The Writers Room

TWO-PART REMOTE PROGRAM

An Online Writing Program for Episodics

The 2024 Application Season for The Writers Room is closed. Subscribe to our newsletter here to stay up to date.

UPCOMING WRITERS ROOM

The next Writers Room Program will begin on February 5, 2024.

Program Details Below.

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.

Given the focus in Part I on THE SINNER, preference will be given to artists developing one-hour episodics; half-hour situational dramas or comedies will also be considered.

GOALS + RESULTS

At the completion you will have completed your pilot episode and created your series bible.

PART I: BUILDING A SHOW

With Derek Simonds, Creator, Showrunner, and Screenwriter of The Sinner

INTENTION

Inform development of each participants’ work through examining the real experiences confronted by a writer in developing a successful story and tackling issues in developing a project.

By the end of Part I participants will be:

  • Knowledgeable about how a successful show is built

  • Through that, learn some tools and approaches they might use (and how to think up their own tools and approaches)

  • Energized and empowered to dig into their own work through Part II of the Program

METHOD

Over the first four sessions of this program, you will work with Creator/Showrunner/Screenwriter Derek Simonds as he breaks down Season 1 of his groundbreaking hit-show The Sinner, revealing the fundamentals of building a successful show and outlining how to apply these techniques to new work.

The program consists of:

  • 4 weeks / 1 session per week

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

  • 2 hours / week prep for each session

  • Before the program starts, the group will watch all of season 1 of The Sinner

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, how to raising compelling questions that will be addressed in series

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

  • Create a season-long plot, orchestrate story turns and keeping an audience engaged

  • Nuts and bolts of the writing room process 

  • How an episode is “broken,” beat sheets, outlining an episode, and the draft process from writer’s draft to production draft

  • Pitching and selling a show (based on the experience with The Sinner)

PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ASKED TO

  • Watch season one of The Sinner (before start of program)

  • Read the pilot (before start of program)

  • Read specific other episodes (during run of program)

  • Read specific scenes from episodes (during run of program)

  • Read the pitch document (during run of program)

  • Do exercises to tease out elements of the show they are developing and the characters

BY THE END OF THE FOUR SESSIONS, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE

  • Knowledgeable about how a successful show was built

  • Through that, learn some tools and approaches they might use (and how to think up their own tools and approaches)

  • Energized and empowered to dig into their own work through Part II of the Program

PART II: WRITING A SHOW

With David Pope, Co-founder of Stowe Story Labs

INTENTION

In Part II, writers will build on their initial work and produce an original screenplay.

By the end of Part I participants will have:

  • Written both outline and complete pilot episode

  • Created their Series Bible

METHOD

Part II of the program blends presentations, one-to-one meetings, group work, a writers room experience, 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)

  • During the week, work and production periods should be budgeted as needed

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.

“The constant reframing of my ideas and examination of process and style that [Stowe] workshops provide keeps me aching to do better.”

DOROTHY MACKEVICH MARKS, Writers Room alumnus, and author of Les Beaux Châteaux

SCHEDULE FOR 2024 RUN OF PROGRAM

Part I. Mondays from 7-10 PM Eastern Time.

  • February 5

  • February 12

  • February 19

  • February 26

Part II. Sundays from 12 - 3 PM Eastern Time.

  • March 10, 17, 24, 31

  • April 7, 28

  • May 5, 12

INVESTMENT

Remote Program: $2,650.

Meet Your Mentors

Featured
Derek Simonds
Derek Simonds

Derek is a writer, filmmaker, and most recently the creator/show-runner of USA Network’s hit series, The Sinner.

Read More →
David Pope
David Pope

David has worked as a script consultant with Academy Award and BAFTA-nominated producers and screenwriters.

Read More →

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Applications for session 1 in 2024 are currently closed. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with the latest opportunities.

  • We do not currently have any fellowships or partial scholarships for this program (yet).

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

  • Yes!

  • Just email us at info@stowestorylabs.org.