Luck Favors the Prepared: Your Action Plan for a Killer Screenwriting Year

Screenwriting careers never materialize accidentally. While screenwriting as a profession remains as competitive as ever, we've also come out of a record year in the box office, so it's never been more advantage to take a step back, put together a cohesive plan, and give your screenwriting career the push that it deserves in the year ahead.

In this focused session, screenwriting career coach Lee Jessup explore where the industry finds itself at the start of this new year, discuss the opportunities that are out there, and identify what steps you should take in order to make the career strides your screenwriting deserves. 

The Power of Short Story IP—From Concept to Execution

Short stories are emerging as essential IP for an intro to the studio system, and some of our most iconic films began with only a handful of pages. Using short fiction references from Stephen King and more, this course explores how writers can recognize the cinematic engine (and core dilemma) inside a short story and to brainstorm or refine an idea of their own. 

We’ll examine how great stories create momentum, and what you might need to take out a pitch after generating interest in your story. Attendees will learn to identify the story’s central source of tension, discover what its characters truly want, and use escalation, and cause and effect to create a story that moves through emotion instead relying solely on plot, and how short stories remain a powerful way to get to the core of your movie. 

Additionally we will tackle developing a strong thematic question, POV/ and choosing the type of story that best suits your premise, tackle how to work in a compressed page environment (considering all the elements of a feature that actually need to be left out), how the reversal can also be viewed as a midpoint or act break when brainstorming the moment of reversal for your own piece, and how high concept/ big hook may actually take you further than literary voice when it comes to writing for adaptable film IP.

You will leave with a workable logline and key moments of your story identified along with a glance at a pitch book for pitching out a short story and knowing what you will need if you plan to expand the story into a feature or TV idea. 

Lindsay's most recent short story BRING A FRIEND can be found in The Sweater's latest short story compilation. Available here.

Stop Waiting for Permission. Write and Produce your Proof-of-Concept Short!

Have you written a great feature or series, but struggle to get anyone to notice? 

Frustrated by gatekeepers and waiting for someone to validate your work?

It’s time to take your career into your own hands.

Today, you don’t need an executive to pluck your script out of the slushpile or a studio green-light to build momentum. Instead, you can create your own ultimate calling card.

In this Symposium, award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, Merridith Allen, guides you step-by-step through making a proof-of-concept short film that will get you noticed ... and expand your options for either financing or representation.

You’ll learn:

* To understand the power of having a proof-of-concept script, listen to Imani Davis, founder of Proof Film Festival, who was a guest on Reckless Creatives Podcast.

I Finished My Script—Now What?

Congratulations on finishing the first draft! Now it’s time to take the vital steps that separate decent drafts from the ones that actually break through and take your career to the next level.

In "I Finished My Script—Now What?” Timothy Michael Cooper shares the insights earned during his decades-long career, teaching you how to interpret and incorporate feedback, find the true heart of the story, focus your rewrites,cut away characters and scenes that aren’t pulling their weight, and build strategic relationships to get your script into the right hands.

You’ll learn:

After this class, you’ll have all the tools to transform your script into its most compelling version, as well as a clear strategy to get your work seen by those who can actually move it forward.

Finding the Ritual That Gets You Writing

As someone who once hated the writing process herself, Script Pipeline-winning filmmaker and meditation teacher Erin Cantelo knows that the struggle to write is real.

You want to write but haven’t started. You write for days, weeks, or more but can’t stay consistent. You used to write but fell off the writing-train and can’t figure out how to get back on track. You’d write, if only you had the time! You write consistently but you’re miserable doing it.

Any of this sound familiar? You are the hero in your own story and just like your protagonists, you do have what it takes to overcome your obstacles and get writing consistently and even joyfully.

Come ready to explore, reflect, and get curious about what does and doesn’t work for your writing process as you create a personal ritual that works for you.

What you’ll get:

Your stories deserve to be told.

What attendees have said ...

"Erin Cantelo is an articulate, insightful and very engaging leader with very specific steps to take explained in clear terms. So helpful! I'm excited to read- and start using her worksheet! Jeanne Bowerman added some compelling points at the end too - and listed upcoming events that sound great."

"This session was something I personally needed for such a long time, and honestly, I feel like if I hadn’t taken it, in a few years I would have said, 'I NEEDED THIS SO MUCH BACK THEN.”'

"Erin truly cleared the mental fog I had, and helped me understand the concept of ritual, as well as the physiological process happening in our brains that deserves to be understood and attended to so it can actually support us and make our writing more effective."

"I feel like this profession is filled with extremely conceptual and abstract ideas and processes, and Erin not only gave us a very tangible way to approach them, but also tools I’m already dying to implement. They make writing feel like a space of so much more joy and enjoyment."

"Her perspective felt like the excitement of a first date with writing all over again. I left with nothing but the desire to fall in love with it again and again."

One-on-One: Explore Historical Fiction Writing with Adam Sikes

Writing historical fiction requires great amounts of research, understanding when to toss the facts in favor of fiction, and how to organize all of the voluminous files you'll collect.

Then there's the question every historical fiction writer asks ... When is it okay to fictionalize real, historical figures?

Jeanne Veillette Bowerman chats with novelist (and former CIA) Adam Sikes to dissect the processes they each use when writing their historical novels.

Join us for a casual conversation, including your questions, as they dive into the strategies that have helped them as well as the challenges of bringing history to life in a dynamic, and fictional way.

Resources:

Daily Life ... resource books by era/region
Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalog
Session Chat

Adam's Symposium Host Page

What attendees have said ...

"As someone who is working on a first draft of a historical fiction novel, I enjoyed ALL of it. Excellent conversation!"

"Excellent conversation. The guest was fabulous, I took tons of notes."

