01

Introduction
Meet Aaron. He's an Oscar winner, a TV hitmaker, and the writer of the some of the smartest
dramas ever to hit the screen. And now, he's your instructor.

02
Intention & Obstacle
Every great story is born from intentions and obstacles. Learn how to build the "drive shaft" that
will set your script in motion.

03
Story Ideas
How do you know if your idea is good enough to turn into a script? Aaron walks you through the
steps every writer should take to test an ideaand decide whether it will work best in TV or
film.

04
Developing Characters Part 1
Aaron shares some of the decisions he made to develop some of his most unforgettable
characterslike The Social Network's Mark Zuckerberg and The West Wing's Toby and Leo.

05
Developing Characters Part 2
Your characters don't have to be like youor even likeable. Drawing on examples from A Few
Good Men and Steve Jobs, Aaron explains why he always empathizes with his characters even if
he disagrees with them.

06
Research
Good research is the key to a great script. Bad research is a waste of time. How can you tell the
difference? Aaron shares lessons from Malice and The Social Network to help you gather the
information you really need.

07
Incorporating Research
You have pages of researchnow what? Avoid clunky exposition and learn how to seamlessly
weave research into your story.

08
The Audience
Aaron knows that the audience isn't just watching his work. They're participating in it, too. Learn
how to write stories that will keep them engaged and entertained.

09
Rules of Story
The rules of great drama aren't new. Here, Aaron explains how most of them were laid out more
than 2,000 years ago by Aristotle in his Poetics, and how to use those lessons to become a
diagnostician for your own story ideas.

10
Film Story Arc
Page numbers don't sound exciting, but they're a great tool for tracking the act-structure and
pacing of your story.

11
Writing Habits
Even Aaron gets writer's block. Learn how gets unstuck and what writing tools he uses to make
sure he's ready when inspiration strikes.

12
Group Workshop: Untitled by JJ Braider
While workshopping J.J.'s script, Aaron shares his tips on writing action scenes that move as fast
on the page as they will on the screen.

13

Group Workshop: E is for Edie by Jeanie Bergen

The offbeat characters in Jeanie's script are a hit with Aaron, who warns about the dangers of
getting feedback from close-minded studio execs. (Warning: explicit content).

14
Group Workshop: Chronic by Roland Zaleski
Discussing Roland's script, Aaron reveals a simple trick that writers can use to justify improbable
events in their stories.

15
Group Workshop: The Merc by Evelyn Yves
Evelyn's TV pilot kicks off a conversation about opening scenes and the importance of showing
your audience something they've never seen before.

16
Group Workshop: From Here to Alli by Corey Wright
After workshopping Corey's script and learning about his background, Aaron discusses the
importance of having confidence as a writer, and shares his own origin story, starting with his
days as a struggling New York actor.

17
Writing Scenes Part 1
A great story is more than just a collection of great scenes. Learn how to give your script
momentum from one beat to the next.

18
Writing Scenes Part 2
Your script only has one opening scene. Make it memorable by introducing your theme, grabbing
the audience, and setting up your characters' intentions and obstacles.

19
Scene Case Study: Steve Jobs

In a study of a scene from Steve Jobs, Aaron explains how high stakes, strong intentions &
obstacles, and competing tactics make for an exciting scene to write.

20
Scene Case Study: The West Wing
Aaron analyzes a classic scene from The West Wing: the scathing confrontation between
President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) and Governor Robert Ritchie (James Brolin).

21
Writing Captivating Dialogue
If you want to write Aaron Sorkin-worthy dialogue, learn from the master himself on how to
make music with your words and put them to the test by performing your own scenes out loud.

22
Dialogue Case Study: The West Wing
Aaron does a deep dive into the musical nuances of dialogue in the BartletRitchie scene.

23
Rewrites: First Draft
Rewrites aren't a sign of a bad script; they're a sign of a good writer. Hear how Aaron reworks
and strengthens his screenplays during the rewriting process.

24
Rewrites: Notes
Rewrites aren't a sign of a bad script; they're a sign of a good writer. Hear how Aaron reworks
and strengthens his screenplays with help from trusted advisors.

25
The West Wing Writers' Room Part 1
Aaron creates a virtual writers room to break part of the Season 5 premierean episode he's
never seen.

26

The West Wing Writers' Room Part 2

Aaron discusses what is needed in the teaser of the show and how to reverse engineer a plot.

27
The West Wing Writers' Room Part 3
Aaron and the students continue to work together to break episode 501 of The West Wing.

28
The West Wing Writers' Room Part 4
How can research drive the plot forward? Aaron and the students discuss the limitations of the
25th Amendment as a plot point.

29
The West Wing Writers' Room Part 5
Take Aaron's advice: When you have great characters, use them. Learn how to keep your
protagonists active.

30
The West Wing Writers' Room Part 6
Who's got a bad idea? Aaron and the students run through various plot ideas as the writers' room
continues.

31
The West Wing Writers' Room Part 7
As Aaron says, "You don't have to assault the audience with plot." The writers discuss the value
of pacingplus the limits of reality within fiction.

32
The West Wing Writers' Room Part 8
Aaron and the students wrap up the virtual writers' room and discuss lessons learned.

33
Group Workshop: Pitch Session
You've got a screenplaynow it's time to pitch. Learn what questions Hollywood's decision
makers will ask you during a pitch and how to effectively answer them.

34
Group Workshop: Aaron Pitches Mission to Mars
Aaron turns the tables on his writers and pitches them his idea for a brand-new TV series called
Mission to Mars.

35
Closing Thoughts
In the final lesson, Aaron offers his parting wisdom and leaves you with one more assignment
that will last the rest of your life.