Our second annual Writers Lab retreat took place in the Connecticut River Valley, from Thursday, September 22th, through Sunday, September 25th, 2016.
The night before, on Wednesday the 21st, The Writers Guild of America East generously hosted a celebration for the 8 mentors (below) and 12 writers. Early on Thursday morning, the group traveled together to the retreat.
The heart of the Lab is script development. Over the course of those cool, late-summer days, the participants collected in various configurations: one-on-one with the mentors; in panel discussions; in small groups; over cocktails; and throughout meals.
Each writer met with two mentors separately and listened, discussed, queried, and learned. The panels and small groups focused on a variety of topics, from crafting strong openings for films, to tips for pitching to producers.
In the private, serene environment away from day-to-day pressures and distractions, writers had the opportunity to take their work to the next level.