Build Your Story Like a Pro
A four-week live, interactive workshop taught by Margaret South
Founder of All Girl Publishing, Writing Coach, and Co-Founder of All Girl Productions (Beaches)
June 12, 19, 26 & July 3, 2025
8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Pacific)
“When All Girl Productions acquired the rights to the book Beaches, it needed quite a bit of work and imagination to adapt it for the screen. Margaret worked with the writer to accomplish that, and successfully guided her to write the memorable screenplay it became.”
— Bonnie Bruckheimer, Producer, Beaches, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
If you want to be a writer, you need this class—period.
Whether you're writing a novel, a memoir, or a screenplay, story structure isn’t optional. It’s essential. Without it, even the most brilliant characters and beautiful prose will fall flat. If you've never taken this class before, do not miss it. And if you have taken it, come back for a powerful refresher—because no matter how long you’ve been writing, every draft begins with the basics.
Story is structure.
Love story, buddy comedy, thriller, sci-fi, horror—the framework is always the same. Once you understand how to lay down those structural beats, you’ll stop writing in circles. You’ll save yourself months—if not years—of rewriting and heartbreak. Why pour your soul into fifty fantastic pages that turn out to be backstory? Why keep asking why your middle sags or your ending doesn’t land?
This four-week class with master teacher Margaret South is your shortcut to clarity, confidence, and momentum.
Over four 90-minute sessions, you’ll learn the art and science of story structure. Margaret breaks it down in a way that’s accessible, energizing, and designed to move your writing forward—fast. Each week, she’ll focus on a foundational building block and guide you through writing prompts that help you apply what you've learned immediately.
You’ll come away with a solid outline, a clear sense of direction, and most importantly—a story that works.
Whether you’re starting something brand new or trying to fix a project that’s stalled out, this class is your reset button. It will change the way you write—and the way you think about story—forever.
Weekly Breakdown
Week One: Protagonist and Friends – Build a Cast that Matters
What makes a protagonist truly unforgettable? This week, Margaret breaks down the five essential traits every great hero needs—and how to craft a protagonist your reader or viewer will root for from page one. You’ll also learn how to build a supporting cast that’s not just filler, but fundamental to your story’s emotional arc. Allies, love interests, antagonists, foils—each character should sharpen the conflict and illuminate the theme. Whether your story is intimate or epic, you’ll leave this session with a dynamic, meaningful ensemble that brings your narrative to life.
Week Two: Story Structure – Your Secret Weapon
Structure isn’t the enemy of creativity—it’s what sets it free. This week is a game-changer. Margaret shares the timeless, battle-tested tools she’s used for more than thirty years to shape powerful, emotionally resonant stories. You’ll get a clear map of the major story beats—from Inciting Incident to Climax—and learn how they show up across genres. You’ll discover the rhythm behind all great storytelling and how to bend it, stretch it, or break it only when you truly understand it. Get ready to say goodbye to saggy middles and aimless drafts.
Week Three: Get It Going – The Power of a Strong Start
If you don’t hook them early, you might not hook them at all. In Week Three, we dive into the critical mechanics of Act I and the launch of Act II. You’ll learn how to start with urgency, set clear stakes, and introduce your protagonist’s world with precision and heart. Margaret will show you how to get to the action—without sacrificing depth—and how to set up the emotional journey your audience didn’t know they needed. You’ll leave with the tools to create a beginning that grabs attention and sets everything in motion.
Week Four: Downs and Ups – Delivering the Drama
This is where it all pays off. Act II B is where stories soar—or fall apart. This week, we explore how to build intensity, raise emotional stakes, and bring your story home with impact. From the devastating “Dark Night of the Soul” to the triumph (or tragedy) of the final Climax, you’ll learn how to deepen character arcs and deliver the satisfying payoff your audience craves. Margaret will help you stay on track, avoid common pitfalls, and craft an ending that lingers in the mind long after the final page.
What You’ll Gain:
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A deeper understanding of story structure and character development that will elevate everything you write.
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Weekly writing prompts to help you apply what you learn and keep your momentum strong.
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Feedback from Margaret, so you’re never working in a vacuum.
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A draft-in-progress or a rock-solid story foundation to carry forward with clarity and purpose.
If you’re ready to finally get your story out of your head and onto the page, join us—and start building your story like a pro.
Faculty
Margaret South founded All Girl Productions with Bette Midler and Bonnie Bruckheimer, and developed feature film projects for Disney, Fox and Tri-Star Studios, HBO, ABC, and NBC, including the beloved Beaches. Together with Ms. Midler, she wrote the screenplay A View from a Broad for Disney Studios.
Ms. South also created the innovative Kids Talk Story curriculum, provided in public schools. She has appeared at the Crossroads Writers' Conference, the Maui/Hawaii Writers’ Conference, the Women in Film Convention, as well as American Pen Women, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She has worked with writers for over three decades.
Registration fee: $197 for six hours of instruction
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Please note: Our classes are designed specifically for live participation, so your attendance is important. If you need to miss a class for any reason, you’ll receive a passcode-protected link to watch the recordings after the course is over.
A Peek at Our Past Virtual Classes
