Screenwriting vs Scriptwriting: What’s the Difference?

Screenwriting means writing for film and television. Scriptwriting is the broader term and covers any written performance text, including stage plays, radio and podcasts, video games, commercials and corporate video. All screenwriting is scriptwriting, but not all scriptwriting is screenwriting.

• Screenwriting is for the screen: film, TV and streaming.
• Scriptwriting also includes theater, audio, games and video.
• The core skills are the same: structure, character and dialogue.

What is screenwriting?

Screenwriting is writing screenplays and teleplays in the standard industry format. The result is a blueprint for a film or episode that a director, actors and crew will turn into images and sound.

What is scriptwriting?

Scriptwriting is any writing meant to be performed or recorded. Playwrights, podcast writers, game narrative designers and people who write corporate or advertising video are all scriptwriters. Each medium has its own format and conventions.

Which term should you use?

In the film and TV industry, people say screenwriter and screenplay. Scriptwriter is common in the UK, in advertising and in video production. If you are applying for film or TV work, screenwriter is the clearer word.

Questions

Is a scriptwriter the same as a screenwriter?

A screenwriter is a type of scriptwriter who writes for film or television. Scriptwriter can also mean someone writing for theater, radio, games or video.

Do screenwriting skills transfer to other scripts?

Yes. Story structure, character and dialogue carry across every medium. Format and length are what change.

Related course: Screenwriting 101