Writing the Scene

If you want to sell a screenplay, you need to write scenes that PUNCH THROUGH the page.

It's all about making the most powerful reading experience for your reader—whether they’re a gatekeeper, producer, director, judge, or the person who could say “yes” to your entire career.

Once you finally have your script in a reader's hands, you want to take that opportunity and come out SWINGING.

You want your scenes to be filled to the brim with:

• Dramatic action that TRANSCENDS the black and white text and becomes a movie in your reader’s mind
• Thrilling conflict that keeps readers RIVETED at the edges of their seats
• Characters who LEAP from the page and stroll right into your reader’s room
• Settings that CAPTURE your reader and bring scenarios to life

TL/DR: You need to write scenes that are totally and completely UN-PUT-DOWN-ABLE.

A word I just made up that means—you guessed it—the reader can’t put your script down......

.......Which is exactly what we want.

Incredible scenes will turn your screenplay into a magnet that readers cannot say “no” to.

But for some reason, I’ve found that almost NO screenwriting professors (or online screenwriting personalities, for that matter) talk about scene-writing specifically.

Why?

My guess is that it’s too elusive. It’s difficult to pin down what makes a scene WORK. It’s hard to boil down lessons that have become second nature.

So, I set out to try.

And now, I'm thrilled to share Writing the Scene with you.

Writing the Scene is a 4-module course that is entirely at your own pace. In a little over two hours and 28 exclusive videos, you will learn:

• My approach to scene work: All of the most important takeaways and secrets that I’ve accumulated from more than 40 years as a professional screenwriter and professor
• In-depth analysis: Dive into two INCREDIBLE scenes and see why they work—and how you can replicate it in your own scripts
• Basic scene elements: At first, headings and white space seem like simple throwaways—but once you master the tools, you can use them in surprising, powerful ways to guide your audience’s reading experience and emotions
• Revision Strategies: Take the clay that is your first draft and discover how to shape it into the most evocative version of itself
• PLUS! Professional Feedback: At the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to submit an original scene of your own to our Feedback Team and receive notes from working, professional screenwriters.

...And it's all free.

Which probably makes you wonder: if Writing the Scene is so great, why make it free?

At risk of being earnest, this is what Young Screenwriters is about.

Over the past several decades, I’ve had the privilege of teaching in exclusive, high-priced classrooms all over the world. And don’t get me wrong, I have thoroughly enjoyed it!

But as a guy from Ohio who just wanted to know more about screenwriting and didn’t have access to screenwriting resources or education, it is EXCEEDINGLY important to me that I share what I’ve learned more broadly.

Put simply: it’s time!

Everybody has a story to tell. And my hope is that the tips and tricks I (and my awesome teaching assistants) share in Writing the Scene will help you to get your story on the page.

Scenes are the building blocks of all screenplays, and it’s a skill you NEED to master to have success in this career.

When your series or movie hits the big screen, you can share it with me in return ;)

So, what are you waiting for?

Hit that “ENROLL” button, and I hope to see you inside of Writing the Scene!