12 Steps in The Write Direction

There are twelve units that each have:

• Self-Tasks that you must research and complete in your own time.
• Tasks that you must submit to your coach to make sure that you are on the right track – during this process, your coach is there to help you understand the material and solve problems.

Each course will be individually tailored for screenwriters or novelists.

• STEP ONE: Who Are You as a Storyteller? Before crafting your masterwork, start by understanding your identity as a writer. Begin with the fundamentals of storytelling and how inspiration shapes creativity. Then, take a deeper, reflective journey to uncover your personal strengths and challenges as a writer.
• STEP TWO: What Does It Take to Be Writer Find your home in the creative universe by exploring the mediums you’re capable of writing for and identifying which will best showcase your story.
• STEP THREE: Knowing What to Write Writing begins not with words, but with discovery. Before your pen touches the page, you must understand the heart of your story. A writer lives in pursuit—fuelled by inspiration, ignited by passion, and sharpened by curiosity. Research transforms raw talent into revelation, unearthing insights that elevate your narrative and open unexpected doors.
• STEP FOUR: Genre and Setting Break open your idea and examine its core. Choose your genre, shape your story’s identity, and map out its world—because setting is never just scenery. It’s an ecosystem that shapes plot, influences character, and breathes emotional truth into every scene.
• STEP FIVE: Thematic Purpose What pulse drives your plot? Beneath the surface lies a thematic thread—the quiet truth that gives your story purpose. Writing is not just construction; it’s excavation. A journey inward, to uncover what your story means and why it matters.
• STEP SIX: Premise, Concept, and Title Begin with a seed—a strong premise that anchors your story and sells its soul. The premise spotlights the central conflict, while the concept or logline captures motion: a character, in a place, doing something, and wanting something. It’s the heartbeat of your pitch. And don’t forget the title—it’s your story’s first impression and its silent promise.
• STEP SEVEN: Who Are You Writing About? Now step into the lives that shape your story. From heroes and anti-heroes to villains and functional allies—identify who they are, what they do, and why they matter. Explore the essence that makes each character unique: their function, their visual presence, their voice. Craft biographies that illuminate, dialogue that resonates, and research that roots them in truth.
• STEP EIGHT: Structure and Plot Now it’s time to shape the bones beneath your story. Explore how structure gives form to emotion—how characters move through turning points, how plot and subplots echo each other. Examine the architecture of scenes and transitions, and uncover 14 key structural signposts that guide your narrative from spark to resolution.
• STEP NINE: Story and Scene Outline Break the story open and examine its heartbeat. Deconstruct the narrative into events, actions, and turning points that shape your protagonist’s journey. Each moment builds character and deepens theme. Craft story and scene outlines that dramatise the external pulse and the internal rhythm—where action meets emotional truth.
• STEP TEN: Format as Form Once you’ve outlined your story, you’re ready to start writing the first draft of your story. Before you dive into writing, it’s crucial to understand the importance of properly formatting your draft.
• STEP ELEVEN: The First Breath of the Story You’ve shaped your world, your characters, and your structure. Now, begin. Write your first draft with purpose, knowing it’s the beginning, not the end. Trust that the story knows the way forward.
• STEP TWELVE: Taking Ownership of the Page As you complete your first draft, you become the proud guardian of your creation—words, images, characters, and dialogue that pulse with your vision. Now it’s time to take ownership. Learn how to protect your intellectual property, write a confident and professional top sheet, and position your screenplay for the market. Selling your story means selling yourself—with clarity, intention, and pride.

You’ll then write the first 10 pages of your story and submit it with a Top Sheet to your coach for evaluation before you continue writing your first draft.  Your coach will also be available for questions during the process of writing your draft and keep you updated with relevant features on the world of writing and filmmaking.

HOW DOES THE ONLINE COURSE WORK?

• Once we receive your registration form and deposit details you are ready to take the journey.
• You will have the choice of commencing at your own pace or work according to set deadlines.
• The course is done online, via email, offering a one-on-one interaction between yourself and your coach.
• There are 12 units (with sub-sections); each section consists of user-friendly and comprehensive notes that include self-tasks (which you complete at your own time), and a task.
• You will read through the notes which include self-activities (for you to complete in your own space and at your own pace) and tasks (for you to complete and forward via email).
• Once your coach has read through your task and there are no questions about the specific unit, you commence to the next step. 

COST

The cost of the correspondence course is R3500.00. This includes comprehensive notes on the 12 units, as well as one-on-one feedback and interactive correspondence and assistance during the course via email.   As of the most recent exchange rates, R3500.00 is approximately $195.12 in US Dollars, €169.75 in Euros, £147.00 in British Pounds, and $303.10 in Australian Dollars.

• These values are estimates and may vary slightly depending on the currency converter or bank rates used. Since exchange rates fluctuate daily, especially with economic shifts or market dynamics, it’s wise to consult a live converter or set up alerts if you’re budgeting for travel, transactions, or pricing international content.

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