Writing for HireBeginner, intermediate, advanced. All writers welcome.
Writing for Hire: The Power of the Deadline is a 5-session intensive course designed to simulate real-world writing assignments and deadlines. This class will help writers across various formats (screenwriting, playwriting, essay writing, and fiction) to generate new content, work under pressure, and receive valuable feedback.
Course Objectives By the end of this course, students will: 1. Complete four new short writing projects or outlines (or three short writing projects/outlines & one long form) 2. Develop skills in writing under deadline pressure 3. Learn to adapt to different writing formats and requirements 4. Gain experience in giving and receiving constructive feedback 5. Acquire new craft and process tools applicable to various writing styles Weekly Structure Each week follows a similar pattern: 1. Assignment given at the end of each class 2. Students complete the assignment by the deadline 3. Two completed assignments selected for in-class workshop 4. Craft and process tools extracted from each workshop 5. The last session will challenge you to write the first draft or detailed treatment of a long form project. Final Outcomes - Portfolio of five new projects or outlines - Enhanced ability to write under pressure and on assignment - Expanded toolkit of craft and process techniques - Potential for continued development of projects over the summer Course Policies - All assignments must be submitted by the stated deadline - Participation in workshops and discussions is mandatory - Respect and constructive feedback are essential Join us to reignite your creativity, challenge yourself with new projects, and learn valuable skills for professional writing. Don't wait until your first big gig to discover weather or not you can write under pressure. Space is limited, so enroll early! FAQs Can I write personal essay or memoir? Yes! Can I outline feature films/TV shows or plays? Yes! Can I write short stories or scripts? Yes! Can I do a short screenplay one week and a feature outline the next? Yes! Will I get annoying feedback from other writers giving their snooty opinions? Nope! Jessica Carefully curates feedback so it is centered on the writer getting what they need. So you never have to listen to the ramblings of someone who clearly is not your audience point out your time travel plot holes. (or other such nonsense). I'm scared. That's not a question but we a 100% survival rate of all our classes. In 14 years no one has ever died from challenging themselves to write more and workshop pages. So statistically speaking...you will live. And you will have lots more pages written! |
upcoming workshopPRICE
$475 DATES Thursdays Oct 30th - Dec 4th 2025 (skips 11/20 & 11/27) TIME 4:30pm - 6pm PT (LA) 7:30pm - 9pm EST (NYC) SESSIONS 5 Sessions LOCATION Online, Live via Zoom "I learned more in one session with Jess than I did in four years of NYU film school."
- Jenna, NYU Film Graduate "Jess always made me feel like I belonged. Her unique ability to adjust her approach based on where the writer is in their journey shows her passion and dedication to actually helping us move forward. I’ve taken other classes, and I know how Hollywood works. Jess finds a way to lift people up as she teaches instead of putting them down." - Ellie W, Screenwriter |
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"Jess' unique ability to adjust her approach based on where the writer is in their journey shows her dedication to actually helping us move forward. This class was the first time I ever really felt safe to share. The way Jess handles giving feedback is like therapy for a writer’s soul."
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"Jess's classes and meditations have gotten me through some very severe blocks. These are professional-grade tools that short circuit the fear, imposter syndrome, and perfectionism that stands in the way of you doing your best work. I rely on them regularly!"
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- Ellie Waitt, Writer
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- Carly Wray (Writer/Producer, Mad Men, Westworld)
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"I was amazed not only at the number of tools I learned but the psychology behind them. I've read every book on screenwriting and felt overwhelmed with what I was 'supposed' to do on the page. I was tired of following someone else's path; it felt forced. This class gave me tools I could actually use on all my scripts. Jess helped me understand the psychology of how a reader reads a script vs how an audience watches TV and unconsciously what brings an audience back to a show. This has changed my career."