There was another thread created on this, but as founder of this group, I just wanted to weigh in and let you new folks know who I am and what we do here. First, here's the link to the next New Member Zoom, Wednesday 10 a.m. Pacific Time I'm J. David Stem (Shrek 2, Jimmy Neutron Disenchanted etc etc). I've written on movies grossing $2.5 billion in box office. And created the group at the urging of my daughter who's now studying creative writing at NYU. She kept telling me how useful my perspective was for her over the years. Because I talk about what it's really like to live in the trenches as a writer, not just from a business perspective, but from a creative POV as well. How do you show up day after day and do the consistent work it takes to learn and write great work. And enjoy the process. That's what I teach here. If you're new, I urge you to jump into the New Member Zoom, so you can introduce yourself, others in the community can get to know you and you can develop some accountability in your work. Tell us what you're up to, what your goals are and get coached up in the process! The initial call is part of the Standard Membership, along with access to the community. If you want more coaching, there's a Premium Membership you are welcome to join. And in fact, some of those people will be in the New Member call because they like showing up and just helping other writers learn and participate in the growth that goes on around here! So, if you're new, join us in the call. You are welcome to bring pages or drop your pages below and we can have a table read of the opening of your script and help you develop your vision for yourself and your career as a writer! Drop your pages below if you have them or just come to the call and we'll see you there!

I think today was a pretty successful sprint. I was meant to be there for an hour today and we stayed for almost three. That’s why I love these calls. Productive. And we chat! And even better we always learn new things. Thanks for everyone dropping in today. Excited for the next one!!

Nothing like seeing our table reads and live coaching and feedback in action!

I'm building a 7-day framework, done live, with real writers, on real pages. And I'm looking for 8-10 writers from this community to go through it with me on camera. Here's why you might be the right fit: you've got a great idea, but something is missing and you can't quite figure out why. Likely it's because your protagonist is more like a sock puppet than a great character. Waiting for the plot to happen rather than driving it. No inner life. All external conflict. Which leaves things flat — and you get notes like "2nd act drags" or "character needs to be more proactive." You can't just force a character to be proactive. It's either built into the character or it's not. This is open to Standard Members as well as Premium. Here's a peek at what the Challenge will entail. Still a work in progress but... Day 1 — Great Characters Drive the Plot Your protagonist isn't reacting to your story. Your story is a direct result of who your protagonist is. We start here. Day 2 — The Wound Every great character carries something broken from their past. Not backstory. The thing that changed how they see the world. Day 3 — The Small Life The life your character built to protect themselves from ever feeling that wound again. This is where most scripts are actually failing. Day 4 — The Lie The false belief your character is living inside. This isn't what's killing your script — it's the reason your script exists. Day 5 — The Diner Test Can your character order toast? If they only exist when the plot needs them, you don't have a character yet. You have a function. Day 6 — The Breaking Point The moment the lie becomes untenable. The scene you've been afraid to write. Day 7 — The Logline Write your logline again. From the inside out. See how far you've come. And how different your plot seems to you now that you have a character with an actual drive. If you have a script you believe in but can't crack, drop a description in the comments. If chosen, it gets worked on. Personally. By me. For free.