"I think both presenters where great, engaging and talk about relevant matters. Also, they address interesting questions. I had to leave earlier (unfortunately), but I’ll finish the presentation as soon as I get the recording. THANK YOU!"

"So many thoughts--your research methods, varying perspectives, accuracy of historical periods, varying cultures, varying fictional supplements, A.I. I'm grateful I can relisten to several sections and take better notes."

"I love candid discussion about real historical fiction writer’s processes with emphasis in what works for them and what does not."

"The wonderful chemistry between the author and the interviewer. Both so bright articulate."

"Loved their energy. It was very informative. You felt like they knew what they were talking about. They covered briefly something I was interested about which was different time lines."

"I loved the discussion at the end about other primary sources you might not have thought of, including novels published in that time. That opened a whole new door of ideas for me!"

One-on-One with Professional Screenwriter Corey Mandell

Corey Mandell has long been considered one of the best screenwriting instructors in the industry. Jeanne should know ... she's taken his classes.

She will chat with Corey, diving into essentials that every screenwriter needs to know, including what it takes to launch your career in the current marketplace. Plus, we'll sprinkle your questions into the conversation.

As always, our events are recorded for all who register, but if you want a shot at getting your question answered, please attend the live event!

About Corey:

Corey Mandell is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter who has written projects for Ridley Scott, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, John Travolta, Warner Brothers, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Fox 2000, Fox Family, Working Title, Paramount, Live Planet, Beacon Films, Touchstone, Trilogy, Radiant, Kopelson Entertainment and Walt Disney Pictures.

Corey is also a distinguished instructor at UCLA and teaches highly sought-after Zoom workshops offering cutting edge training to writers across the world.

Over 3,500 of his graduates have launched careers by selling spec scripts, getting staffed on top TV shows, writing hit movies, even winning Academy Awards.

*Get Corey's free masterclass on breaking in: “Launch Your Career: A Practical Roadmap That Works” where Corey shares the specific strategies writers have used to land their first ever writing job.

Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting for Writers

To get what you want, you need to know what you want. Setting the foundation for your writing goals is key. Whether you’re starting a new project, finishing a manuscript, building your author platform, or figuring out your next steps, having clarity and a game plan will help you move forward.

Hosted by goal strategist, author, and The Book Proposal Expert Debra Eckerling, this session will introduce you to The DEB Method®, her system for goal-setting simplified. DEB stands for Determine Your Mission, Explore Your Options, and Brainstorm Your Path. Writers will define their goals, prioritize projects, and create a plan to turn their vision into reality.

During this session, you will:

Whether you are just starting out, working on a current project, or planning your next chapter, this workshop will set you up for success for the new year and beyond. 

How a Book Becomes a Movie: What Authors and Screenwriters Need to Know About Adaptations

The filmmaking business is complex and baffles many—even those working in it. The reality is, there is no single way to get a film made. But there’s no question that Hollywood loves adapting intellectual property. The more authors and screenwriters understand the different adaptation paths, the better their odds of success.

One major hurdle is the overabundance of scammers looking to exploit an author's dream of getting their work published or produced—making them a perfect target. But the best way to protect yourself is to understand how the book-to-film process works and how to identify a scam when you see one.

As a screenwriter, Jeanne Veillette Bowerman has adapted other author’s work, including a Pulitzer Prize-winning book, and she’s also worked closely with authors, guiding them on how to navigate Hollywood. She’ll dive deep into the processes to help writers come to the negotiation table well-informed.

What we'll cover:

Who would benefit from this session?

What attendees have said ...

"What a fantastic symposium! I came looking for a path to Hollywood and left with a map of the potholes, detours, and possibilities. Thank you for the candor, humor, and inspiration!"

"Chock full of practical information. Every minute was worth it!"

"Packed with actionable info. Perfectly organized. From real experience."

"Jeanne's webinars are always informative, always engaging, and always entertaining. She is a rock star with a wealth of info and huge rolodex of great connections."

"A very comprehensive and detailed presentation!"

"I loved the depth of detail in the presentation, as well as the question and answer session at the end where I picked up a lot of additional details on the connections/distinctions between the writing and screenwriting crafts."

"Jeanne, your presentation hit every mark. It was really helpful and gave me a lot to think about on next steps for my screenplay and my novel."

"Jeanne was exceptional. Extraordinarily knowledgeable, professional, and a wonderful presenter. Not only did I come away with practical next steps, the two hours flew by!"

"Thoroughness, clarity, resources, personal examples, success stories, and a willingness to answer all kinds of questions!"

Professional Screenplay Formatting and Structure


Formatting and structure are vital to every screenplay because they instantly announce your readiness to be taken seriously as a screenwriter. Whether you’re writing a feature, short, or TV pilot, nailing these crucial elements dramatically increases your chances of getting your script read and sold.

In “Professional Screenplay Formatting & Structure,” Timothy Cooper will walk you through everything he wishes he’d known when he started: the principles behind why formatting matters, his tried-and-true steps to building your story from logline to outline to script, and exactly what differentiates professional pages from amateur ones.

You’ll learn:

After this class, you’ll understand what you can and can’t mess with when it comes to professional script formatting, solid structure for pilots and features, writing clear yet subtextual dialogue, and creating propulsively powerful scenes that'll get you past the gatekeepers.

What attendees have said ...

"The session was a perfect mix of tactical and strategic. It helped answer plain 'do this' and 'don't do this' while bringing in the context of why. The Q&A answered my top burning questions, and how I'm equipped to edit with clear direction."

"Timothy's advice was exceedingly practical. He really got down to the 'brass tacks' of proper formatting and why mastering those principals is essential to helping the reader envision how your story will unfold on screen."

"Timothy included so much information that will allow me to go back and correct my "finished" script."