Discover the Surprising Secret Behind My Unstoppable Writing Workshop Routine
What if the trick to writing a killer screenplay isn’t just hammering out pages but knowing exactly how to ignite your story from the very first spark? Funny how so many writers dive headfirst into drafting, only to hit those brick walls of doubt and “what next?” Maybe it’s not about muscle but method — prepping with precision before the words even hit the page. After ten years of toggling between classroom lecterns and online workshops, I’m offering my only two group sessions in 2025 — specially designed to transform your story from a flicker of an idea into a solid outline, and then into a draft that actually sings. Curious what it feels like to have the roadmap clear before putting pen to paper? Let’s get you ready to unleash your protagonist’s journey with confidence this summer.
Two online workshops this summer… my only ones in 2025!
In September 2016, I began a new chapter in my creative journey as an assistant professor of screenwriter at the film school at DePaul University. As a result, I will only offer group workshops — Prep: From Concept to Outline and Pages I: Writing the First Draft — in the summer which means the next sessions I will lead will begin in July. Here’s the schedule:
Prep: From Concept to Outline
2025–06–02
Pages I: Writing The First Draft
2025–07–21
Prep: From Concept to Outline: This 6-week online workshop guides you through the story development process from concept to outline. I will personally mentor writers through the same process to featured in my book The Protagonist’s Journey: An Introduction to Character-Driven Screenwriting and Storytelling.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
A proven, professional approach to prep-writing: From a Protagonist Character Treatment to a Master Brainstorming List, Ten Major Plotline Points to Narrative Throughline.
COURSE DETAILS
- Six lectures to guide you through the prep-writing process
- 24/7 online forum discussions moderated by instructor
- Weekly writing assignments to develop and build your story
- Instructor and class feedback
- Due dates to motivate you to write and post assignments
- A weekly teleconference with instructor and class members
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER TAKING THIS COURSE
Screenwriters, TV writers, novelists, and playwrights who want to develop their story to an outline enabling them to have the confidence to pound out a first draft.
“From Concept to Outline is a course I wish I had known about years ago. I would recommend this wholeheartedly for anyone who is about to embark on their first script or ANY script. This lays the foundation stone to your story.”
