Writer Development Lab: From Concept to Ironclad Outline

WEEK #1 – The Story of Me; Your Questions; Your Stories

• General class overview.
• Patrick's history and experiences.
• What Patrick loves writing about and why.
• What he looks for in a good story/screenplay.
• Any initial queries raised in the pre-class questionnaire.

NOTE: Given the online format, Patrick will use this week’s “office hours” to more personally respond to/discuss the ideas you are contemplating working on during the Lab.

WEEK #2 – Character

• Creating strong, unique memorable characters.
• How to have them best serve your story, the genre, themes, etc.
• Dialogue and voice.

Patrick will cover some examples, including personal experience.

WEEK #3 – Act I; Premise into Story

• How to make the leap from basic premise/concept and characters into a full-blooded story.
• Where to start.
• What to include in Act 1.
• Where does Act 1 end and Act 2 begin?
• Creating a world and setting a tone.

Patrick will discuss examples of strong (attention-grabbing and/or smartly-chosen) and weak (meandering, overstuffed, unfocused, etc.) beginnings.

WEEK #4 – The Story So Far (Consultation)

No on-line class this week. Instead, you will submit premise, Character Bio(s), and Act I outline for review; Patrick will discuss the materials individually in 30 minute phone calls and advise any changes/concerns.

WEEK #5 – Act II; Structure and Plotting

• Plotting and development of your story across Act 2.
• Examples of structure (midpoints, end of Act 2, Internal/external conflict, etc.

WEEK #6 – Theme; What’s it All About?

• How to ensure that your script isn’t just an escalation of events, but is a rich narrative experience that is hopefully actually about something.
• Topics to include Theme, Topicality, Relatability, Universality.

WEEK #7 – Act III; Sticking the Landing

• Why 'when and how' to achieve a strong finish is arguably one of the most difficult parts of writing a screenplay.
• Examples of scripts/films that have accomplished this, as well as those that have not (and why).

WEEK #8 – The Completed Outline (Consultation)

No on-line class this week. Instead, you will turn in your completed outline for review; Patrick will then discuss with you over a 30-minute consultation.

The Objective of the Lab is:

• To take the mystery work out of picking a concept that can sell.
• To match you with an executive that will assist you with making sure all your script's elements is as strong as possible.
• Give you an experience on how development executives develop projects that are now on their company's slate.