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CLASSES BY DATEClick “Buy Now” Under Each Class to Enroll. Email info@writingpad.com or call 323-333-2954 if you have further questions or want to ask about payment plans.
GET IT ON THE PAGE: A CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPHave you always dreamed of writing the great American novel? Or maybe you have the beginnings of the next big movie blockbuster but it is collecting dust in a drawer? It’s time to start writing, and this class will help you! Marilyn’s fun, in-class writing exercises will help you unlock the tantalizing tales inside your head. She’ll also show you how to create scintillating conflict, lively characters, dynamic dialogue, and settings that feel so real, they leap off the page. The time will fly by, and you’ll generate a ton of new material for revision and publication. You’ll also walk away with a special writer’s block busting toolkit to help you keep the creative spark alive on your own. Beginning and experienced writers of all genres are welcome.
About Marilyn Friedman:
ON THE RECORD: MASTERING THE REPORTED ESSAYEver dream of seeing your name in print? A reported personal essay is a plum assignment that allows you to explore an issue close to your heart by consulting the experts. Veteran journalist Taffy Brodesser-Akner will help you navigate this exciting medium by sharing her tried-and-true secrets for pitching editors, finding experts, and checking your sources. Through an informative craft talk and fun in-class writing exercises, you'll learn the proper structure of this literary form as well as the ins and outs of getting it to print. By the end of the class, you'll have completed a reported essay of your own and be well on your way to getting it published!
You can see eleven essays by Taffy's students here (Beauty Bean, Boston Globe, Dad's Divorce, LA Times, Salon #1, Salon #2, Salon #3, Salon #4, Salon #5, Spirit Magazine, Xojane) --with Taffy's help, they got published and paid for their work!
About Taffy Brodesser-Akner:
Pet Project: Writing Your Dream ScreenplayIt’s time to take that first or partial draft of your screenplay and give it a polished sheen. Veteran screenwriter Steven Peros ("The Cat's Meow") will show you how. In this 5 week class, you’ll build on a foundation of the basics, exploring genre, honing your set pieces, strengthening your story arcs, and moving your scene writing skills into overdrive. Steven will also share his secrets to breaking the story, setting your script apart from the barbarian hordes, and effective networking. By the end of the class, you’ll have a streamlined version of your opus and the skills to put it out there. Soon the director will be shouting “Action!” as Julia Roberts brings your story to life. Note: Class will be limited to nine students. Steven will read your entire script prior to your one-on-one consultion with him in class 5.
About Steven Peros: Steven Peros is an award-winning filmmaker and twice-published Samuel French playwright. His research into a mysterious death on board William Randolph Hearst's yacht led to his original screenplay, “The Cat's Meow” (Lionsgate, 2002), directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Kirsten Dunst and Eddie Izzard. The film appeared on a dozen year end “Ten Best” lists, including Film Comment. His play on the same topic garnered rave reviews from numerous publications including Variety, The LA Times, Variety, and CBS Radio. Steven also wrote and directed, “Footprints,” a micro-budget mystery set entirely on Hollywood Boulevard that has been hailed as “One of the Ten Best Films So Far This Year,” by the Chairman of the New York Film Critics Circle and will have a second release nationwide in December. Steven penned three episodes of AMC’s Emmy-award winning dramedy series, “The Lot." He’s taught screenwriting at UCLA Extension and spoken extensively on screenwriting and filmmaking at many film festivals nationwide, as well as at USC (interviewed by Leonard Maltin), LMU, Cal-State Northridge, Los Angeles Film School, KCET’s Cinema Series, IFP West, Women in Film, and the Irish Film Institute.
Me.Com: A Copywriting Ninja Skills WorkshopWhat if you had the resources of a top advertising firm at your disposal to sell whatever you desired? You can! In this two day class, TBWA/Chiat/Day’s Lauren Smith will show you how to treat your own brand like a multi million dollar account. She’ll cover how to write the irresistible email and turn your website into a well oiled 24/7 commercial for you in 10 bytes or less. By the end of the class, you’ll have stellar brand manifesto and a pitch perfect email to broadcast it the world. Skinny tie and hat not included.
About Lauren Smith: Lauren Smith is an award-winning copywriter at one of the best ad agencies in the business, TBWA\Chiat\Day. She is an expert in advertising for television, digital and social mediums. Her clients include Kraft, Visa, Pepsi, Nissan, Infiniti, Honda, Acura, Sara Lee, Hillshire Farm, Pedigree, Mandalay Bay, SOYJOY, La-Z-Boy and PENTAX. For those clients, she’s blogged as an out-of-work crab, given dogs everywhere the voice of David Duchovny, written a comic-book adventure for one of the first-ever iAds, and become the inner voice for a brigade of battling soy beans, the most comfortable furniture in the world, and the first-ever mass-market 100% electric car. Lauren’s work has been featured in advertising publications and books. She also blogs as “la” on http://www.laliadverts.wordpress.com, one of “two ad girls trying to make it in a world of mad men.” She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the Honors College at the University of Michigan.
