The ISA's 30-Day Screenwriting Challenge June 2023
Now with 4 Live Webinars!
30-Day Screenwriting Challenge - June!
We're at it again! Let's dive into Summer with a mid-year 30-Day Screenwriting Challenge. What better time to focus on developing new material and/or finishing something? If your goal is to become a paid writer, be staffed on a show or to write on assignment, you need the skills to execute a professional level screenplay in a limited time frame.
Think you can do it? We do. And we've set up steps, assignments, and objectives to help you meet this goal.
This month-long Challenge will be very similar to our January 2023 Challenge, but there are some major differences to point out. So let's get into the deets...
First and foremost: Zoom Office Hours
While the online coursework will be largely the same, Max Timm (the ISA's Director of Education and creator of the ISA's 30-Day Challenge) will be focusing office hours time more on education than just straight Q&A sessions. In January he was on Zoom every day for 30 straight days hosting office hours. While he won't be on Zoom every single day for 30 days this time around, he will be doing two things...
The specific dates for the webinars, plus the topics being covered:
So while Max will be available for general check-in and Q&A during regular Office Hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, our focus will be not only on finishing a script, but also on fully developing your know-how and understanding of the craft of storytelling. You're a screenwriter! You need to continually educate yourself, so...let's get to it.
The Zoom link for each Office Hours session and each Webinar will be shared on the designated day of the coursework, plus via email from Max. Your first Office Hours session will be on Tuesday, June 6, so you'll be able to use the first few days to settle in with the coursework, get inspired, learn a little something and of course...WRITE!
You can commit to the 30 day timeline or go at your own pace. You will have access to the 30-Day Challenge coursework AND the webinar and Office Hours recordings through December 2023! Sign up today.
How Does it Work?
At the end of this course, not only will you have finished a script in 30 days, but you’ll also have the tools to apply this method to future projects. You can restart the course as you’re developing a new project, get a writing assignment or are staffed on a show. You'll maintain access to the course until the end of the year.
Many thanks to Max and ISA for this terrific course. I feel it's important to learn from as many different sources as possible, and for this course, I took a...
Read MoreMany thanks to Max and ISA for this terrific course. I feel it's important to learn from as many different sources as possible, and for this course, I took away a new understanding for the importance of a character's emotional flaw. I also loved the opening lectures about Finding Your Voice, and looking to one's own life for the Voice Pressure Points. Max is a gifted teacher. He has lots of experience to draw from, and his audio lessons were great. His warm voice and clear explanations were of great inspiration. A favorite of mine: his talk on the importance of accepting failure and to carry on despite it. The lesson on impatience was another keeper. Am truly grateful to have participated. Highly recommend. A+
Read LessI am only on day three but I love your oh so concise course. I have had consults with Michael Hauge who helped me with one screenplay years ago. Another with...
Read MoreI am only on day three but I love your oh so concise course. I have had consults with Michael Hauge who helped me with one screenplay years ago. Another with Pilar Alessandro, also some time ago. I learned so much from each of them. But now I am trying something new ... a television pilot which will be a one hour series for a non-network channel. Yes, I am one of those lovely tv writers. Or nutso tv writers. But it is something I have inside me and I plan to do it.
Read LessYou are pushed hard to move through this course within the 30 Days but a lot of us need that to get things done. I'm one of them! You'll really learn a lot...
Read MoreYou are pushed hard to move through this course within the 30 Days but a lot of us need that to get things done. I'm one of them! You'll really learn a lot and get clarity from asking yourself the right questions. This course provides you with the right questions so you can move your story forward. Thank-you so much for sharing this with us!
Read LessLearn from mentors, produce by action, develop and format by the industry standards and believe in yourself enough to bring out the best in your investment f...
Read MoreLearn from mentors, produce by action, develop and format by the industry standards and believe in yourself enough to bring out the best in your investment for the people that believe in you! 100/100 Thank Max!
Read LessThis was a pretty good “nuts and bolts” course for the price: FREE. I really appreciate the structure lesson and podcasts.
This was a pretty good “nuts and bolts” course for the price: FREE. I really appreciate the structure lesson and podcasts.
