Learn How to Generate, Develop, and Assess Story Concepts

My upcoming one-week online Core: Concept class begins Monday, January 29.

Perhaps no single choice a writer makes is more important than the story concept, often the key determinant whether a script sells or not

On Monday, January 29, I will start the second of eight Core classes: Core II: Concept, a course which speaks directly to this critical aspect of the screenwriting process.

It is the only time I will be offering these one-week courses in 2024!

See below for two special offers!

The foundation of any movie is the screenplay. The foundation of any screenplay is the concept. Therefore it stands to reason which story concept you develop and write as a script is a critical choice. And that is precisely why I created the second part of the Core curriculum — to understand how movie industry insiders think, provide you with proven methods to generate story concepts, and develop analytical skills to help you decide which ideas are the most viable ones for you to write.

Don’t believe me? How about this:

“Most aspiring screenwriters simply don’t spend enough time choosing their concept. It’s by far the most common mistake I see in spec scripts. The writer has lost the race right from the gate. Months — sometimes years — are lost trying to elevate a film idea that by its nature probably had no hope of ever becoming a movie.”

— Terry Rossio (Aladdin, The Mask of Zorro, Shrek, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl)

“Ideas cost NOTHING and require ZERO risk. And yet, oddly, the LEAST amount of time’s usually spent in the idea stage before a small fortune is dumped on a whimsy that’s still half-baked… Ideas cost nothing yet have the potential to yield inexplicably long careers and happy lives.”

— Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Zak and Miri Make a Porno)

OVERVIEW

In this 1-week online class, you will delve into the mindset of Hollywood studio executives, producers, and agents, and learn ways to generate and develop story concepts, as well as how to evaluate them to help you know when you find a winning script idea.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

The low-down on high concept, the importance of genre, Hollywood’s ‘similar but different’ thinking, the power of recycling, gender-bending and genre-bending, testing your story concepts, and much more.

• Hone your ability to think like a script buyer and see what they look for in a story concept.
• Workshop your own story concepts through writing assignments targeted toward improving your brainstorming and critical analysis skills.

COURSE DETAILS

• Six lectures written by Scott Myers
• Special insider tips
• 24/7 online forum discussions moderated by instructor
• Writing exercises with instructor and class feedback
• 90-minute live teleconference between instructor and class members
• Logline workshop

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE

Screenwriters, TV writers, novelists, and playwrights who want to learn how generate and develop strong, commercially viable story concepts.

Here is the lineup of courses comprising the Core curriculum:

CORE I: PLOT — A one-week class which begins with the principle Plot = Structure and explores the inner workings of the Screenplay Universe: Plotline and Themeline. Start date: January 15.

CORE II: CONCEPT — A one-week class which begins with the principle Concept = Hook and examines multiple strategies to generate, develop and assess story ideas. Start date: January 29.

CORE III: CHARACTER — A one-week class which begins with the principle Character = Function and delves into archetypes: Protagonist, Nemesis, Attractor, Mentor, and Trickster. Start date: February 12.

CORE IV: STYLE — A one-week class which begins with the principle Style = Voice and surfaces keys to developing a distinctive writer’s personality on the page. Start date: February 26.

CORE V: DIALOGUE — A one-week class which begins with the principle Dialogue = Purpose and probes a variety of ways to write effective, entertaining dialogue. Start date: March 11.

CORE VI: SCENE — A one-week class which begins with the principle Scene = Point and provides six essential questions to ask when crafting and writing any scene. Start date: March 25.

CORE VII: THEME — A one-week class which begins with the principle Theme = Meaning and gives writers a concrete take on theme which can elevate the depth of any story. Start date: April 8.

CORE VIII: TIME — A one-week class which begins with the principle Time = Present and studies Present, Present-Past, Present-Future and time management in writing. Start date: April 22.

If you’re new to screenwriting, have intermediate experience, or you’ve read it all, but want to explore character-driven screenwriting, here is your chance to learn the foundation of screenplay structure that goes beyond formula.

This cycle, I am offering a special sale price. Normally, the Core classes are $95 each. In 2024, each is on sale for $79!

A popular option is the Core Package which gives you exclusive access to the content in all eight Craft classes which you can go through on your own time and at your own pace, plus automatic enrollment in each 1-week online course — all for nearly 50% off the normal price of each individual class. If you sign up now, you can have immediate access to all of the Core content.

“I’m a huge fan of Scott’s classes, and I signed up for his Core Package, which I cannot speak highly enough about. If anyone wants to take a serious look at improving their writing, there is more than enough material to keep you busy for a few… dare I say, lifetimes? He’s the best. No bones about it.” 
 — Heather Farlinger

This year, I’m making available a special offer: If you enroll in the Core Package, I will send you an autographed copy of my book: The Protagonist’s Journey … for free!

“Scott is a brilliant guide for anyone looking to get into screenwriting.” — Lisa Joy, Westworld, Reminiscence

My book is an introduction to character-driven screenwriting and storytelling. The Core curriculum takes you much deeper into the subject matter and touches on all the key principles you need to know to elevate your screenwriting chops.

To learn about any of the Core classes, click here.

CORE II: PLOT
Starts January 29, 2024
Enroll now!

I look forward to the opportunity to work with you!