Fiction Bootcamp: Mastering The Art Of The Tall TaleHave you dreamed of writing tales of urban intrigue for the New Yorker or a bestselling novel? In this 5 week class, author Melissa Clark will share her recipe for crafting an irresistible story! She’ll show you how to seamlessly blend fantasy with reality, transform the ordinary into the suspenseful, and tie it all together with a compelling story arc that delivers page after page. Melissa will also cover techniques for hooking your reader, creating memorable characters, an engaging plot, and a satisfying conclusion. By the end of this class, you'll have completed a draft of a stellar short story or a polished chapter of your novel. You will even get a one-on-one consultation where she’ll help you put the finishing touches on your pages and figure out where to send it for publication!
About Melissa Clark: Melissa Clark is the author of "Imperfect" and “Swimming Upstream, Slowly” (Random House/Broadway Books). “Swimming Upstream, Slowly” was named a Target Breakout Book. Her short stories have been published in literary journals such as the Santa Clara review and New Orleans Review. She also created and executive produced the animated television show, “Braceface,” starring the voice of Alicia Silverstone, which ran for five seasons on ABC Family Channel. Melissa has contributed scripts to “Rolie Polie Olie,” “Totally Spies” and “Sweet Valley High”, and has developed television projects for Disney Studios, Scholastic Productions and Cartoon Network. Melissa has taught creative writing and literature at Otis College of Art and Design and at the Esalen Institute for five years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Emerson College and a Masters Degree from UC Davis in English and Writing.
YOU in 1200 Words: WRITING AND PUBLISHING THE PERSONAL ESSAY (2 DAY)Have you always wanted to write a personal essay but you don’t know where to start? Or have you dreamed of seeing one of your essays published in the New York Times or Salon? Then this is the class for you. Successful journalist Taffy Brodesser-Akner will show you how to make your essay relatable, targeted for the right publication, and tantalizing to readers. We’ll workshop one of your essays and by the end of class, you'll have a kick-ass essay that is ready to be submitted for publication. Your goal will be to sell your essay within a couple of weeks after the class ends!
You can see eleven essays by Taffy's students here (Beauty Bean, Boston Globe, Dad's Divorce, LA Times, Salon #1, Salon #2, Salon #3, Salon #4, Salon #5, Spirit Magazine, Xojane) --with Taffy's help, they got published and paid for their work!
About Taffy Brodesser-Akner:
So You Want To Be A Writer?You’ve always dreamed of finding the time to write on a regular basis or to finish a few poems, a scene from a screenplay, or a short story. You can do it, and this class will help you! Brand new writing exercises and our balanced work shopping sessions will motivate you to keep your writing practice going. You’ll be too busy having fun writing to let your inner critic slow you down! We’ll also address individual writing practice/project issues, and help you tackle revision without pain. Experienced and beginning writers welcome.
* Elective is a one day class of the student's choice, remaining 4 classes are with Marilyn Friedman. For online class, one day, 2.5 hr online classes only are included in price package. In person one day, 2.5 hr classes are subject to additional fees. Email marilyn@writingpad.com for more information.
FINISHING SCHOOL Enroll your unruly writing project in Finishing School! We’ll take the poetry, short story, novel or screenplay project that you’ve dreamed about writing and help you build a realistic but fun plan to get it done. In-class and homework assignments will help you access your imagination in new ways, inspire you to generate new pages every week, refine and elevate the craft of your work, and nudge that project to the finish line. Before you know it, your stacks of ideas will flow into a manageable, page-turner that will sing like the Von Trapps at Christmastime!
About Marilyn Friedman: * Elective is a one day class of the student's choice, remaining 4 classes are with Marilyn Friedman.
The Odd Couple: Creating Characters That Write ThemselvesNothing makes the creative process more fun than working with lively characters that drive your story forward. It’s even better when your hero is paired with his perfect foil. Just like a bold Cabernet makes a pungent Camembert taste better, complex protagonists bring out the spice in their antagonist neighbors. But how do you create the ideal character match? In this class, Writing Pad’s founder, Marilyn Friedman, will answer these questions and more. She’ll share strategies for crafting charismatic, three dimensional good guys and villains that your readers will love to hate. Then she’ll show you how to pit your white hats and black hats against each other to create escalating conflict. By the end of class, you’ll have written two to three scenes with characters so compelling, your story will finish itself.
About Marilyn Friedman: FROM BEDTIME STORIES TO TALES OF TEENAGE WOE: WRITING FOR KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS PT IIs it your dream to write the next Harry Potter series or “Where The Wild Things Are” but you’re not sure where to start? Or are you already working on a tale for kids, but you want to learn how to make it a bestseller? In this class, published children's author, Derek Taylor Kent, will show how to structure a children's or young adult book, how to write appealing characters for your target age group, and navigate the complexities of the publishing world. With the aid of fun, hands-on exercises and balanced workshopping sessions, you will have completed a draft or several chapters of a stellar children’s or YA book by the last session of this class.
