All Pennwriters Courses are conducted in a “live” presentation format utilizing the Zoom platform. If a conflict arises based on the required meeting times, please contact the instructor and Online Courses Coordinator to find a possible solution. ALL sessions will be recorded.
PLEASE NOTE: You should receive a confirmation email upon registering for the course from both Club Express and the Online Classes Coordinator. If you do not receive either email, please reach out to the Online Classes Coordinator immediately so you do not miss out on information for your class.
Format:
- Weekly 2-hour zoom sessions in which writers will share pages from ACT ONE of their works-in-progress.
- Weekly on-demand video lessons with supplemental writing exercises, worksheets, links, etc.
Description: This intensive 4-week screenwriting course is designed for writers transitioning from prose to screenplays. It focuses on crafting compelling action descriptions, mastering pacing, and developing strong characters within the unique constraints of the screenplay format. Participants will learn to create vivid, cinematic scenes through carefully chosen words and will develop the first act of their screenplay. The course combines on-demand lectures, asynchronous writing exercises, and weekly workshops to provide a comprehensive learning experience.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Christopher Riley’s The Industry Standard
- 2025 Oscar-winning Original Screenplay (to be provided by instructor)
- Randy Ingermanson’s The Snowflake Method
OBJECTIVES/Benefits/Takeaways:
- Master visual storytelling through powerful action descriptions
- Craft a compelling first act for your screenplay
- Create dynamic characters that shine through action
- Learn effective screenplay pacing techniques
- Master the Snowflake Method for story pitching
- Adapt prose writing skills to screenplay format
- Craft authentic, story-driven dialogue
- Refine your writing through peer workshops
- Acquire screenplay-specific revision techniques
THE COURSE
Week 1: Foundations and Pitching
Understand screenplay basics and learn to pitch effectively.
On-demand lectures:
1. From Prose to Screen: Adapting Your Writing Style
2. The Art of the Pitch: Mastering the Snowflake Method
Exercise: Develop a one-paragraph pitch using the Snowflake Method, focusing on clear act breaks and concise storytelling.
Workshop:Pitch session. Participants present their story ideas and receive feedback from peers and the instructor.
Week 2: Character and Action
Craft compelling characters and impactful action descriptions.
On-demand lectures
1. Creating Memorable Characters Through A
2. The Power of Visual Storytelling: Crafting Impactful Action Descriptions
Exercise: Write a character introduction scene that reveals key traits through action rather than dialogue.
Workshop: Share and critique selected scenes from Act 1, focusing on character introductions and action descriptions.
Week 3: Pacing and Structure
Master screenplay pacing and first act structure.
On-demand lectures:
1. Mastering Screenplay Pacing: From Scene to Sequence
2. The Architecture of Act 1: Setting Up Your Story<
Exercise: Outline a key sequence from Act 1, focusing on pacing and building tension.
Workshop: Continue scenes from Act 1 with a focus on the ‘Call to Adventure’
Week 4: Elevating Your Script
Enhance your writing style, master pivotal story moments, and captivate readers.
On-demand lectures:
1. Crafting Compelling Turning Points: The Refusal and The Decision
2. Writing for Readers: Making Your Script a Page-Turner
Exercise: Rewrite a key scene focusing on either the "refusal of the call" (also known as the "reluctance to change") or the "commitment to the journey" (or "point of no return"). Emphasize vivid action description, character depth, and pacing to make the scene as engaging as possible for readers.
Workshop: Share and critique the rewritten scenes, focusing on how well they captivate the reader and convey the character's internal struggle or decisive moment. Discuss techniques to make script pages compelling and mesmerizing, even without dialogue.
About the Instructor: Diana Dru Botsford's fascination with storytelling has propelled her from one medium to another, as she crafts tales for novels, short stories, theater, television, web series, and film. Along with her dad, she co-wrote the fan-favorite episode Rascals for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Botsford authored multiple works for Stargate SG-1’s tie-in universe include the novels Four Dragons and The Drift as well as the Scribe Nominee short story Perceptions. Her recent short story contributions include Everything and Nothing for the 2023 IAMTW anthology, Double Trouble, and History is Written by the Losers for the 2024 HERitage anthology.
Botsford created, wrote, and produced the 6-part award-winning time travel web series, Epilogue (http://epiloguetheseries.com). As a TV/Film writer, producer, and visual FX producer/director, her credits range from cult-favorite animated series such as Inspector Gadget, Spiral Zone, and Heathcliff and the feature film Pound Puppies & The Legend of Big Paw to live-action projects such as Tales from the Darkside, the CBS series Harts of the West, and Nightgames. Her Visual FX work includes films such as Nightmare on Elm Street VI, Dusk 'Til Dawn, Clifford, and Terminator 2.
Botsford has also written and directed for the historic Landers Theatre, incorporating ASL performers as main characters and offering fresh interpretations of family-oriented stories like Alice in Wonderland and Stuart Little. On the education front, she created and directed the award-winning screenwriting program at Missouri State University for nearly 20 years and has now turned her eye to teaching and coaching in the private sector while she continues her work developing three pilots currently under option at an independent studio. She’s knee-deep in writing a science fiction mystery novel while crafting her next story for the upcoming 2025 HERitage anthology.
Email & Links:
contact email: dianabotsford@gmail.com
web page: dianabotsford.com
Instagram: @digitalred93
Facebook: http://facebook.com/diana.botsford