How old is too old to become a screenwriter?

[Lelophants]

This is something I have longed to do since school but didn’t know where to start (apart from obsessively making my own scripts in secondary school including on the weekends when my friends were all going out). I ended up down a completely different career path which was the ‘right way to go’ and academic and in no way creative.

Now in my 30s in the young children stage and reevaluating everything, I’m thinking f* it why not look into this again.

Even just for fun really! How do you know if you’re good? Any recommended courses to get started? I’m so totally out of touch with this world and know nobody.

I also clearly watched far too much tv over the pandemic and got into compete wormholes online investigating showrunners and all the work they do. Feeling very impressed and horribly jealous at the talent out there!

Are you writing? That's the most important part that writers often forget to do. Watching TV is great for research but you still have to put fingers to keyboard.

The BBC have a few windows open throughout the year when anyone can send in their manuscripts. I'd aim for that. I'd also try to get involved in the local theatre scene, as many TV writers get headhunted from the theatre world.

Save the Cat is one of the most popular screenwriting books.

Good luck!

If you're good you're never too old 😅 good luck!!

Have a listen to the podcast Happier in Hollywood. Obviously from a US perspective but very interesting and full of info.

Good books (other than Save The Cat):

Into the Woods
The Science of Storytelling
Anatomy of Story

It’s really hard to get an agent for screenwriting, but there are a lot of competitions and schemes. Film festivals often have awards for scripts, which is a good way to build up the writing CV.

If you can afford it, I recommend buying Final Draft software. It’s industry standard and takes the pain out of script formatting.
Save the Cat also has software for plotting which is really useful!

Wishing you all the luck!!

Look into the BBC writers room, they have lots of resources and have open script windows when you can send in your work and get feedback on it.

Tony Schumacher who wrote The Responder was supported by them before he got that commission.

good luck!!

www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom

This is all so helpful. Thank you people of mumsnet!