Screenwriting: a guide for pros
What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.
Offering screenwriting
Screenwriting clients bring stories they care about and often need a clear, honest read on structure. Show that you can talk about story and format in specific terms, and that you agree outlines and terms before you write the full script.
What customers ask
- How do you structure a script, and what does the outline look like?
- Will you change my story?
- Do you write in standard screenplay format?
- How many feedback rounds do I get?
- Can you help me pitch the script?
- Who owns the script after I pay?
How to win the job
- On the first call, ask what the story is, who it is for and what format it takes, then say in one sentence which part needs the most work.
- Ask for the client's draft or summary and mark two scenes where the purpose is unclear, so they see how you read.
- Send a sample scene in the correct format, with a short note on the choices you made, so the client sees your craft.
- Put the format, the length, the feedback rounds and the outline stage into the quote, so the client knows what is included.
- Agree the outline in writing before drafting, with the beats and characters the client has approved listed out.
- Confirm the rights and credit terms in writing before you start, and keep the client's story notes private.
What to put on your profile
- Sample scenes or outlines, with the format and genre noted.
- Formats you write, such as features, short films or series episodes.
- Your process: idea review, outline, character work, draft and feedback.
- The screenplay software you use and the format you deliver in.
Follow-up that helps the customer
- Offer a logline and a one-page synopsis after the script is approved, if the client plans to share it.
- Suggest a rewrite of a single scene or sequence the client wants to test before a full revision.
- Offer a read-through of the script with the client, if they want to hear it aloud.
Licenses and permits
Screenwriting is not commonly licensed, so you usually do not need a license to offer it. Check with your state or local licensing agency for business registration, and keep a written agreement that names the format, the feedback rounds, the rights and the credit terms.
Questions
How do I show I can write a screenplay in the correct format?
Send a sample scene in the format you use, and describe the software and conventions you follow. The sample shows the format better than a description can.
Should I work on a client's idea if I think it is weak?
Be honest about the weak points in the outline, and suggest specific fixes. Let the client decide what to change, and keep that decision in their hands.
How do I handle rights and credit?
Put both in the written agreement before you start, including what you may show in your portfolio. Ask a lawyer to review the rights terms if you are unsure of them.
Pro reviewers
Pros who offer screenwriting remotely can improve this guide, like Wikipedia. We check every edit before it goes live. Every approved edit is credited in the edit history and on the pro's profile.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
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