Write a feature-length screenplay from idea to first draft in this supportive workshop that teaches the essential principles of story structure, character goals, and meaningful conflict while guiding you step by step through drafting and workshopping your script.

In this 10-week intermediate to advanced workshop, writers will complete a feature-length screenplay from outline to first draft. Participants are expected to arrive with a developed idea they are ready to write. The course begins with a brief review of key screenwriting principles—premise questions, structure, and character—before quickly moving into reviewing written pages the second week. Writers will be expected to generate approximately 10 pages per week, building toward a complete 90-page screenplay by the end of the course. Class sessions will focus on reading and discussing student work, with guided feedback designed to strengthen narrative momentum, deepen character arcs, and support each writer through the challenges of finishing a full draft. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a completed feature-length screenplay and a clearer understanding of how to sustain and execute a cohesive cinematic story.

Live video conference: This workshop will be held via our online video conferencing platform, Zoom. You can view brief tutorials on using the platform here. On the start date or the day before, participants will receive an email with login info (please check your spam if you don’t see it).

In this workshop you’ll learn:

• Screenplay Structure & Plot Points – Learn the foundational structure of a feature-length screenplay and how to build a story that sustains audience engagement.
• Protagonist Goals & Character Development – Create compelling protagonists with clear motivations, obstacles, and character arcs.
• Meaningful Conflict – Develop conflict that naturally arises from your character’s goals and the pressures they face.
• Scene Construction & Visual Storytelling – Write cinematic scenes that move the story forward through action, dialogue, and visual detail.
• Workshopping & Revision Techniques – Receive guided feedback and learn how to revise pages to strengthen clarity, pacing, and emotional impact.

Time requirements

• 5-8 hours per week writing outside of class.

Materials

• The Secret of Life Through Screenwriting by Joy Cheriel Brown
• Writing for Emotional Impact by Karl Iglesias

Who should take this workshop?

• This workshop is designed for beginning writers who want to learn the fundamentals of screenwriting and develop their first feature-length screenplay. It is ideal for writers who have an idea for a film but need guidance on story structure, character goals, and conflict, as well as those interested in learning the craft of cinematic storytelling.

If you need an accommodation for this workshop, please contact us at access@writer.org. We will attempt to fulfill all requests, but advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility services.