What is script writing?

Script writing is the act of writing a script or screenplay—the language and blueprint for film, television, show, video game, or any other audio-visual media. Screenplays can be fiction or nonfiction as well as original or based on a novel, play, or story. But unlike a novel, the script must enable the actors who read it to show the story to the audience rather than tell it. Most scripts do this through a mix of behavioral directions and dialogue.

What kind of people are best suited for roles in script writing?

If you enjoy telling stories, have a good imagination, and have always wanted to see your stories performed on TV or film, you're a good candidate for a career in script writing. However, if you'd like to make money at it, you'll need some patience, self-motivation, and perseverance. Selling scripts to producers and production companies is a competitive business. You'll typically work as a freelancer, and it could take years for you to find success. Other skills you'll need are creative writing, an understanding of filmmaking, and an understanding of the language of scripts.

How can taking online courses on Coursera help me learn script writing?

Taking online courses on Coursera can help you learn the basics of script writing or help you understand some of its elements. You can also take general creative writing courses. A course about writing a screenplay for film or television can help you learn how to write a feature-length script.

What are typical careers that use script writing?

If you study script writing, you more than likely want to become a script writer for a particular audio-visual medium, but there are other ways to use your skills and knowledge. You may go on to work in advertising, marketing, or copywriting. You can become a film or media critic. You can even dive further into the film industry by trying your hand at acting, talent management, or directing. You may also find that you simply like the act of writing so much that you want to become a novelist.

What are the benefits of taking an online Script Writing course?

Online Script Writing courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Script Writing skills. Choose from a wide range of Script Writing courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Script Writing courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Script Writing, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Script Writing Courses - Learn Script Writing Online

Explore the Script Writing Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
Berklee
Songwriting: Writing, Arranging, and Producing Music
Skills you'll gain: File Management, Music Theory, Musical Composition, Music, Peer Review, Instrumental Music, Storytelling, Music Performance, Creativity, Performing Arts, Automation, Writing, Editing, Software Installation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Irvine
Academic English: Writing
Skills you'll gain: Grammar, Peer Review, Writing, Research, Proofreading, Editing, Writing and Editing, English Language, Vocabulary, Style Guides
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
23K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Davis
JavaScript for Beginners
Skills you'll gain: jQuery, Javascript and jQuery, Ajax, Javascript, Data Validation, UI Components, HTML and CSS, Scripting, JSON, Scripting Languages, Web Development Tools, JavaScript Frameworks, Web Applications, Web Design and Development, Event-Driven Programming, Game Design, Application Programming Interface (API), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Animations, Programming Principles
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Wesleyan University
Memoir and Personal Essay: Write About Yourself
Skills you'll gain: Storytelling, Writing and Editing, Content Creation, Journals, Writing, Organizational Skills, Editing, Personal Development, Self-Awareness, Overcoming Obstacles, Detail Oriented
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
425 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Google
Start Writing Prompts like a Pro
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Data Ethics, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
117 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Meta Web Development Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Django (Web Framework), Responsive Web Design, HTML and CSS, Relational Databases, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Database Management Systems, Bootstrap (Front-End Framework), SQL, Database Design, Databases, Front-End Web Development, Unit Testing, MySQL, Debugging, User Interface (UI), Web Development, Web Servers, Test Driven Development (TDD), Web Applications, Programming Principles
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
16K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Business Communication
Skills you'll gain: Business Writing, Conflict Management, Constructive Feedback, Teamwork, Business Correspondence, Decision Making, Cooperation, Business Communication, Collaboration, Diversity Awareness, Recognizing Others, Mediation, Writing, Organizational Skills, Interpersonal Communications, Concision, Team Motivation, Tactfulness, Performance Review, Employee Performance Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
10K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Business Writing
Skills you'll gain: Business Writing, Business Correspondence, Business Communication, Writing, Organizational Skills, Concision, Writing and Editing, Proofreading, Grammar, Communication, Editing, Organizational Strategy, Persuasive Communication, Verbal Communication Skills, Communication Strategies
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM Data Architecture
Skills you'll gain: NoSQL, Data Warehousing, SQL, Apache Hadoop, Extract, Transform, Load, Apache Airflow, Data Security, Linux Commands, Data Migration, Database Design, Data Governance, MySQL, Apache Spark, Data Pipelines, Apache Kafka, Database Management, Bash (Scripting Language), Shell Script, Database Architecture and Administration, Data Store
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
6.6K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Board Infinity
Introduction to Technical Writing
Skills you'll gain: Technical Writing, Technical Documentation, Technical Communication, Software Documentation, Graphic and Visual Design, Design Elements And Principles, Typography, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Collaborative Software, Proofreading, Peer Review, Multimedia, Version Control
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
318 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Python 3 Programming
Skills you'll gain: Unified Modeling Language, JSON, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Software Design, Debugging, Object Oriented Design, Data Processing, Web Scraping, Unit Testing, Programming Principles, Data Import/Export, Restful API, Python Programming, Image Analysis, Data Manipulation, Jupyter, Maintainability, Data Structures, Software Engineering, File Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
23K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Irvine
Learn English: Writing Effectively with Complex Sentences
Skills you'll gain: Grammar, Proofreading, Peer Review, Writing and Editing, Writing, English Language
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
77 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months