Some may find it hard to believe, but there's increasing evidence that screenwriting is now the most popular form of creative writing there is. Screenwriting refers to the writing of scripts for either television or feature film production. If queried, the typical response about writing popularity might refer to the novel. However, the dynamic of creative writing has undoubtedly changed, and screenwriting is the primary reason why. There are now books on how to write screenplays, some of which are immensely popular and have sold to such a degree that they're in multiple prints. There are also screenwriting contests that claim to offer winners an inside track to establishing a screenwriting career. And even universities have gotten into the act, with some establishing programs specific to teaching screenwriting. Clearly there is a tremendous interest in the screenwriting form.



People write screenplays for various reasons. Some people simply enjoy the process, and have no real intentions on pursuing a career. Some people will write a screenplay or two, and then never write another one. There are those who consistently write screenplays, hoping in many cases to establish a screenwriting career. The lure of a screenwriting career holds different things for different people, obviously: there are those who hope for the opportunity to work in Hollywood's glamorous setting; others hope to become rich; and then some just have a burning desire to create drama.

One element almost all professional screenwriters share is being committed to writing screenplays. This commitment is vital for at least a couple of different reasons. Firstly, it takes time to learn to write screenplays at what's considered a professionally acceptable level. The length of time it takes to learn the craft and art of screenwriting varies, but for most people it's a period of years. The notion of a person taking up screenwriting and having a screenwriting career several months later is essentially unheard of. There are people who move to screenwriting from other writing forms, but typically they're established writers who've been writing for years.

The other reason for needing a sense of commitment is gaining entry. Unknown screenwriters are not given much consideration in the entertainment industry. To ultimately launch a screenwriting career typically takes significant perseverance: doors don't open easily for the unknown. There's also typically a lot of rejection to endure along the way. Becoming a professional screenwriter certainly isn't impossible, because people do it. The best policy with respect to a screenwriting career however is to go into the situation understanding it won't be easy. Those with the best hope for succeeding have both desire and ability.