The Value of Working with a Mentor

Receiving professional guidance and honest, informed, helpful feedback.

I recently wrapped up a private story prep workshop with Julie Tosh-Coles who then wrote me this email (reprinted by permission):

Hi Scott,
 
I wanted to reiterate how thankful I am that you offered me a private course. With the way my life is at the moment, it was the perfect solution to help me get past my allergy to note cards and to internalize a method to prep future projects. You allowed me to be flexible with deadlines, encouraged my process, shared your enthusiasm for all things screenwriting, and were a fount of insight and information.
 
Truly, I feel blessed that you took the time and allowed me (and my screenplay) to grow in an organic way.

Imagine having your very own private script workshop. A structured environment with content and a schedule tailored to meet your specific creative needs. Your own unique online course site. And a one-on-one mentor relationship with a professional screenwriter and educator.

You can do that through Screenwriting Master Class.

I have hosted private script workshops for professional screenwriters, actors, directors, best-selling non-fiction authors, playwrights, and novelists, as well as beginning, intermediate and advanced writers.

I offer one-on-one versions of any of our group workshops:

Prep: From Concept to Outline

Pages I: The First Draft

Pages II: Rewriting Your Script

One popular approach: Combine Prep and Pages I, a 16 week program to go from story concept to completed first draft.

For those who want a comprehensive approach to learning the craft — immersing yourself in screenwriting theory, then putting that to use in developing an original story and writing a script — there is The Quest, a unique 20 week program.

The Quest changed my life. It gave me the structure to be immersed in screenwriting and the flexibility needed to write and accommodate work and family life. Not only did I come out with a quality screenplay, but a practical approach that I can apply to each script I write.

Scott’s instincts as a mentor are spot on. He can tell the difference between when you need encouragement and when you need a good kick in the pants. Under his guidance, you become the kind of writer you want to be, the kind that doesn’t need to wait for inspiration.

You can spend your time reading through screenwriting inspiration, tips or shortcuts, thinking it will help more than actually doing the work, or you can take the leap and do The Quest.

— Taylor Gordon

Here are three big reasons to consider an SMC private script workshop:

• Writing a screenplay involves making thousands of choices about characters, plot, theme and so forth. Wouldn’t it be helpful to have feedback from a professional to help steer you through the process enabling you to avoid huge story pitfalls that could derail your scripting process?
• Writing a screenplay is a thankless, lonely job. Wouldn’t it be great to have the ongoing support of a professional to enable you to overcome inevitable story problems and emotional downswings?
• Writing a screenplay is a mystery. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to learn proven principles and practices from a mentor with years of professional experience working in the entertainment industry, an approach to writing you can use again and again on your future stories?

For more information, contact me here.