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
Whether you’re writing a novel, memoir, or screenplay, story structure is your friend. Love Story. Buddy Comedy. Science Fiction or Horror. The basic structure remains the same.
Now, through a four-week class with Margaret South, you’ll master the art (and science!) of story structure. This is your chance to get those beats in the right places. You’ll save yourself time—and a world of heartbreak. Why write fifty fantastic pages that turn out to be the backstory?
Over the four 90-minute sessions, Margaret will do a deep dive into the must-have elements of any story. Each session focuses on a key building block—paired with prompts designed to move your writing forward with purpose.
Whether you're starting from scratch or refining an idea, you'll leave with a strong foundation—or even the makings of a solid first draft.
Weekly Breakdown
Week One: Protagonist and Friends – Build a Cast that Matters
What makes a protagonist truly compelling? Margaret shares five essential traits every hero needs—and how to surround them with characters who deepen the story.
Week Two: Story Structure – Your Secret Weapon
Structure isn’t the enemy of creativity—it’s what sets it free. Learn the timeless tools Margaret has used for more than three decades to shape meaningful, page-turning narratives.
Week Three: Get It Going – The Power of a Strong Start
Act I introduces your world. Act II A kicks your hero into action. This week, we’ll explore how to launch your story with momentum, clarity, and emotional stakes.
Week Four: Downs and Ups – Delivering the Drama
From the Dark Night of the Soul to the final Climax, Act II B carries your story home. Discover how to create emotional resonance, drive conflict, and keep your reader hooked to the last image of your screenplay, novel, or memoir.
What You’ll Gain:
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A deeper understanding of story structure and character development.
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Weekly writing prompts to keep you focused and inspired.
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Personalized feedback from Margaret.
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A draft-in-progress or a rock-solid story foundation.
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
Story Summit + Annual subscribers receive a 20% discount. Just register below and it will be applied automatically. Please make sure you're logged in to receive the discount. Not a subscriber yet? Join here.
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
