How to Write Funny, Compelling Scripts that Don't Suck
How to Write Funny, Compelling Scripts that Don't Suck
SCRIPT X 464.11E
Learn how masterful screenwriters put realistic words into their characters’ mouths in this course dedicated to the art and craft of dialogue.
Duration
As few as 10 weeks
Units
3.0
Current Formats
Live Online
Cost
Starting at $720.00
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What you can learn.
What you can learn.
Study how the moral premise of your story feeds into comedic opportunities
Turn life experience into funny dialogue that resonates in your script
Employ effective editing techniques to ensure only the best lines survive
Identify dialogue pitfalls and learn to avoid them
About This Course
Great, funny, compelling dialogue is easier than you think. It comes when you focus on one single thing: your moral premise. There’s a vice and a virtue ready to argue with each other, and funny lines arrive when you see the strengths and weaknesses in your argument. In this workshop, you learn how screenplay structure can be dialogue’s best friend, how to write great dialogue by drawing from your worst life moments, and how to be a ruthless editor. You also learn how to avoid dialogue pitfalls like wordiness, clunkiness, ambivalence, and wishy-washiness. By the end of the course, you write dialogue that cracks like a whip.
Winter 2026 Schedule
Date
Details
Format
-
Wednesday 4:00PM - 7:00PM PT
Live Online
Remote Classroom
Notes
Enrollment limited to 15 students; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.
This course is held via video teleconference. Instructors use Zoom to offer live class meetings at the designated class meeting time. Students must be present at the course meeting time as each student’s final grade may include scores for participation. Please inform your instructor if you will miss a class meeting. You are responsible for any class information you missed. We suggest you arrange with a fellow classmate to share their notes when feasible.
Deadline
Refunds only available from November 03, 2025 to January 18, 2026
Course Requirements
Internet required to retrieve course materials.
Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Online
Wed Jan 7, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Jan 14, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Jan 21, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Jan 28, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Feb 4, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Feb 11, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Feb 18, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Feb 25, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Mar 4, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Mar 11, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom