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Daniel Dercksen worked as a script editor and mentor during three months of one-on-on sessions, on Marc Le Plat's script on a famous South African musical icon that is now ready for development and doing the rounds in Los Angeles. Marc attended two of the workshops before writing a draft of his script. 

"You know the drill. Months of slaving away over the computer from midnight to dawn, placing your characters in action-inducing settings along with some scintillating dialogue when, suddenly, you can't see the wood for the trees?

The train has is running at speed but out of track.

At risk of mixing so many metaphors, screen-writing can sometimes seem like swimming through a mud bath - you know where you want to go, but you often end up off course.

Which is why I found the one-on-one sessions with Daniel Dercksen of The Writing Studio invaluable in helping me realize a draft of my script that not only has pace, but a defined structure, emotive expansion and fully recognizable characters.

One-on-one sessions enable you to get to the heart of your story, realize and address any fundamental structural flaws and gain insight into your characters in an intelligent, step-by-step fashion.

As Miles Davis put it with regards to jazz: learn all the notes then just forget about them.

What he was trying to say, I guess, is if you want to really learn to play jazz, get the structure right and then get lost in the music.

Which is what I learnt in one-on-one sessions at the Writing Studio to to fully manifest my script."   

Marc Le Plat

Goals are dreams with deadlines.
Discover your passion to achieve your goals.

Goals must be measurable and realistc


Belief is not enough. You have to take action.

Motivation produces action.

Pleasure is the ultimate motivator.

As a writer you have to know your purpose, add value to your purpose and care deeply about the story you are writing

ARE YOU STUCK?

How many times have you told yourself that this is the year you'll finally write that screenplay, stageplay or novel?

Maybe you even jotted down the first ten pages or more, only to give up in frustration when the words stopped flowing.

You have the ideas. You have a passion for writing. So what's the missing element that keeps you from completing a saleable screenplay?

Without a clearly defined writing plan and a skilled expert to steer you through the process, getting from FADE IN to FADE OUT can be an arduous task.

Unlike classes and workshops, there are no one-size-fits-all theories or pre-set lessons, only one-on-one meetings where The Write Trainer will develop and implement a powerful strategy to help you reach your writing objectives.

Having a regular appointment with a writing coach will make you accountable for your script, and gives you the unprecedented attention and input you need to get your blockbuster completed.

In an age where everyone makes regular trips to their local gym to stay healthy, it is important for writers to keep writing effectively and remain in a perfect state of creative health; where ideas flow freely and projects are completed. When you're working on your script and bump up against writer's block, or some other irritating writing dilemma, you need a trusted expert to turn to in your time of need. Fortunately, you can call The Write Trainer to get skilled guidance right away.

The Write Trainer is a professionally-trained screenwriting coach that will provide customised assistance based on your own screenwriting goals.

Having a regular appointment with a writing coach will make you accountable for your script, and gives you the unprecedented attention and input you need to get your blockbuster completed.

Your trainer
Celebrated film and theatre journalist of 30 years, Daniel Dercksen, created the leading independent training initiative The Writing Studio 15 years ago. Graduates include award-winning playwrights Neil Coppen (Abnormal Loads) and Jeremeo Le Cordeur (February 14th), filmmakers John Barker (Bunny Chow and How To Steal a Million) and Henk Pretorius (Bakgat, Fanie Fourie Se Lobola), novelists Lauren Beukes (Zoo City) and Gary Hirson (The Magic That is Ours and Calm in Storm), and journalist/ publicist Kevin Kriedeman.
Daniel Dercksen is also a published playwright and screenwriter and has been presenting workshops in screenwriting, playwriting and creative writing since 1998. He is also a qualified ETD Practitioner (Education, Training and Development). Read more about Daniel Dercksen    Send Daniel an email

Cost
The cost of each 1-hour session is R300. There is a 25% discount if you are a Friend of the Writing Studio

Click here to make an appointment

You have two choices in personal training:

ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS > If you are based in Cape Town, you can arrange for individual sessions.

CYBER-TRAINING > If you are living outside Cape Town, or would prefer coaching in your own space and at your own time, youcan submit your query via email.

The Write Trainer program includes:

Personalised Assessment > You and your trainer will discuss your writing experience and review your screenplay, idea and/or outline. The Write Trainer provides customised guidance based on your own writing goals, and can take you from first glimmer of an idea to a final draft, all the while addressing your specific writing needs.

The Write Project Path > Based on your script idea and personal goals, your trainer will provide a specific Project Path to keep you motivated and on-track with your writing

The Write Scheduled Sessions > Choose 1 hour  weekly or bi-weekly meetings, where you'll work privately with your trainer on the elements of your screenplay if you are based in Cape Town. This can also be done via correspondence

The Write Feedback > Your trainer will motivate and inspire you, and provide both verbal and written feedback on your work

Accomplish Your Writing Goals > From first glimmer of an idea to final draft, The Write Trainer will guide you every step of the way.

The Write Template > Your trainer can design you an exclusive template to write your story from.