Working with Stowe Co-Founder David Pope and long-time mentor Derek Simonds, write a new TV pilot, develop skills, and master a process to create story

Writers Room

12 WEEK REMOTE PROGRAM

APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2026 SESSION WILL OPEN SOON.

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DESIGNED FOR WRITERS WANTING TO WRITE EPISODIC SCREENPLAYS

This program is capped at 12 participants and is broken into two parts encompassing building a show and writing a show.

GOALS + RESULTS

A strong first draft of a TV pilot script

Writers Room participants will leave the program with a strong pilot episode.

PART I: BUILDING A TV SHOW

INTENTION

Part I delves into building a show. Screenwriter/Showrunner Derek Simonds (THE SINNER) will take participants through building the fundamentals of a successful TV show and teach them how to apply these techniques to writing a new TV pilot.

In addition Derek, past guest contributors to Part I of the program include Writer and Producer Peter McKenna (KIN, HIDDEN ASSETS) and Screenwriter/Performer Brandi Nicole (YOUR HONOR, HAPPY FACE, BALLARD).

Part I will include breaking down season 1 of THE SINNER.

METHOD

Part I of the program consists of:

  • 4 weeks / 1 session per week

  • Each session is 3 hours long (2.5 hours with a 30-minute break)

  • Before the program starts, the group will be provided with reading and watching assignments for these sessions

SESSIONS WILL COVER

  • Envisioning a series: creating compelling lead characters, building an effective story engine, and clarifying the goal of the series

  • Building a pilot, how to introduce characters effectively, raising compelling questions that will be addressed in series

  • Creating season-long character arcs, designing dynamic relationships between characters that drive your story forward

  • Nuts and bolts of the writing room process

  • Pitching and selling a show

PART II: WRITING A SHOW

INTENTION

In Part II, working with Stowe’s David Pope, writers will build on their initial work and produce an original pilot screenplay.

By the end of Part II participants will:

  • Have written both an outline and a complete pilot episode

  • Be ready to create their series bible

METHOD

Part II of the program blends presentations, one-to-one meetings, group work, and peer-to-peer feedback sessions.

  • 8 weeks / 1 session per week

  • Each session is 3 hours long (2.5 hours with a 30-minute break)

  • Participants should schedule in additional time for writing toward program deadline

SESSIONS WILL COVER

  • Theme

  • Episode and Season Structure

  • Subtext and Scene Analysis

Alongside project development, participants will be encouraged to develop the collaborative skills so important for writers working in the episodic space.

DATES AND TIMES FOR FALL/WINTER 2026 PROGRAM HAVE NOT BEEN SET

Sessions will run Sundays from 12:00 - 3:00 PM ET.

The Program will run likely run from mid-October 2026 - Mid-February 2027

Writers Room Program Leader David Pope delivers a presentation on pitching at the 2024 Stowe Narrative Lab.

Writers Room Fee

$2,650

Meet Writers Room Program Leader

Derek Simonds

Derek is a writer, filmmaker, and the creator/showrunner of USA Network’s hit series, The Sinner, which broadcast its fourth and final season in November 2021. In 2017, The Sinner debuted as the #1 new cable series of the year, and received two Golden Globe nominations, including Best Limited Series and an Emmy nomination. Derek has developed numerous independent film projects as a writer and director, most recently executive producing Sony Pictures Classics Oscar-winning release, Call Me By Your Name. Derek was a writer on the ABC miniseries event, When We Rise, a recounting of the gay civil rights movement created by Dustin Lance Black, as well as ABC’s 2015 limited series, Astronaut Wives Club. He has developed television pilots for Universal Content Productions, ABC Studios, and TNT, and also wrote and directed his debut feature film, Seven and a Match. He is currently developing new television projects for Peacock and UCP.

View all Stowe Story Labs Mentors >

David Pope

David Pope is a script consultant and screenwriter working internationally. Script consultation projects include Obraz, candidate for Best International Film Academy Award 2026, Tiger Stripes, winner Jury Prize Critics Week Cannes Film Festival 2023 and candidate for Best International Film Academy Award 2024, Take It or Leave It, candidate for Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award 2019 and Truth or Justice, candidate for Best International Film Academy Award 2020. Other recent projects as script consultant include the feature films Natatorium 2024, Last Sentinel, 2023, Splendid Isolation, 2022, Magic Mountains, 2021. David was Creative Producer on feature film The Goat, 2023. In addition to his work with Stowe Story Labs, he is the long-standing annual advisor and facilitator for Rotterdam Lab at IFFRPro for producers. David has been a creative consultant on Rawi Screenwriting Lab for Royal Film Commission — Jordan, facilitated the Convergence program funded by Screen Scotland and British Film Institute and is the script consultant for Funny Features delivered by Glasgow Film Festival and funded by British Film Institute. He is a regular script consultant for both MIDPOINT Institute and BoostNL. His most recent screenwriting commission has been writing the latest draft of the feature film Summer of 81. David has a slate of feature film and TV projects in development through advance films.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Apply here. Admissions are rolling and will be capped at 12 participants for each program. Applications will close when the program fully enrolls or on January 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM (PST).

  • A team of two may apply and if admitted the team will share meetings with David Pope and any peer group sessions.

  • Yes!

  • Just email us at info@stowestorylabs.org.

By humans for humans. We do not use AI in reviewing applications or scripts, and do not accept submissions generated by AI.