Participants will write a new TV pilot, develop skills, and master a process to create story
Writers Room
12 WEEK REMOTE PROGRAM
APPLICATIONS FOR FALL/WINTER 2026 SESSION ARE OPEN
DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 2 (11:59 PM PT) OR WHEN PROGRAM FILLS, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST
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
PART I: BUILDING A TV SHOW
INTENTION
Part I delves into building a show. Stowe Co-Founder, Screenwriter, and Script Consultant David Pope 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 to David, past guest contributors to Part I of the program include Screenwriter/Showrunner Mark Protosevich (SUGAR, I AM LEGEND), Screenwriter/Showrunner Derek Simonds (THE SINNER), TV Writer Brandi Nicole (YOUR HONOR, BALLARD), Creative Producer Alex Boden (TOKYO VICE, SENSE 8), Writer and Producer Peter McKenna (KIN), and Maya Perez (AMERICAN RUST).
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 and 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
Sessions will run Sundays from 12:00 - 3:00 PM ET.
October 18, 25
November 1, 8, 15, 22
December 13, 20
January 10, 17, 24
February 7, 14
Please note dates are subject to change.
“Stowe Story Labs Writers Room is an invaluable experience that allows your script to expand and blossom under the guidance of a master storyteller. Other emerging screenwriting talent is there with you on the journey and you learn by analyzing their work at the same time that they analyze yours. You simply cannot find this kind of mentorship anywhere else. It is truly singular!”
- Kim McMillan, Winter/Spring 2026 Writers Room Participant
Writers Room Fee
$2,650
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.
Recent projects produced on which worked as script consultant include the feature films Ah Girl, 2026, Lioness, 2025, Natatorium, 2024, Last Sentinel, 2023, Splendid Isolation, 2022, Magic Mountains, 2021 and the drama series’ Imperial Spy for Fremantle. David was Creative Producer on feature film The Goat, 2023.
In addition to designing and delivering for Stowe Story Labs, he is the longstanding 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.
He sits on the film committee of the Writers Guild of Great Britain and is an external expert for the Council of Europe Eurimages fund.
Recent screenwriting commissions include writing the latest draft of feature film Tempelhof, the feature film Rulin and rewriting the latest draft of the feature film Summer of 81. David has a slate of projects in development through advance films.
Previous development and training clients include Warp Films, Creative Europe, BFI, Screen Scotland, New Horizons Studio+, Cannes Cinefondation, Creative England, Screen Ireland, Polish Film Institute, UK Film Council, BBC, BAFTA, Fremantle, National Theatre, British Council, Allfilm, KulturaTV, Cannes Film Festival, Film London, Lionhead Studios, Xingu Films, Irish Film Board, FAS Screen Training Ireland, and Estonian Film Institute amongst many others.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 September 2 at 11:59 PM (PST).
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A team of two may apply and if admitted the team will share meetings with David Pope and any peer group sessions.
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Yes!
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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.