course, the students will have all the knowledge they need to start and complete screenwriting projects of film and TV.
14) Scriptreaderpro.com – Online Lessons
This is one of the online screenwriting courses that present practical exercises that can help people who take the course to improve their screenwriting skills. The lessons on this site are for all levels of learners, including the advanced learners who are interested in improving their screenwriting techniques.
The lessons in this course are video files that last for about fifteen minutes each. The students who take these screenwriting courses can choose flexible learning programs to acquire the best screenwriting techniques at their own pace.
This is a good learning program for students who are interested in developing their screenwriting techniques before examinations in formal educational settings. The writing processes described in this course can help the participants to avoid many years of guessing and trials to get it right once and for all.
The screenwriting lessons on this site have been created by professionals who have been drawn from different creative fields such as drama, action specialists, thriller and horror, and well as romance. These tutors reveal their secrets and how they have been able to consistently deliver outstanding content over the years.
15) Screenwriting Masterclass
This is an intensive screenwriting masterclass that has been created for different categories of professionals and learners such as screenwriters, novelists, advertising executives, and playwrights.
The online course is convenient for all professionals to take the lessons and improve their proficiencies in writing compelling content for TV or stage presentations. On this site, there are outstanding screenwriting lessons that have been created by some of the best and experienced creatives in the fields.
The lessons have been simplified to encourage more people to start and finish the course. The participants also have the option of learning how to write the best scripts at their own pace, since there is no pressure on the learners.
The lessons on this site cover important areas of screenwriting such as how to research and develop ideas for stories, creating a plot, and the characters to be featured in the production.
Also, there are tips and ideas on how to write authentic dialogues without missing the character. There are lessons that have been focused on teaching the students how to create virtual scenes that can be properly replicated on TV.
The lessons on this site are in video format, they can be taken on the go and conveniently by using mobile devices or laptops.
16) Screenwriters University
The online screenwriting courses offered on this website follow a professionally created calendar that makes it possible for the students to learn how to write the best scripts at their own pace. The screenwriting courses on this site are for beginners, intermediate and advanced learners.
The online courses can be viewed as videos on mobile devices or other computers. Students who wish to take any of these courses can choose from the different options on the site.
For example, there are courses that have been featured based on the duration of the lessons, the topics covered and the targeted goals that all participants must attain at the end of the course.
This is a good site to learn how to write scripts for different types of content. Students who need to learn quickly will find short courses on this site that they can take to learn the best screenwriting techniques in a few weeks.
The lessons feature practical exercises that help the students to apply their knowledge immediately after learning. The courses have also been rated by past students.
17) Shorescripts.com - Online Screenwriting Lessons
The online screenwriting lessons on this website are mainly for students who need to understand the basics of screenwriting and how to become professionals. The lessons start from scratch and progress to cover advanced lessons on screenwriting.
The students learn how to break into screenwriting, how to develop characters and create compelling plots for their writing projects. The courses cover screenwriting projects for drama, stage presentations, commercial projects, and films.
There are multiple tips on how to create conflicts in scripts, using emotion and authentic dialogue. The lessons on writing scripts for short films are bestsellers on this site.
The learning program is flexible, which makes it convenient for busy people to master the professional screenwriting methods at their convenience.
Choosing the Best Screenwriting Lesson Online
One of the main goals of screenwriting is the creation of content that holds the attention of your audience. However, the students who need this course may have had different levels of exposure as screenwriters.
Taking lessons online makes it convenient to find particular aspects of screenwriting that the student needs to learn. The variety of courses on screenwriting online provides a vast learning platform that the students can leverage to acquire different techniques to achieve their goals.
The interactive learning processes implemented on many sites that offer screenwriting lessons online are helpful. The students can ask questions and get answers within a short time. Also, their content can be reviewed and corrections made to help the students improve their screenwriting techniques.