Since 1995, E-script has worked with playwrights from around the world in unique online playwriting courses and workshops. Whether you’re a beginner wanting to learn the craft of playwriting, or a more seasoned writer looking for ongoing professional feedback as you work on your play, we’re ready to provide expert guidance and plenty of inspiration.
Our faculty are all working writers with significant production credits, who’ve learned by doing. They’ve also been chosen for their proven records as teachers and story editors, and ability to work with other writers. And because all work in our online playwriting courses and workshops is done one-on-one, they’ll tailor your course or workshop to you.
You can sign up for a five- or 10-week term, and choose your own Monday start date. We also offer three-week mini-courses on specific areas of playwriting, as well as self-directed courses, which provide the ultimate in flexibility.
Simply want one-time feedback? Try our script consulting service.
Welcome. You’re among playwrights here.
Bonus! Register in any of our online playwriting courses, workshops or consultations and, as a bonus, receive exclusive free access to “Scriptology,” a series of nine video tutorials created by E-script founder and director Frank Moher.
Questions? We’re happy to help. E-mail us at admin@escript.ws and we’ll get back to you quickly.
Click for Info:
Online Playwriting Course (5 or 10 weeks)
Self-Directed Playwriting Course (work at your own pace)
Online Playwriting Workshop (5 or 10 weeks)
More Online Playwriting Courses:
Mini-course: Get your play started (3 weeks)
Mini-course: Action! (3 weeks)
Mini-course: Submission Basics (3 weeks)
What’s the difference between a course and a workshop?
Testimonials
See what past registrants say about our online playwriting courses and workshops
Want help deciding what to take or who to work with? E-mail us. We’ll happily help!
Online Playwriting Course
E-script’s online playwriting course is a great training ground for beginning playwrights, and a good place for more experienced playwrights to polish their skills. Each week, registrants receive an online tutorial from one of our two award-winning, internationally-produced playwriting instructors, Donna Hoke or Lucy Wang (your choice). Each lesson is on a specific craft subject, and comes with a related playwriting exercise. You return assignments by e-mail, and receive feedback in the same way. Your instructor will also be glad to respond to general messages and questions about playwriting.
Your course is highly individualized; your instructor works one-on-one with you, and, unlike some other online playwriting courses, we don’t ask you to provide feedback to other students. By the end of the course, you’ll have made a start on your play, and you’ll also have the option, for an additional fee, of meeting with Donna or Lucy via phone, Skype, or Zoom to discuss your work and how to take the next step. Maybe you’ll enroll in one of our five- or 10-week online playwriting workshops and continue work on your play there! (If you’re not sure how Skype and Zoom work, we’ll show you. They’re easy. And free.)
As the course is conducted largely by e-mail, you may work at your own convenience. Exercises can be done on their own, or applied to a script you want to begin or are already working on. Registrants in E-script online playwriting courses receive a 10% discount on a subsequent E-script online playwriting workshop. (See What’s the difference between a course and a workshop?)
Fees: Five week course: $300.00 (U.S.) / Ten week course: $550.00 (U.S.). The fee for the 10-week course may be paid in two installments; see enrollment page for details.
Donna Hoke |
in Donna’s course |
Lucy Wang |
in Lucy’s course |
Self-Directed Playwriting Course
Want to do the work on your own time, but still have the input of a professional on the final product? With our self-directed playwriting course, you receive all 10 lessons and exercises upon registering, and work through them at your own speed. While you won’t receive ongoing feedback as you would in our standard online playwriting course (see above), each exercise brings you one step closer to making a start on your script. By the end of the 10 lessons, you’ll have written the first 25 pages of your play, which you can then send to either of our award-winning, internationally-produced playwriting instructors, Frank Moher or Lucy Wang (your choice), who will give you detailed feedback.
Then you’ll have the option, for an additional fee, of meeting with your mentor via phone, Skype, or Zoom to discuss their feedback and how to take the next step. Maybe you’ll enroll in one of our five- or 10-week online playwriting workshops and continue work on your play there! (If you’re not sure how Skype and Zoom work, we’ll show you. They’re easy. And free.)
Fee: $250.00 (U.S.)
Online Playwriting Workshop
E-script’s online playwriting workshop is for writers who want to work on a new play, or on a work-in-progress, under the guidance of one of our award-winning, internationally-produced playwriting mentors, Donna Hoke or Lucy Wang (your choice). Each week you’ll submit new or revised material to your mentor, and receive their detailed feedback. They’ll will also be glad to respond to general messages and playwriting questions.
