Screenwriting vs. Scriptwriting: Terms, Services, and Industry Insights

Understanding the difference between screenwriting and scriptwriting is essential for anyone interested in storytelling for visual or performance media. While the terms are often used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings and industry applications.

Let’s dive into the definitions, services provided by professionals in each field, and explore whether one person can master both crafts.

DEFINING SCREENWRITING

Screenwriting refers to the craft of writing scripts specifically for screen-based media, such as:

✅ Feature films

✅ Television series

✅ Web series

✅ Documentaries

Screenwriters focus heavily on visual storytelling. Their scripts are structured with strict industry formatting, including scene headings (sluglines), action descriptions, and dialogue.

Screenplays guide directors, actors, cinematographers, and editors in visually bringing the story to life.

DEFINING SCRIPTWRITING

Scriptwriting is a broader term that includes writing scripts for:

✅ Films and TV shows

✅ Theatre plays

✅ Video games

✅ Radio dramas

✅ Podcasts

✅ Corporate videos

✅ Live performances

Scriptwriters may work in both visual and audio formats, often adapting their skills to different performance environments.

CAN A PERSON DO BOTH?

Yes, absolutely. Many writers successfully cross between screenwriting and scriptwriting. Since the core skills—story structure, character development, and dialogue—overlap, it's common for professionals to write across different mediums.

However, each format has its own techniques and industry standards, so a writer typically specializes in one area but can certainly develop expertise in both.

SCREENWRITING SERVICES

Here’s a look at the services a professional screenwriter often provides:

✅ Original screenplays for feature films and short films

✅ Script doctoring and rewriting to improve structure, pacing, and dialogue

✅ Book-to-screen adaptations that preserve the heart of the original work

✅ Crafting pitch decks, loglines, and synopses for agents and producers

✅ Detailed script coverage and feedback for aspiring writers

✅ Collaborative co-writing and story consulting with directors and producers

✅ TV series development, from concept to pilot episodes

SCRIPTWRITING SERVICES

A scriptwriter’s typical services include:

✅ Writing scripts for theatre, radio, podcasts, video games, and corporate videos

✅ Adapting stories for audio-based storytelling (like radio and podcasts)

✅ Creating stage plays with attention to live performance dynamics

✅ Developing narrative scripts for educational and corporate content

✅ Writing interactive scripts for video games and other digital experiences

FAMOUS SCREENWRITER: AARON SORKIN

Aaron Sorkin is a celebrated screenwriter known for his sharp dialogue and powerful storytelling. His works include:

✅ The Social Network

✅ A Few Good Men

✅ The West Wing (TV series)

Sorkin is renowned for his fast-paced, intelligent scripts that often explore politics, law, and media.

FAMOUS SCRIPTWRITER: TOM STOPPARD

Tom Stoppard is a legendary scriptwriter, particularly famous for his theatre plays. His notable works include:

✅ Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

✅ Arcadia

✅ Contributions to the screenplay of Shakespeare in Love

Stoppard’s writing is known for its intellectual depth, humor, and philosophical undertones.

TV COMMERCIAL SCRIPTWRITER AND WRITER 

"TV commercial (script)writer" and "TV commercial writer" are almost the same, but there’s a slight nuance:

TV Commercial Writer usually refers to someone who comes up with the concepts, slogans, and overall structure of TV commercials. They might write the copy, but they are also often involved in the big-picture idea.

TV Commercial (Script)writer specifically highlights that the person writes the scripts for TV commercials — the actual dialogue, voiceover, scene descriptions, etc.

So, let's sum up:

TV Commercial Writer = Concept + Script + Slogans (more general)

TV Commercial (Script)writer = Focuses mostly on the scriptwriting part

In real-world usage, many people use them interchangeably, but if you want to emphasize that you write the full script (not just ideas or taglines), "TV Commercial Scriptwriter" is clearer and more specific.

TV Commercial Scriptwriter & Writer Services

✅ Concept Development

✅ Scriptwriting for TV Commercials

✅ Creative Copywriting

✅ Brand Storytelling

✅ Dialogue Writing

✅ Voiceover Script Creation

✅ Slogan and Tagline Writing

✅ Visual Description and Scene Breakdown

✅ Script Editing and Polishing

✅ Collaboration with Creative Teams

✅ Adapting Scripts for Different Markets and Formats

✅ Quick Turnaround and Deadline-Driven Delivery

LEGENDARY PEPSI SCRIPTWRITERS

PHIL DUSENBERRY

✅ Coined Pepsi’s iconic slogan “The Choice of a New Generation”

✅ Oversaw casting of major celebrities—Lionel Richie, Madonna, Michael J. Fox, Michael Jackson

✅ Known for producing high-impact commercials (including the 1980s Michael Jackson spot where Jackson accidentally caught fire on‑set) womenshealthmag.com+15facebook.com+15barcelona.tbs-education.com+15looper.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2investopedia.com+2

LEE GARFINKEL

✅ As Creative Director at BBDO (late 1980s), he wrote the original Cindy Crawford Pepsi commercial—one of the most enduring ads in soft drink history

Screenwriting and scriptwriting are fascinating, creative professions with overlapping but distinct territories. Whether you’re crafting stories for the big screen or the stage, both fields offer exciting opportunities to bring stories to life.