About Derek Taylor Kent:
FROM BEDTIME STORIES TO TALES OF TEENAGE WOE: WRITING FOR KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS PT IIYou’re in the middle of the first draft of your YA or children’s book, and you’re trying to keep your head above water. Have no fear, successful YA novelist, Derek Taylor Kent, is here! He’ll help you turn your half-finished draft into the next “Hunger Games” or “Go The F**k To Sleep.” He’ll teach you the essentials of a compelling second act: a new subplot, fun and games, the midpoint, rising stakes, and the low point. Every week, you’ll workshop new chapters, do fun, in-class writing exercises, and complete targeted homework assignments that’ll help you push that book to the finish line. By the end of this class, you will have completed a draft of your YA novel or picture book!
About Derek Taylor Kent:
It’s All About You: A One-Person Show Workshop (4 Week)Have you ever thought about turning your life into a one-person show? Or do you have an idea for a solo-show but can’t figure out how to develop it? In this four-week class, successful actor and writer, David Dean Bottrell will help you channel your inner Julia Sweeney or Eric Bogosian. Let David show you how to get your story on the page, and your show on the stage! His fun, improvisational writing exercises will transform your annoying relatives into hilarious, three dimensional characters and your most embarrassing moments into irresistible stories. You’ll learn to discover and trust your voice and experiment with genre and tone. David’s balanced workshopping sessions will give you useful feedback without popping your ego and inspire you to stay on track. He’ll even share his secrets for getting your show produced. By the end of this class, you’ll have written a significant chunk of your solo-show, and it won’t be long before the audience is clapping and shouting, “Bravo!” just for you!
About David Dean Bottrell:
What's On Your Mind? Building Your Brand Through Social MediaIt’s time to build your empire and you’ll need three things to do it: a compelling brand that says “I’m cool, buy me,” an ever growing tribe of devoted fans, and rock solid writing skills. In this one day class, social media expert and Sparkpr Public Relations Associate, Jenna Britton will show you how to harness the power of Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr to promote yourself, your writing, or your business. Her informative craft lecture and targeted brainstorming exercises will make you want to get up on your virtual high horse and sing your praises to the heavens. By the end of the class, you’ll have a social media plan that will give Edelman a run for their money!
About Jenna Britton: Jenna Britton joined Facebook when you still had to have an .edu email address to sign up, and she joined Twitter in 2008 when nobody thought it was cool. She has been a public relations professional for five years and currently works at Sparkpr. She has managed the social media accounts for companies in every industry from advertising and automotive to wireless and Web 2.0. Her PR clients have appeared everywhere from Mashable to Fast Company to CNN and include Mazda, Twilio, AdMob, and ZeptoLab (developers of the game, Cut The Rope). She has been published in Salon and runs the blog "Splendid, Really". Jenna holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from UC Berkeley and a Masters in Education from Loyola Marymount University.
Do It Yourself: Get Your eBook PublishedWith Amazon taking the publishing world by storm, the times are a changing. For the courageous writer, this means that you can take your literary masterpiece from desk to Kindle sans middle man. Welcome to the exciting world of ePublishing! Novelist Melissa Clark will be your tour guide. In this one day class, she’ll tell you everything you need to know to publish your own eBook, from navigating the ePublishing process, exploring design logistics and formatting, as well making informed creative, legal, and marketing decisions. Melissa will even provide you with an eBook kit to take home. By the end of the class, you’ll have a plan for your own eBook and the resources to publish it. Before you know it, you’ll be running your own literary empire from your Macbook Pro!
About Melissa Clark: Melissa Clark is the author of the eBook "Imperfect" and “Swimming Upstream, Slowly” (Random House/Broadway Books). “Swimming Upstream, Slowly” was named a Target Breakout Book. Her short stories have been published in literary journals such as the Santa Clara review and New Orleans Review. She also created and executive produced the animated television show, “Braceface,” starring the voice of Alicia Silverstone, which ran for five seasons on ABC Family Channel. Melissa has contributed scripts to “Rolie Polie Olie,” “Totally Spies” and “Sweet Valley High”, and has developed television projects for Disney Studios, Scholastic Productions and Cartoon Network. Melissa has taught creative writing and literature at Otis College of Art and Design and at the Esalen Institute for five years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Emerson College and a Masters Degree from UC Davis in English and Writing.
FROM THE PAGE TO THE STAGE: FINISH THAT ONE-PERSON SHOW (5 WEEK)Do you have pieces of or a draft of a solo-show but can’t figure out how to pull it together and make it performance ready? In this five-week class, successful actor and writer, David Dean Bottrell will show you how to polish your show and get it on the stage! His fun revision exercises and helpful one-on-one consultation will help you figure out what your show is really about, who the characters are, and why your audience should care about them. David’s balanced workshopping sessions will give you useful feedback without popping your ego and inspire you to get that show done. He’ll even share his secrets for getting your show produced. By the end of this class, you’ll have a completed a stellar solo-show and you will have the chance to perform a section of it at Writing Pad! It really won’t be long until an audience is laughing, crying and shouting, “Bravo!” just for you!
About David Dean Bottrell:
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