This CPD training is for those working in (or who want to work in) TV drama or film. And anyone looking to learn the mechanics of story structure and how apply it practically, especially in HETV drama.

The course is suitable if you:

• Work as a script editor, script reader, development assistant, trainee script editor, researcher, storyliner, story assistant, story supervisor
• Work with writers in other roles, such as agenting or as an exec
• You would like to move into script editing from theatre work or technical roles
• Your role requires you to spot future hits at the script stage, or you need the story-structure tools to develop more ambitious stories with larger, more complex teams
• Have an MA in TV, Film or Writing and would like to gain practical industry-level skills
• Need to be able to pinpoint problems in a script more quickly… and express your thoughts more effectively
• Would like to learn or sharpen your awareness of five-act story structure
• Are looking to understand storylining over a series or ways to work with larger scale stories
• Would like to feel more confident in giving notes to writers, including giving notes you’d rather not give
• Would like to develop new effective working habits
• Enjoy the discipline of deadlines and peer feedback
• Want to join a friendly and supportive small group of learners
• Can dedicate 5-7 hours per week for the duration of the course

This professional training allows you to:

• Acquire the key story skills script editors need, including understanding the blueprint underlying every successful story and crafting constructive notes for writers
• Master story structure, and use the principles of narrative to streamline your reading and diagnose and fix story problems
• Refresh your skills and understand decisions you’ve always made using instinct
• Gain a more specific narrative vocabulary for communicating with writers
• Distill your thoughts to produce clear headline notes and succinct billings
• Gain greater understanding of industry expectations and processes, with a focus on HETV drama
• Clearly identify and pursue your potential in script development
• Develop the professional skills script editors require (eg discipline, attention to detail, ability to work to deadlines)
• Increase your professionalism in working with others
• Practise giving effective feedback and receiving critical notes
• Network with others working in development, and with the tutor team and industry guests
• Build greater independence, autonomy and critical judgment as you self-direct, self-manage and realise your assignments and final project to the course briefs.

Each course is divided into sessions. These sessions are released one by one (weekly or fortnightly, depending on the course). 

There’s no need to log on at a set time. You can work through the learning materials whenever suits you, day or night, wherever you are in the world. Just complete the assignments and join forum discussions by the session deadline. 

Our teaching method is based on the science of active learning: you read/listen/watch, try out, share and reflect. It’s a social experience – you become part of a small group, feeding back on each other’s writing to build a supportive bunch of readers you trust. Find out more here.

Session 1: Introduction to Storytelling –We start by thinking about the grammar of storytelling and the essential elements every story needs. We’ll look at the script production process and the role of the script editor and other team members. We will ask you to make notes on a TX’d script and precis the protagonist’s journey through the first act.

Session 2: Basic Building Blocks – We build on the basic building blocks used in dramatic storytelling. By the end of the session you’ll understand what makes a good story – and what doesn’t. We’ll also look at the HETV market and audiences, and the specific opportunities and constraints the form presents. We will ask you to write a billing for an episode using the building blocks of story.

Session 3: Fixing Stories that Don’t Work – We look at how to tell if a story works – or how to ‘break a story’. You’ll learn the 10 key questions to ask every story and by the end of the session should be able to deconstruct any story and understand what needs to be done to fix any problems. You’ll apply those principles by giving headline notes on a live script.

Session 4: Mastering Structure – We break down a story into first three and then five acts and look at why the midpoint and turning points are such important elements in a script. We’ll introduce key ways to read a script and look at storylining across series. Practical exercises include breaking a script into five parts, giving notes on a deeply problematic script and identifying why it doesn’t work as a piece of TV drama.

Session 5: Giving and Receiving Notes –We look at ways of acting on notes – to make scripts better not just different. We’ll assess a script at scene level and think about the merits of seeing a story from the character’s perspective. We’ll look too at the script-editing process from the viewpoint of the writer and the wider team. You’ll compare a first-draft script with a TX’d version and ask whether the changes were successful, looking at ‘artistic’ best vs tone, focus and streamlining.

Session 6: Putting it All Together – In this recapping session, which lasts two weeks to allow you to work on a longer final assignment, John offers his top tips for checking whether a story is as good as it can be, to help you recap everything learned through the previous sessions. At the end of the session you will submit notes to self and a set of headline notes on an unscreened development pilot script, and receive a detailed one-to-one feedback report from your tutor.

Join our alumni

After your course, you can join our online alumni community where you’ll meet our growing network of past students. You’ll be able to.

• Rejoin your classmates in a private forum
• Continue to access an archived version of your course materials
• Meet alumni from other courses and share work for feedback
• Join discussions about screenwriting, script editing and the industry
• Attend live chats with guest writers and industry folk

Mentoring and one-to-one feedback

The John Yorke Story tutor team offer mentoring, script reads and reports. We are happy to quote by job or script, or to arrange a longer mentoring scheme as you work on a specific story idea. We’ll create a package to suit you, so for more information please email [email protected]

Taking things further

If you’d like to take another John Yorke Story course, we’ll give you a discount. Please get in touch for more details.

This course has been made possible by the support of ScreenSkills, and has been approved as part of an informal or formal continuing professional development (CPD) programme.

You may be eligible for a training bursary for this course. Apply direct to ScreenSkills here, at least FOUR WEEKS before the course start date.

As this counts as CPD training, you may also be able to get funding from your employer to do it. See here for all John Yorke Story’s latest bursary and funding opportunities.