From Start To Finish
Moving Your Writing Forward with Weekly Feedback, Accountability, and Connection
June 16, July 7, and September 8, 2025
8 to 10 p.m. Eastern (5 to 7 p.m. Pacific)
With travel, work, family and friends, where, oh where, will your writing fit into it all?
Oh, yeah. That.
Summer is the ideal time to build momentum on all the writing progress you’ve made over the past few months, start a book or screenplay from the very beginning, or bring a project to completion.
But it won’t happen unless you make the time and follow through.
And that’s where our From Start to Finish Program comes in.
Over a twelve-week period, you'll meet three times with David Kirkpatrick, founder of Story Summit, AND every week with your new small group.
Embark on a Transformative Writing Journey with From Start to Finish
From Start to Finish is a focused twelve-week writing workshop designed to help you make measurable progress on your creative project. No matter what you're writing, this workshop offers structure, support, and accountability to move you forward—step by step.
3 LIVE Mentorship Sessions
Led by David Kirkpatrick, these full-group sessions will offer key insights on writing and storytelling craft. David brings decades of experience to the table, helping you navigate creative blocks in any format, clarify your narrative goals, and chart a meaningful path forward.
12 LIVE Small Group Meetings
Each week, you'll meet with a group of four fellow writers working in your same platform or genre. These small group sessions provide a trusted space to share pages, receive feedback, and hold each other accountable—week by week.
Constructive Peer Feedback
Each small group is designed to offer honest, focused, and thoughtful critiques. These ongoing conversations are vital to deepening your craft and sharpening your storytelling instincts.
Built-In Accountability
Our structured weekly check-ins and goal-setting process keep you committed to your work. Whether you're drafting or revising, this is about steady, consistent momentum.
A Community that Grows With You
You'll be part of a vibrant network of writers who understand the ups and downs of the creative process. These relationships often extend far beyond the workshop.
A Visit from David
David will check in with each small group during the 12-week sessions to provide guidance and input to each of the participants.
Here’s how the program will unfold.
David Kirkpatrick, former president of Paramount Pictures and former production chief of Walt Disney Studios, will facilitate the 12-week program and meet with all participants June 16, July 7, and September 8. During those three sessions, he'll walk you through the benefits and protocols of small groups.
June 16: Join David as he starts the workshop with strategies for setting up and adhering to a writing plan. Explore various methods like word count goals and reward systems, including the simple yet effective technique of placing a sticker on the calendar for each day you write.
Following the "Sorting Hat" process (read more about this below), you'll be grouped with four other participants and spend a half hour with your new small group. During this initial gathering, you'll exchange contact details and decide on a meeting time and day for your first group session.
David will conclude by offering expert advice on achieving a state of flow in your writing routine. He will provide practical suggestions for maintaining a balanced lifestyle, introducing the concept of a "Satellite of Flow." This approach involves incorporating a variety of activities, specifically those that bring you joy, into your daily life. Emphasizing the importance of mental well-being, David will guide you on how to integrate these practices effectively.
July 7: In this crucial second session, David will offer ways to measure your progress and maintain momentum, even when challenges arise. Selected participants will get a chance to read from their current projects and share their challenges and achievements. This is an important reminder that, while writing is often a solitary process, you're not alone when you have a community of like-minded writers. Additionally, David will share wisdom from literary giants like Charles Dickens and Maya Angelou, providing insights into how they crafted their masterworks.
September 8: As our workshop concludes, David Kirkpatrick will focus on a pivotal question for writers: "What's next?" Tailored for those nearing the completion of their screenplay or book, this session delves into navigating the literary and entertainment industries. Learn how to effectively connect with agents and managers in both fields, regardless of your location.
The session will cover the essentials of making your work appealing, mastering the art of pitching, and networking effectively in a digital world. Gain an understanding of what agents and managers seek in new works, whether it’s a screenplay or a book, preparing you for a successful transition from project completion to market entry.
We’re going to hold you—and each other—accountable.
The small group phenomenon has power and impact. This is a safe place for you. It’s all about accountability, community, and healthy process. You’ll meet every week for twelve weeks at a time and day of the week decided by your group.
