As I enter the final year of my university course, everything feels like it’s been stepped up a notch. There’s a palpable shift in intensity compared to previous years—assignments feel more demanding, deadlines carry more weight, and the pressure to make the most of every opportunity is ever-present. One of the biggest challenges I’m currently facing is my screenwriting module, where I’m tasked with writing a 50-60-minute screenplay. This is a significant leap from last year when I completed a 30-minute script in an introductory screenwriting course. Although I was pleased with that script, this time around feels much more ambitious.
The script I’m working on now can either be for a short film or a TV pilot. After much thought, I’ve decided to write it as a pilot. The idea I have is much better suited to an episodic format, with space for character development and plot arcs that can extend beyond one episode. Writing a pilot feels like laying the foundation for something bigger, something with the potential to evolve over time, and that prospect excites me. But with that excitement also comes a heightened sense of responsibility. In many ways, it feels like I’m preparing to take a significant step forward in my writing, and it’s both thrilling and slightly daunting.
Currently, I’m working on the first 10 pages, which are due for submission and critique this week. These pages are crucial—they need to set the tone, introduce the main characters, and hint at the overarching narrative. I know they will set the stage for how the rest of the pilot is received, so getting them right feels like a tall order.
One of the issues I often face when writing is trying to figure out what’s going to happen before I start. I’ve always been a writer who prefers to dive into the story and see where it takes me. I enjoy the freedom of not knowing exactly where a plot will go or how characters will develop until I’m in the thick of writing. This approach worked well in my previous work, especially in novels and short stories, where I can afford to let the narrative unfold more organically. But with screenwriting, the need for structure is far more pressing. There’s a tightness to the format that requires things to happen in specific places, and working within those confines can feel restrictive.
Despite this, I’m confident that I’ll be able to fulfil the idea’s potential. The concept I’m working with is one I believe in, and even though I don’t have every plot point pinned down just yet, I know that the story will come together as I write. I’ve learned to trust my creative instincts over the years, and while I can appreciate the value of outlining and planning, I also know that sometimes the best ideas come when I least expect them.
Writing a screenplay is quite different from what I usually do. My background is in novels and short stories, where I can take my time with internal thoughts, detailed descriptions, and backstories. Screenplays are all about action and dialogue—what the audience sees and hears. There’s no room for the kind of introspection I’m used to, and that shift in focus has been an interesting challenge. I’m forced to think more visually, to consider how each scene will play out on screen rather than on the page. It’s a completely different way of storytelling, but one I’m growing to appreciate more and more.
What’s exciting about screenwriting is the immediacy of the medium. It’s all about showing rather than telling, and there’s a kind of urgency to the writing process that I find refreshing. I have to convey a lot in very little time—whether it’s a character’s emotions, the mood of a scene, or the pacing of the plot. It’s a balancing act, and while it’s not always easy, it’s certainly making me think in new ways as a writer.
This final year is already proving to be a test of my skills, but I’m enjoying the challenge. Screenwriting is pushing me out of my comfort zone, and I know that by the end of this project, I’ll have grown as a writer. For now, I’m focused on these first 10 pages—on making them as strong as they can be—and I’m looking forward to seeing how the pilot takes shape over the coming weeks.
Gareth Ellis - Author 