Writing Your Holiday Screenplay
January 22, 29. February 5 & 12, 2025
8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific)
Click above to play the video!
Join award-winning screenwriter and bestselling author Karen Schaler for this transformative four-session course, designed to guide you from idea to script. Karen, known as “Christmas Karen” for her beloved holiday movies like A Christmas Prince and Christmas Camp, will share her insider tips and proven methods to craft a festive screenplay that captivates audiences and leaves producers wanting more.
Whether you’re a first-time screenwriter or looking to polish your craft, this course provides the essential tools to build a strong foundation. And if you’ve taken our Holiday Extravaganza class, this is the perfect follow-up, with detailed instruction to help you structure your screenplay from start to finish.
What will you learn?
This interactive class will unlock the secrets to writing a holiday screenplay that sells. You’ll learn...
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How to brainstorm ideas with a holiday twist and turn them into compelling loglines.
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The art of crafting dynamic characters that audiences will love.
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Proven techniques for structuring your story to create maximum impact.
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The secrets to writing irresistible first pages that hook readers instantly.
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How to design action lines that drive the story forward and showcase your unique voice.
The class will set you up for success by clarifying your idea first, then focusing on how to get your story on the page. “I always say 95% of writing the script is this set-up,” Karen says. “Writing the story is easy once you’ve done this work ahead of time.”
Here’s how the class will unfold.
Class 1: Crafting the Heart of Your Christmas Movie
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Title: From Spark to Sleigh Ride: Finding Your Story
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Discover Your Idea: Brainstorm "what if" scenarios with a Christmas twist. Focus on universal themes like love, hope, and family.
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Craft Your Logline: Create a one-sentence hook that captures your protagonist, their goal, and the conflict.
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Write a One-Sheet: Develop a concise pitch including your logline, synopsis, main characters, and target audience.
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Define Your Message: Clarify the core takeaway you want viewers to feel.
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Q&A and Assignment: Craft your logline and one-sheet.
Class 2: Designing Dynamic Characters
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Title: Holiday Heroes & Humbugs: Building Believable Characters
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Choose Your Protagonist: Define their flaw, goal, and Christmas connection.
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Develop Supporting Characters: Build a mix of allies, rivals, and quirky personalities.
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Map Character Arcs: Show how your characters transform over the course of the story.
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Create Constant Conflict: Ensure every character’s goals clash to fuel the narrative.
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Q&A and Assignment: Outline your protagonist and supporting characters, complete with arcs.
Class 3: Structuring the Snow Globe
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Title: Plotting Your Christmas Magic: Structure & Style
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TV Movie vs. Feature Format: Understand differences in structure and pacing.
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Scene Pacing & Action Lines: Learn to write concise, impactful action lines.
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Act Breakdown:
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First Act: Introduce protagonist, world, and inciting incident.
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Second Act: Build tension with obstacles and holiday magic.
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Third Act: Resolve with an emotional payoff.
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Q&A and Assignment: Draft an outline of your story structure.
Class 4: Opening Your Holiday Hook
Title: Grab the Garland: Writing the First 10 Pages
Start with a Bang: Open with a memorable visual or moment.
Set Up the Conflict: Introduce your protagonist’s flaw or struggle.
Introduce the Christmas Spirit: Establish the holiday theme early on.
End with a Hook: Leave the reader wanting more.
Q&A and Assignment: Write your first 3-10 pages and share highlights.
Don’t miss this chance to learn from Christmas Karen as you bring your holiday screenplay to life! Register now and start your journey to writing a holiday classic.
Please note: This course is designed to bring your Christmas writing dreams to life in a creative and collaborative environment. While stories and ideas shared in class will remain confidential, it’s important to understand that ideas themselves cannot be copyrighted—that’s the law. By signing up, you acknowledge that concepts and themes, especially in the Christmas genre, are often naturally similar. As a result, there may be overlap with projects developed by other students, faculty like Karen, or guest speakers. No legal claims can be made regarding shared ideas or inspiration.
Our Faculty
Emmy Award-winning writer for Netflix, Hallmark, and Lifetime Christmas movies, including A Christmas Prince, and author of bestselling holiday novels.
Today's Price Only $249
for 8 hours of instruction and celebration
Story Summit + Annual subscribers receive a 20% discount coupon available in their dashboard. 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