This is what some of our past participants had to say about their small group experience:
"There is so much wisdom at Story Summit, but I found it came gushing to me in torrents during the small group meetings. I was so grateful to have such talented and experienced writers in my group. They helped me to spot my weaknesses, gave me feedback on my writing, and allowed me to meet my goals more quickly. They were inspirational, shared their experiences on the creative challenges of writing a novel, and even on the practical challenges that come with a book, such as working with publishers, editors, and marketing. When the sessions ended, we could continue to count on one another. So grateful to my small group."
— Nikhil Hutheesing, journalist, 17-year veteran of Forbes
"Writing is a lonely endeavor. Being able to share this extremely personal art form while in the act of creating is a blessing. While all of us are at different stages of our projects, I have had the wonderful experience of finishing my book and moving into the publishing process while meeting with my extraordinary group members. I cannot recommend small groups enough. It serves as a light in the solitary week of writing for you to look forward to."
— Jocelyn Jones, acting coach, author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Artist
Courtesy of Warner Bros. © Warner Bros.
Finding Your Perfect Match with "The Sorting Hat"
Step 1: Getting to Know You
Upon registration, we'll ask you to complete a brief questionnaire (click to preview). This is where you'll share the details of the writing project you plan to bring to your small group. Whether it's a screenplay, novel, memoir, or even a Christmas movie (a unique genre in its own right), we want to know!
Step 2: Tailored Group Formation
Once we receive your responses, our program director, Rodrigo Lumbi, and David Kirkpatrick, will employ "The Sorting Hat" approach to carefully assemble your small group. We consider factors like your project type, time zone preferences, and ideal meeting times to ensure you're matched with the most compatible group of writers.
Step 3: Scheduling Your Sessions
Groups are encouraged to meet weekly for 12 weeks. The exact day and time of these meetings will be decided collectively within the group. Note: One group member will need a Zoom account subscription to host these virtual sessions.
Flexibility and Confidentiality
Reassignment Option: If you find that your initial group isn't the right fit, we're flexible. Let us know, and we'll reassign you to a more suitable group.
Virtuous Circle Pledge: A few weeks into your meetings, we'll introduce the Virtuous Circle Pledge (click to preview). By registering, you are signing this pledge, which signifies your commitment to maintaining the confidentiality of your group's discussions.
Proven Success
Our matching process has a history of creating lasting connections. In fact, our very first groups (they call themselves "the Unos" and "Group 16") are still actively meeting more than three years beyond the program's conclusion. That's the power of the right match!
Learn and Be Guided By the Best
Your lead facilitator is Story Summit Founder David Kirkpatrick. Over his storied career as president of Paramount Pictures and production chief of Walt Disney Studios, David has been no stranger to schedules and deadlines. There was a time at Disney when he managed a new movie into theatres every nine days.
During his studio days, David guided thousands of writers, all of whom had to keep to a plan and a delivery date—otherwise there would have been nothing to shoot when cameras rolled.
When you’re working with David as a facilitator, you will be the beneficiary of a wide range of sage advice encased in some funny and harrowing stories.
Academy Award winners Sally Field and Kevin Klein confer with David Kirkpatrick on dialogue changes on the set of Paramount's comedy Soapdish.
"David shows us how storytelling is at the very root of what makes us uniquely human. The importance of instilling meaning in tomorrow’s stories is at the heart of David’s mission. He inspires us all.
—Frank Moss, Director, MIT Media Lab
What people are saying about previous workshops
"I love having a supportive group of people who understand and relate to the creative writing process and life. I feel like a working writer now." —Mary
"In my many years as a writer, this is the first time I've been part of a 'writing community," and I absolutely love it. Never want to be without a writing community ever again!" —Jennifer
"The connection with a small group was groundbreaking for me. But I REALLY loved the opportunity to bask in David Kirkpatrick's amazing story energy—someone who (like my grandson) holds Walt Disney as his spiritual mentor!" —Maryn
Today's Price: Only $227 for 6 hours of instruction and 12 small group sessions that could be anywhere from 12 to 24 hours!
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 per request to watch the recordings after the course is over.
The small group sessions in this workshop are student led. This is a great way to have a first experience with a small group, and it's $773 less expensive than the Story Summit mentor-led small group program.
Frequently Asked Questions
