Modern screenwriting courses come in several formats: in-person workshops, semester-length intensives, online self-paced classes, and software-focused sessions. A strong class mixes short lectures, writing exercises, and structured feedback so writers can complete a draft segment or full sample, sharpen revision habits, and build a peer network.
Why screenwriting classes differ from general writing courses
Screenwriting uses specific tools and rhythms that differ from prose. You work in scenes and beats, write to visual and auditory delivery, and think in sequences and payoffs rather than long internal narration. A class geared to screenwriting teaches those craft tools: structure, scene design, pacing, and dialogue that reads and sounds cinematic.
Common course formats today
In-person workshops
Intensive, cohort-based workshops emphasize peer feedback and table reads. They push students to finish pages quickly, test scenes aloud, and iterate with real-time notes.
Semester or 8-12 week intensives
Many community colleges, continuing-education programs, and independent schools run 8-12 week courses. These balance lectures, weekly writing exercises, and instructor feedback so students can develop a feature or pilot draft over a defined period.
Online and self-paced options
Asynchronous classes on platforms like MasterClass, Coursera, and Udemy let you learn fundamentals on your schedule. More hands-on online programs pair you with a tutor and provide peer review and deadlines. Industry labs (for example, the Sundance Institute labs) offer a hybrid of mentorship and workshop formats for emerging writers.
Software-focused workshops
Some short courses focus on screenwriting tools - formatting, collaborative rewriting, and production prep - using Final Draft, WriterDuet, or Celtx.
What a good screenwriting class will teach you
Expect practical modules: story structure (act beats and midpoints), character arcs, scene construction, writing concise action lines, and sharpening dialogue. The best classes combine short lectures, writing exercises, and structured feedback so you can revise toward a complete act or draft.
Outcomes: what you can finish the course with
Most project-based classes aim for a concrete deliverable: a polished 10-20 page sample, a full act, a first draft of a pilot or feature, or a pitch package. Beyond pages, you gain revision habits, a feedback process, and often a small network of fellow writers.
How to choose a class
Match the course to your goals. If you need accountability and feedback, pick a cohort or workshop with instructor notes. If you want flexibility, choose a self-paced online course. Budget, time, desired deliverable (pages, pilot, pitch), and the presence of peer review or industry mentors should guide your choice.
A note on university offerings
Some universities and continuing-education departments offer online screenwriting courses with tutor support and rolling enrollment; historically, institutions such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison have listed screenwriting options online .
- Confirm whether the University of Wisconsin-Madison currently offers an online screenwriting course and the details of that offering.
- Verify recent examples of university continuing-education screenwriting offerings and whether any use rolling enrollment or tutor support.