Your workshop is highly individualized; our faculty member works one-on-one with you, and, unlike some other online playwriting workshops, we don’t ask you to provide feedback to other students. At the end of the workshop, you’ll also have the option, for an additional fee, of meeting with your mentor via phone, Skype, or Zoom to discuss your play and how to take the next step. (If you’re not sure how Skype and Zoom work, we’ll show you. They’re easy. And free.)
As the workshop is conducted largely by e-mail, you may work at your own convenience. Writers who have previously taken an E-script online playwriting course receive a 10% discount. (See What’s the difference between a course and a workshop?)
Fees: Five week workshop: $300.00 (U.S.) / Ten week workshop: $550.00 (U.S.). The fee for 10-week workshop may be paid in two installments; see the enrollment page for details.
More Online Playwriting Courses:
Mini-Course: Get Your Play Started (3 weeks)
Achieve lift-off. Learn the techniques that get a play going, and then put them to work on a script of your own. You’ll identify your key characters, and get to know them from the inside out. Next you’ll create the world of your play — one that is theatrical, dynamic, and rich with potential for drama. Then you’ll add the essential ingredient that sets your story in motion, and launches you and your audience on a satisfying dramatic journey. No more false starts!
Each week you’ll receive a tutorial from your instructor, award-winning, internationally-produced playwright Frank Moher, and a related exercise. Complete the exercise and return it for Frank’s feedback. By the end of the course, you’ll have made a start on your play, and you’ll also have the option, for an additional fee, of meeting in real-time with Frank via phone, Skype, or Zoom to discuss your next step. Maybe you’ll enroll in one of our five- or 10-week online playwriting workshops and continue work on your play there! (If you’re not sure how Skype and Zoom work, we’ll show you. They’re easy. And free.)
Fee: $200.00 (U.S.)
Mini-Course: Action! (3 weeks)
Focus on and sharpen your ability to plot action. Contrary to popular belief, a play is not “all talk.” A play is a moving train. A play is a series of actions. Hence, the words actor/actress. In this workshop, you will craft action statements, a series of actions, and play with inciting incidents and causality. Action occurs when something happens that makes or permits something else to happen. What is the inciting incident that sets the play in motion? One event or action causes another event or action. You will play an action game and see how the plotting of action statements can determine the outcome of a play.
Each week you’ll receive a tutorial from your instructor, award-winning, internationally-produced playwright Lucy Wang, and a related exercise. Complete the exercise and return it for Lucy’s feedback. At the end of the course, you’ll also have the option, for an additional fee, of meeting with Lucy via phone, Skype, or Zoom to discuss your work and how to take the next step. Maybe you’ll enroll in one of our five- or 10-week online playwriting workshops and continue work on your play there! (If you’re not sure how Skype and Zoom work, we’ll show you. They’re easy. And free.)
Fee: $200.00 (U.S.)
Mini-Course: Submission Basics (3 weeks)
You’ve finished a play and you’re ready to send your baby out. Congratulations! But with theaters often understaffed and inundated with scripts, you also need to invest considerable time, thought, and effort to marketing your play. This workshop focuses on improving your chances of getting read, noticed, workshopped, and produced. Over a period of three weeks, we will work on whatever helps you present your best self: your logline, long and short synopsis, artistic statement, bio, and query letter.
Each week you’ll receive a tutorial from your instructor, award-winning, internationally-produced playwright Lucy Wang, and a related assignment. Complete the assignment and return it for Lucy’s feedback. Once the course is over, you’ll be ready to send your play out, and know you’re putting your best foot forward.
Fee: $200.00 (U.S.)
Script Consulting Service
Can’t spare the time for an online playwriting course or workshop, but still want professional feedback on, and help with, your play? Then try our script consulting service. One of our award-winning, internationally-produced playwriting mentors, Frank Moher, Donna Hoke, or Lucy Wang (your choice), will read your play and provide you with a detailed set of notes. Then you’ll have the option, for an additional fee, of meeting with your mentor via phone, Skype, or Zoom to discuss your script further. (If you’re not sure how Skype and Zoom work, we’ll show you. They’re easy. And free.)
Fee: $300.00 U.S. (for up to 100 pages; for longer scripts, an additional reading charge will apply). You will receive five-to-10 pages of notes, up to 4000 words (exact length is at the discretion of the consultant) within 30 days of receipt of your script.
Testimonials
See what past registrants say about our online playwriting courses and workshops
Enroll now
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