hey everyone

this may be a stupid question and im sorry if it is, but is it possible to be a self taught writer and have a successful career in screenwriting? i mean like not going to college, university or any other writing program, cause i really want to be a screenwriter but the thing is there's absolutely no programs in colleges or universities that have anything to do with writing around my area, any type of a opinion would be a geat help

thanks

I have learned NOTHING about screenwriting in film school. I learned how to write scripts through reading books about screenwriting and reading produced screenplays. I've fine tuned my skills by posting my scripts here and participating in script related discussions. Nevertheless, I would consider myself self-taught prior to joining this site.

In short, it is entirely possible to be a self-taught writer.

Yes, it is possible to be self taught and be successful.  How do I know?  I'm one of them.  After 9 years of writing one of my screenplays is now in the last stage of pre-production.  It is an Independent film with a nice size budget.  To me, that's success.

My background in education is High School and one semester of screenwriting in college.  I was unable to finish because I couldn't afford to go anymore.  So, I figured I would teach myself.  I read every book on the subject and wrote everyday (I still do).  The more you write, the better you get.  It's pure determination and passion for writing that's going to make you successful.

If I were you, I would check your local film commission and find out who did what.  Write a short or something on a small scale, get it made and work your way up.  That's what I did.  You will be amazed on what kind of contacts you will get that are in the industry.  Remember, it's all about networking.

My advice to you is "Never give up!"

Hope this helps.

Anti

Hey Silent; There's a good discussion threat on this topic on the board:Screenwriting Class : Academic Background...Might like to check that out... Good Luck

Joe

thank you all very much, all your replies have been a tremendous help, i'll wil try and write sum shorts to begin with and post them on this site, im getting laid off at my job so i'll have time to write.

again thank you all very mmuch

I think as long as you aren't a 'self teached writer' then you have as much of a shot at it as any of us.

Absolutely.  If you have the capacity, the drive and the initiative, you can do almost anything.

If you want to study something or practice some skill.  Just do it!  And maybe you do, and  find you've read and worked with all of the material you can get your hands on, but feel like you need something more:  Well, then you can bang on the doors of the pros.  Maybe you'll get arrested, but...

The point is, if you can get yourself a formal education, do it.  But that's only a small part of the magic.  It's like a wand with an owner that has no clue of spells.

Anything we learn to do, we learn by practice.  We can read tons of writing books, and yes, they help us with theory, but one needs to just do it.  Make mistakes.  Trudge along.

Work away, and try and have fun because if you're not having fun, then it becomes too much of a grind and your work will suffer, so try and get that balance going.

Simplyscripts is a fabulous forum for working and socializing.  This is a great venue for writers to share and keep the wheels turning.  

Since writing is such a solitary kind of work, the computer is a fabulous tool for bringing people together and taking away some of that isolation: use it for all its worth and help others with your strengths.

Take the bull by the horns and tackle whatever you feel you need to while trying different strategies.

I really want to encourage you because too many people get in "mind ruts" and the way the system is, it's designed to create them.  So just don't let "can't" be in your vocabulary.

Write something.  And then:  Rewrite it a hundred times if you must.   That makes you better.  And you don't see it then.  Not until maybe a year or two down the road when you've assimilated the form of say a "twenty pager " and it starts to feel comfortable.  And then, you're ready to seriously tackle something longer.  

Time goes by and a 120 page script is in your bones.  You know the feel of it like it's a
warm summer's day after a hard cold winter.  Your recognize its subtle shifts, the necessary tugs you'll need to make it work.  You can feel when you need to transition or if your characters are flat.

This doesn't happen as by some miracle, but by "paying the dues."  If someone is a prodigy, then I think they too have paid their dues, but in another life.  But that's my take on things.

Don't let notions, of how things are supposed to go, keep you from achieving your dreams.

Enjoy the journey.

Sandra

I still have a hell of a lot to learn. But what I have learnt has been taught to me through: attending a Robert McKee workshop, reading books on the craft of screenwriting and by hanging out here at Simply Scripts.

I also think that most writers have an X factor which gives them the ability to get into the appropriate zone to write. I start on some ideas and nothing happens, but then I can start on others and I'll slip into a zone where the words flow. It's not something I can force; if I try to it just seems...well, forced. However, the flipside to this is that you also need to have a strong work ethic to produce good work, so letting it come naturally whilst simultaneously trying to make it happen can be a tricky business indeed. But no one ever said it was easy.

I’m a professional screenwriter.  Self-taught.  But I was creative and had a big imagination since the day I was born. Then again, I was born into a show business family, so I'm sure that has something to do with it.  I read many, many scripts when I was younger.  I did a lot of writing too.  Early on, it was mostly sketch comedy.  Eventually I dabbled in short scripts, then feature-length scripts.  There were several years of trial and error.  No classes, no seminars, no workshops, no Internet (not back in those days), and only a handful of books were available.  Just me, a pad of paper and a pen.  Just me and a typewriter.  Just me and a computer.  I figured out what worked for me and what didn’t.  I figured out what was successful for me and what wasn’t.  Then something eventually clicked.  I found my personal groove.  I found my voice.  Now, do I believe most budding screenwriters will never succeed no matter how hard they try?  Yup.  They don’t have the initial talent and most don’t have the drive and determination to get the job done.  Fact is, this is a rough business and only a relative few survive its turmoil.   But hey, you gotta try.  At least you can say you did that much.