How to Adapt Your Book/Short Story/Essay into a TV Show + Free Workshop This Weekend
Write or Die Weekly #25
Workshop Spotlight
Adapt Your Book, Short Story or Personal Essay Into A TV Show with
Date: Saturday, May 11 from 2:00 - 4:30 PM EST
Dreaming of turning your novel, memoir, or short story into a TV show? Want a TV writing sample that shows a mastery of character, structure, story engines, and more?
This workshop, taught by a WGA Award-nominated writer from "The Morning Show," introduces you to all the tools you need for a strong adaptation.
What you will learn
Building characters who drive action
The differences between writing characters in a book and TV characters
The structure of a half-hour pilot and an hour-long drama
How to create effective story engines (and fully understand what they are)
Building unique hooks and conceits to make your pilot stand apart
Creating a consistent tone
Incorporating theme into your pilot
Workshop takeaways
You will leave with a deep understanding of how to properly structure a pilot, with an emphasis on how to create great, memorable characters who drive action and make us want to come back for more. In this course, you will also find the core conflict of your show so your series can last 50 episodes, not just one. You will leave feeling confident in how to take any fictional prose idea (short story, memoir, or novel), and adapt it into a compelling, lasting series.
*This workshop will be recorded if you can’t attend live!
Free Workshop with Alex Baia of Slackjaw
You Can Be Funny Now: How To Start Writing Humor
Date: Saturday, May 11
Time: 1 - 2 PM EST
*This workshop will be recorded for those who can’t attend live!
Many people dream of writing and publishing funny stuff. Is that you? Good, because this workshop will get you writing humor FAST!
Whether you're new to writing humor or you have been dabbling at it for a while, this workshop is for you.
This workshop starts tonight!
Editing for Style: A Hands-On Lesson in Copyediting with Jordan Koluch
When: May 7 - May 21 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM EST
Duration: 3 weeks (Tuesday meetings)
Price: $175
In this class, you’ll learn the basics of good copyediting and implement those basics over a number of sample texts. We’ll start with becoming familiar with The Chicago Manual Style and Merriam Webster, then move on to the different things copy editors should always be looking for when approaching a text.
What you will learn
Students will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience in class, as well as feedback from the instructor and peers on their work. We’ll also discuss tips for how to get freelance copyediting jobs.
Workshop takeaways
Familiarity with The Chicago Manual of Style, Merriam Webster, and house style guides
Experience copyediting example texts in a number of genres
Personalized feedback from instructor and peers on copyedits
Skills to craft style sheets for copyediting jobs
Our Next Writing Retreat
The Write Together Retreat featuring
Join us for a day of writing during our monthly virtual retreat! You will have the opportunity to write alongside other writers in real time and learn from authors in the industry. This will be a time of encouragement and a chance to make real progress!
When: Saturday, May 18 from 11:00 - 3:30 PM EST
What’s included:
2 one-hour live writing sessions over Zoom
Breaks in between sessions
1 hour-long author chat and open Q&A with Amanda Montei. Amanda will discuss how she blends personal writing with research, culture writing, and other nonfiction. She will also talk about the state of memoir and the essay today, and how to embrace the limits of our own subjective experiences in nonfiction.
Resources and author notes sent via email at the end of the retreat
Generative writing prompts before each session to get you started
Upcoming Workshops
*Scholarships are available for Write or Die workshops. Click here for more details.
May 19 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST
A Writer Walks Into a Bar: The Nuts and Bolts of Writing Humor with Kristen Arnett
What makes people laugh? How many ways can you tell a joke and still glean something interesting from the premise?
This workshop is a fresh look at everything you need to know about unpacking - and subsequently repackaging - the way comedy sits inside of fiction and non-fiction!
*This workshop will be recorded if you can’t attend live!
May 25 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EST)
Write Messy: Bucking Perfectionism with Haley Jakobson
Calling all teacher’s pets!!! If you’re a creative that edits while you write, find it hard to know when a piece is “finished,” or dread working on the sloppy first draft — this workshop is for you! So many creatives are desperate to write freely but feel shackled by their own perfectionism.
In this 2 hour workshop, we’ll work on quieting the perfectionistic voice, use prompts to help us crack open our writing to its messiest potential, and commiserate with a community of former Good Students ready to become rebels.
*This workshop will be recorded if you can’t attend live!
June 1 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EST)
Popstar Prompts! with Christina Berke
Ever wanted an excuse to fuse your love of Britney, Whitney and Mariah into your creative writing? Here’s your chance.
Using the lyrics, lives, and lovers of beloved popstars, we’ll write using inspiration from singers like Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Christina Aguilera and more. This class is designed to be fun, boost creativity, and generate pages. All genres and levels are welcome.
Whether you're writing-curious or a published author, in this live 2-hour workshop, you'll walk away with the start to a piece or two. Optional chance to share an excerpt or line of your fresh work. Let's liven up your creativity with somebody who loves you.
*This workshop will be recorded if you can’t attend live!