Read LessOne of the best online courses. The 30-Day Challenge brought me back to the basics of screenwriting - the stuff that makes a good film/story. The idea I had ...
Read MoreOne of the best online courses. The 30-Day Challenge brought me back to the basics of screenwriting - the stuff that makes a good film/story. The idea I had a week before I participated in the challenge grew into a proper story by following Maxx's advice. Lost of inspiration. The dreamer/writer in me is up and running again! Great Work!
Read LessThe first day was great. I not only came to know about what exactly voice is but also showed up a way to discover it. It is more about me and why I want to w...
Read MoreThe first day was great. I not only came to know about what exactly voice is but also showed up a way to discover it. It is more about me and why I want to write.
Read LessThe 30-Day Screenwriting Challenge is a golden well of precious and useful resources for anyone aiming for the dream to come true on big or smaller screens. ...
Read MoreThe 30-Day Screenwriting Challenge is a golden well of precious and useful resources for anyone aiming for the dream to come true on big or smaller screens. Amazing offerings cannot exist without astonishing efforts, and selfless contribution to the community of screenwriters in particular. Last but not least is the macro and micro structure of the course that makes it accessible from any medium, any time, unfolding as essential micro-lectures. Congratulations and a million thanks to Max Timm and ISA!
Read LessThis course seems to have a lot of excellent beginner info in one place. Even though it relies heavily on podcasts that are available online already, there's...
Read MoreThis course seems to have a lot of excellent beginner info in one place. Even though it relies heavily on podcasts that are available online already, there's a lot of value in having the course arranged so you can access them logically and see how it applies to the process of writing a single script. Although it's not hard to see that the course is geared to introducing new screenwriters to the presenter's company and screenwriting coaching packages (and I would have been disappointed by that if I'd paid for this course), I didn't mind all the "commercials" since what content was included was insightful and useful. If I were more serious about getting into screenwriting, I'd consider investing in help from this company as a way to jumpstart my learning process.
Read LessChallenge Accepted! Getting Started...
FREE PREVIEWVoice, and Voice Pressure Points
Audio Lecture on Voice and Voice Pressure Points
Assignment: Voice Pressure Points
The Logline - Yes, It's Extremely Important
Logline Breakdown Process
Audio for Logline Breakdown Process
Assignment: Write (and Rewrite) Your Loglines
See You Tomorrow!
Primary Story Elements
Your Hero and The Emotional Flaw
Audio: Your Hero & Emotional Flaw
The Secondary Helper (Supporting Character, Supporting the Hero’s Arc)
The Rival, Threat and/or Opponent
2nd Act Series of Obstacles
Sequence Writing and Prepping the 1st Act
Audio: Sequence Writing and Prepping The 1st Act
Assignments: Character Set-Up and Light Structure
Where To Begin?
The Villain, Rival, Opponent - How is this Character Related to the Secondary Character?
An Easy Assignment...Just Listen!
Episode 1 of The Craft - Sequence 1 Breakdown - "We Need A Hero"
Episode 2 of The Craft - Sequence 2 Breakdown - "Setting It All Up"
Episode 3 of The Craft - Sequence 3 Breakdown - "The Unsung Hero"
Episode 6 of The Craft - "A Sidenote for the TV Writer"
Structural/Beat Breakdown and Outline
Assignments: Sequence Statements
You've Barely Begun, But...
The 2nd Act, Moment By Moment - with Assignments
Audio: The 2nd Act, Moment By Moment
The Difference Between "Adventure" & "Journey"
The Craft Podcast - Sequence 4 Breakdown. "The Promise of the Premise"
The Craft Podcast - Sequence 5 Breakdown. "Success, Failure & the Villain"
The Craft Podcast - Sequence 6 Breakdown - "The Mid-Point"
Assignment: Expanding Your Story Outline
Sequence Titles
FREE PREVIEWAssignments: Writing Your Script in Outline Form
Special Edition: Breaking Down Stranger Things
Stranger Things - The Pilot
Just Keep Going
Connecting with The ISA and Our Writing Gigs
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