The workshop is a peer-to-peer network of screenwriters and actors that meets in downtown Northampton to workshop original screenplays and further our knowledge of the industry.

Our goals:

• Foster a community for screenwriters in the Pioneer Valley
• Maintain a discipline of daily writing
• Create a safe atmosphere where writers can receive constructive feedback
• Network with writers, actors and other industry professionals
• Provide a forum for brainstorming during periods of block
• Develop relationships with actors, so we can hear our words as read by professionals

For a list of our contributing members, their bios, contact information and scripts they have available, go here.

Becoming a member of the Workshop is simple, as is maintaining membership.

There are three policies that the writers within the group are expected to observe:

• Payment of dues
  Dues are currently $30 annually, to cover the cost of web hosting, domain registration, and some shared group memberships to various screenwriting services.


• Workshop *something* once a year
  All writers are required to workshop at least one item per membership year. This can be twenty pages during one of the 20-page workshops or a full feature slot. We want to be sure the writers in our group are serious about writing.


• Be a relevant contributor
  The ultimate aim of the group is to provide feedback via a forum of discussion. It is easy for discussions to be de-railed by off-topic tangents. We ask that members keep their comments on-topic.

If a writer fails to meet any of the above requirements, his/her membership could be subject to review.

The only rule we ask of our actors is that they honor any commitments they make to read.

We meet every other Monday. Meetings begin at 6:30pm and end around 10pm. We try to stay until the end, as the "discussion" portion of the meetings is the real meat - and where the featured writers get the most value.

We meet either in "the library" (back room) at Packard's or in the community room at the Media Education Foundation (MEF).

The writer workshopping his/her piece provides light snacks and beverages. Some actors bring their dinner to group when we meet at MEF. If we meet at Packard's, they have a full menu.

Every other Monday, we have in-progress workshops for three pre-determined writers (more on that below).

The next time we meet, we workshop a full screenplay by a single author.

Every three months we try to have an industry workshop, varying in topic from pitch practice to query critiques to shared resources.

At the beginning of each meeting, we have brief introductions of new faces, and make selections as to which writers will be featured for upcoming meetings not previously assigned.

Three writers bring 20 pages of the script they are working on. One writer's sample is read aloud and discussed, then the next, then the next.

We strongly encourage bringing twenty pages of script (it gives others a tangible something to reference), but if a writer is researching / conceptualizing, they can bring other materials (detailed outline, treatment, etc) and have a verbal brainstorm.

The precise structure of this meeting can change according to the the featured writer's needs at the moment.

Our most typical structure takes place in four parts:

1) Featured Writer's Comments / Requests

At the start of group, the featured writer says a few words--whatever they feel is necessary. If they feel a preface is necessary to the piece, here's the time to say that.

This part of the meeting provides a good moment for writers to identify both their needs and their sensitive areas--to prevent comments of a certain nature from "making them deaf" to everything said.

2) Designation of Moderator

Many authors prefer to lead the discussion him/herself, or have a more open forum where individual reactions give rise to whatever debate happens.

If the featured writer wants to designate someone to lead discussion after the reading of his/her piece, now is the time to do it. Certain authors are sure to identify with others in the group, to appreciate a certain person's "style" of moderating a discussion.

3) Reading of the Piece

There are no reading assignments before or after a group; all materials being discussed are read aloud in group.

We believe that reading the piece in group rather than having assigned reading is the way to go for 3 reasons:

• It has the subject matter fresh in the minds of the group, and oftentimes gutteral responses are very useful.
• People are unlikely to do assigned homework; coming to group for 3-4 hours a week is commitment enough.
• Hearing the words out of someone else's mouth can help the writer step back and listen.

There will be a "bio break" mid-way through the piece, for water / bathroom / cigarette etc, to avoid constant traffic during the reading.

4) Discussion

As outlined above, this can be structured or free-flow, moderated as the featured author desires.

In the event that the author opts for an unstructured discussion, and discussion is slow to pickup, we can revert to these questions to incite conversation:

• Go around the circle and state what the piece is about
• State what you *like* about the piece
• Discuss elements that did not work
• What/who is the protagonist of the piece? The antagonist?
• What is the author driving at? (thematics)
• What role does structure play?

Note: If you have ideas on how our structure can be improved, please let us know. We would love to hear your ideas.

If you've read through the above and are interested in finding out more about the group, you have two options:

1) Join Now

If the above is enough for you to know this is a great fit, you can go ahead and join now. To start that process, go here.

- OR -

2) Attend a Meeting

Feel free to come to a meeting and watch/participate, to get a sense of what we're all about. To see details for our next meeting, go to our group calendar. You needn't RSVP; just show up! We'd love to have you.