Turn your “this should be a movie” idea into a script you know how to write.

Ever have a story idea that had to be a movie? Or look at one of your own stories and think, “This would absolutely work on screen”?

Here’s the good news: screenwriting isn’t some locked room you need a secret key to enter. It’s a form with rules—and once you learn the fundamentals, you can use those rules to your advantage.

No mystique. No gatekeeping. Just the fundamentals.

Writers are already skilled at storytelling—and a lot of us naturally “see” our stories in images. What trips people up is the format and the perceived mystique: screenplay pages look unfamiliar, and the film/TV world can feel like it’s for “other people.”

This one-day workshop demystifies the form.

You’ll learn how scripts are built, what the core elements are, and the fundamental rules of structure. We’ll talk about what works (and what doesn’t), how the pieces fit together, and how to make choices that keep your story legible to readers—the kind of folks who might actually help a project move forward.

Then we’ll put it into practice: as a group, we’ll write a simple script together so you can experience the form in motion—not just as theory.

If you’ve ever felt intimidated by screenwriting, or quietly ruled it out as “not for me,” consider this your friendly invitation back in.

Workshop format
Part I: The Basics
We’ll go over the fundamental elements of a script and what they’re for.

Part II: How It Works (and Why It Breaks)
We’ll unpack each element—what works, what doesn’t, and how they work together.

Part III: Let’s Write One
We’ll write a basic script together as an in-class example project.

What to bring
-Optional: a short piece of your own writing you might want to adapt someday
-Something to write with (laptop or notebook)
-Optional: a story idea you’ve thought might work on screen (a premise is plenty)

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026

Time: 10 am-5 pm

Price: $199
Pricing info: Our classes and events are priced at their actual cost to run.

If paying the full price would keep you from joining us, use the code ACCESS at checkout to reduce your registration amount by 20%—no questions asked. If you’re a Wordcrafters member, use code MEMBERACCESS.

If the full price is within your means, please leave the ACCESS code for those who truly need it.

If you’re able, you can add a donation during registration to support our scholarship fund.

Scholarship info: We want everyone to have access to our writing programs. If you need additional support, please complete our scholarship request form: https://wordcrafters.org/scholarships/

Your instructor
Erick Mertz (he, him) is an author, born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, a place he is still lucky enough to call his home. He writes a paranormal mystery series, “The Strange Air,”, described as “Longmire” meets “The X-Files,” set in the fictional central Oregon town of Whistler’s Grove. Erick has (ghost-) written dozens of award-winning, optioned and produced narrative fiction screenplays.

Find out more about Erick at erickmertzwriting.com