Hi!

The Story Farm Workshop series is back on the calendar after taking August off, and we're running workshops all the way through November (with December off, because even writers deserve a break).

The next one is a good one! I think every writer should attend this, honestly. It will change the way you look at developing your concept and 2nd Act. Tuesday, September 8th at 7:00 PM CT:

How to Develop Your 2nd Act Directly from Your Concept

Workshop 04: How to Develop Your 2nd Act Directly from Your Concept

Tuesday, September 8 - 7:00pm CT (a different time, so please make note)

$39 (recording included, plus supplemental PDF material)

Here's the thing about second acts: almost nobody's problem is actually the second act. Wuh? I know that sounds weird, but...

When a second act isn't working, the instinct is to go back in and fix it - add a scene, punch up the midpoint, manufacture some conflict. And yet we end up finding it still doesn't work. That's because the second act isn't really where the problem lives. It's just where the problem shows up.

The real question is whether your concept is actually built to generate a second act in the first place, or whether you're forcing scenes to happen because the premise isn't doing its job.

In this workshop, we're going to run your concept through three tests, live, using your own project. You'll walk out with a clear read on whether your concept can carry your story, and if it can't yet, exactly what needs to shift to fix that, starting from the character outward instead of the plot inward.

This one's for you whether you're:

• Developing a brand new idea and want to concept-test it before you write a page
• Rewriting a script where the second act keeps collapsing no matter how many times you rebuild it
• Writing for television - because your series concept is what has to keep generating your recurring episode-to-episode conflict, not just one second act

We'll be breaking down a real produced screenplay live (the script to the film, The Invite) to show exactly how this works in practice, so you can see the diagnostic in action before you run it on your own pages.

What's included:

• The live 75-minute workshop
• The video recording, so you can revisit it anytime
• The slide deck used during the session
• The companion worksheet, so you can run the stress tests on your own project as you watch
• The PDF of the screenplay for The Invite

--Max Timm

​The Story Farm​

Enrolling Now: the 45-Day Screenwriting Sprint

The next 45-Day Sprint will begin on October 5! A live screenwriting challenge to spur your creative mind, and help you develop a first draft in 45 days. I will host three separate live office hours during the week, too, to help with live support, and education.

$69 early-bird registration

(price goes up to $79 as of September 1).

Alumni receive 10% off - email max@thestoryfarm.org to request your coupon code.

Reminders:

​Check out The Story Farm Call Packages here (payment plans are available)

I have plenty of other ways to work with me, whether in a group or otherwise - www.thestoryfarm.org ​

• Live workshops (through November)
• The 45-Day Screenwriting Sprint (October)
• The Fall 12-Week Pro Screenwriting Lab (September 5 start)
• ​The Story Farm Circle community​

Not sure what's right for you? Just reply and tell me what interests you - I'll point you toward the best fit.

Have a fantastic weekend.
​

Max Timm / Story Farm

​www.thestoryfarm.org / Substack​

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