A screenwriter transforms concepts into compelling scripts across film, television, web series, and video games — bringing together story structure, dialogue mastery, and format expertise that elevates visual projects. Whether you need someone to adapt existing intellectual property (IP), polish a draft, write episodic content, or develop an original screenplay, professional screenwriters combine creative vision with industry-standard formatting to deliver production-ready scripts.
What does a screenwriter do?
A screenwriter creates written content for films, television shows, web series, and other visual media. They develop original stories or adapt existing works, focusing on dialogue, character development, and scene descriptions using industry-standard formatting.
Professional screenwriters work in specialized areas: some focus on original screenplays, some adapt novels or true stories, and others specialize in improving existing drafts. They collaborate closely with producers, directors, and other stakeholders through multiple revision rounds to ensure proper formatting and pacing.
Screenwriters, as well as screenplay writers, may also offer ghostwriting services for clients who have a solid idea but lack the technical skills to bring it to fruition. Their work involves research, brainstorming, outlining, writing multiple drafts, and incorporating feedback.
They work on feature films, television series, web series, short films, commercials, corporate videos, video game narratives, and YouTube content.
How to hire a screenwriter on Upwork
Upwork can help you find, vet, hire, and collaborate with screenwriters at all experience levels and from all over the world. You only need to follow these four simple steps.
Step 1: Create a targeted job post
A well-crafted job post helps qualified screenwriters find your project as they search for work. In your post:
- Use a keyword rich title like “Screenwriter needed for TV comedy pilot”
- Define how much creative control you want to maintain and what the collaboration will look like
- Share your target audience and intended distribution platform
- Write a concise treatment or synopsis, considering genre, tone, and themes
- Provide basic logistics such as timeline and budget
To create a tailored job post quickly, try the Job Post Generator powered by Uma™, Upwork’s Mindful AI. Describe what you need in a few sentences, and Uma will craft a job post in seconds. You can also review screenwriter job description templates for ideas and inspiration.
Step 2: Evaluate candidates
As proposals come in, you’ll want to review them in a way that is thorough and efficient.
- Have Uma give instant video interviews and side-by-side comparisons
- Use Upwork’s filters to find candidates by rate, location, and experience
- Review proposals for signs that the candidate has understood your job post and has the skills to meet your needs
- Review portfolios looking for past work that allows you to assess their writing style and ability to match your creative vision
Step 3: Interview top candidates
A quick video interview gives you the chance to ask any questions you have left for your top choices, and to get a feel for what a collaboration with them might be like.
- Schedule and conduct interviews within Upwork messaging to get instant transcripts and summaries from Uma
- Have the candidate walk you through a piece from their portfolio, focusing on how their aesthetic choices met the needs of the client
- Discuss their interpretation of your project concept and story direction
- Ask about their writing process and typical timeline for similar projects
- Evaluate responsiveness, communication style, and openness to feedback
If you’re unfamiliar with interviewing freelancers, you can refer to common interview questions to help keep your conversations focused and productive.
Step 4: Agree on scope and begin work
Once you’ve found the right person, you can send a contract directly through the Upwork marketplace. A solid contract protects both parties and helps collaborations be successful from beginning to end.
- Use Upwork's contract workroom, messaging, and payment protection for secure collaboration
- Choose fixed-price contracts for projects with clear deliverables, such as writing a single short podcast episode
- Separate complex projects into clear milestones, such as researching, drafting, and revising multiple episodes
- Choose hourly contracts for ongoing work or projects without clear deliverables, such as writing for an ongoing series
- Document intellectual property ownership in the contract
Once the contact begins, be sure to give the freelancer everything they need to succeed, including brand or style guidelines, scripts from previous episodes to study or emulate, and formatting requirements.
Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this article. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.
The rates and information provided in this article are based on current data and industry sources available at the time of publication. Freelance rates can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, project scope, and market conditions. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research to confirm current rates and trends, as this information may change over time.