‘Writing a script is mostly a hell of a job, with the occasional glimpse of heaven.'
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An initial idea often feels immense, as though you can already see it unfolding like a film in your mind, even though it could easily fit on a beer mat.
That’s because countless thoughts, memories, and impressions are already resonating in your subconscious—the part of your mind where your experiences are stored and where inspiration first takes root.
Writing itself, however, is rarely a matter of waiting for inspiration to strike. More often, it’s the result of sustained effort: making choices, shaping structure, finding coherence, building suspense, meeting deadlines, and responding to feedback.
So how do you stay inspired? And, perhaps more importantly, how do you keep going when the work becomes difficult? It all comes back to the soul of your story—that spark that first made your heart beat faster.
What will you learn?
What is the soul of your story? Perhaps it’s something you want to understand about yourself, or something you secretly long to experience. Once we’ve uncovered that, you’ll choose a protagonist whose ambition, fear, and deepest desire create the greatest dramatic tension.
From there, you’ll develop your story into a compelling plot, write a logline, and create at least two supporting characters: a helper and an antagonist. Together, we’ll analyse a film through the lens of the creative intention behind it, explore genre and story structure, and continue shaping your own project throughout the week.
By the end of the course, you’ll leave with a clear story outline, whether or not it has yet been developed into a pitch document or synopsis.
Daily schedule
We will stay at the magnificent place: La Terra Saggia in Le Marche, Italy. We start the day with our daily yoga and meditation, which are optional. After breakfast mornings are dedicated to writing, reflection, and working on assignments at your own pace.
In the afternoons, we take the next step in developing your story. Each session begins with the heart of your story and unfolds in an interactive workshop setting. Much of the work takes the form of individual coaching sessions with the whole group present, allowing everyone to learn not only from their own process but also by observing the challenges, breakthroughs, and discoveries of others.
Who is this workshop for?
This course is designed for anyone with a good story idea who isn’t quite sure where—or how—to begin. Whether you’re developing a film, television series, column, short story, or novel, the course offers practical tools to help you get started, regardless of whether you’re an aspiring or experienced writer.
It is also particularly valuable for writers who feel that structure takes the joy out of writing, while recognising that a strong story ultimately depends on it.
Who facilitates the workshop?
After graduating from the Amsterdam Theatre School and working as an actress, Marjolein Beumer retrained as a writer. She has written screenplays, including Soof and De Storm; co-written television series such as Moes and Nieuwe Buren; written for the stage, including Zij is de baas and the musical Grond; published the novel Zonder Publiek (Meulenhoff, 2009); and wrote a regular column for Esta magazine for more than five years.
In recent years, Marjolein has increasingly focused on coaching emerging and established writers. Drawing on that experience, she has written a practical guide for aspiring screenwriters, to be published by The Theatre Bookshop in spring 2027.
