St. Andrews Scriptwriting Intensive 2026
One weekend to become a better writer
21 & 22 March 2026
University of St. Andrews
You are invited to a FREE Scriptwriting Intensive Weekend, 21 & 22 March, 2026. Whether you are an experienced playwright or screenwriter, another type of writer looking to expand, a “non-writer” with a hunch you might enjoy scriptwriting, or anything in-between, this weekend is for you. Over the course of two days, you will experience six two-hour workshops taught by St. Andrews MFA Playwriting & Screenwriting students, each addressing a different aspect of scriptwriting. You will emerge with at least one piece of new writing (by you!) and lots of tools and inspiration to spark your ongoing practice.
SCHEDULE
DAY ONE
Saturday, 21 March
Session 1: STARTING
Instructor: Holly Arsenault
Time: 10:00 AM - noon
Description: Starting can be the hardest part of writing. In this workshop, we’ll explore exercises designed to get our ideas out of our heads and onto the page. All you need to bring is a willingness to begin (or, if you are an experienced writer, to begin again). You will emerge from this class with at least one 5-minute piece of a play or screenplay that you will be able to use as a basis for the rest of the work that you will do over the course of the weekend.
Session 2: STYLE
Instructor: Ezequiel Vigo Fernandez
Time: 12:15 – 14:15
Description: Stories can be a deeply personal thing and, in your journey as a dramatic writer, it isn’t uncommon to feel unoriginal, lost, or inadequate. Learning to discover and accept the traits that define you is the first step towards making your own way as a creative. In this session, we will explore how one can discover their own original voice and begin thinking about how to apply it to writing those stories that truly excite you.
LUNCH BREAK: 14:15 – 15:15
Session 3: FEEDBACK
Instructor: Melina Riemersma
Time: 15:15 – 17:15
Description: Receiving and giving feedback might seem daunting when it comes to a story that has come from the depths of a creative soul, but it plays an important part in the creative process. How can we use feedback to improve our work and how can we make our feedback to others as helpful as possible?
DAY 2
Sunday, 22 March
Session 1: WRITING COMEDY
Instructor: Valerie Creasy
Time: 10:00 AM - noon
Description: This class is a crash course on comedy writing. How do we write comedic, satirical, farcical, or absurdist pieces? And how do we incorporate humor into scripts that may not be comedies at all? We will discuss how comedy is relevant in all genres, how to trust your instincts, how to tread the thin line between comedy and tragedy, and how a little bit of wit goes a long way.
Session 2: WRITING FOR VIDEO GAMES
Instructor: Makayla Hong
Time: 12:15 – 14:15
Description: Writing for Video Games intersects creative writing and gameplay to generate immersive storytelling proficiency. This atmosphere will foster a creative environment for gamers with different levels of expertise to present their interactive ideas and receive feedback. We will consider accessible options for creating indie video games with limited resources. After a brief discussion on video game theory, we will segue into writing exercises, allowing each student to leave with a video game concept and the framework for a project they are excited about.
LUNCH BREAK: 14:15 – 15:15
Session 3: SHORT FILMS
Instructor: Fergal Harte
Time: 15:15 – 17:15
Description: You might've seen hundreds of feature films, maybe even thousands, but how many shorts have you watched? As short stories are to novels, short films are a slightly different beast to the hour-plus features we're so accustomed to watching, even if they do use many of the same constituent parts. This workshop is a crash course in the short film form that will give you the tools to write your own.
FAQ
What is scriptwriting? For the purposes of this weekend, we are using the term “scriptwriting” to mean playwriting and screenwriting.
Do I have to come to the whole weekend? Can I just pick the workshops I’m most interested in? The weekend’s workshops are designed to build on and be in conversation with each other, so we will prioritize folks who are able to attend the full two-day schedule. However, if you have a hard conflict with one or more of the timeslots, please still apply—we will accommodate you if we can.
Who is teaching these workshops? The workshops are being taught by second-year postgraduate students in St. Andrews’ Playwriting & Screenwriting Master of Fine Arts programme. You can learn more about us by reading our bios, below.
Does it cost money? Nope. It’s free.
Do I have to be a St. Andrews student or School of English student to attend? No, we will consider applications from anyone who’d like to attend.
I don’t consider myself a real writer. Can I still come? Definitely! Every “real” writer was once just a regular person who had a feeling they might have a story to tell. If that’s you, we hope you’ll come along and let us help you get that story out of your head and onto the page.
How do I apply? Please complete this form to apply. It’s quick!
Will there be snacks? You bet.
If you have questions or would like to discuss any access needs, please email Holly Arsenault at ha204@st-andrews.ac.uk