The essential element to your success as a "writer for hire" or making a living as a writer, is being able to tell a great story! Not only tell a great story, understanding that story has to be translated into production form. If you admire the tree, realize the story is the roots, it's what holds up your career, without this skill set, you won't be able to make a career out of this. Once you understand and continue to develop your story-writing skills, you will not only garner an audience, but you will be in demand to write and consult on a variety of projects. Although the basis of this course is theatrical, these principles can be used for screen plays, literature, articles and any written form. This course will be a spring board or a refresher for novices-veterans alike,its important that producers educated themselves as well. This course will help you be able to organize your writing process which is critical when being hired and contracted to write!
Your Instructor
If at first you don’t succeed, give up. Right? Wrong! When founder,visionary and playwright Vanessa Lynn shared her first script for a play in 1995 with her mentor, she found everything but encouraging words.Crushed by criticism, she continued to pursue her career in corporate America with a Fortune 500 company. Even though she fell in love with theater at a very young age after witnessing Broadway hits such as“Annie” and “The Wiz,” she tried her best to ease her yearning for the pursuit of a career in theater.
In 2004, unforeseen tragedy struck her life and things began to take a downward spiral, both personally and financially. When her world came crumbling down, she found herself without a home, without a business and she even lost the desire to live. While many would have given up and complained, it was only after a layoff from her corporate job that she revisited the untitled play she had written in 1995.
No longer having the script and only her memory to go by, Lynn typed non-stop for two days to complete the rough draft of what has today become known as the famous stage play, “Unequally Yoked.”
After suffering through many trials,setbacks, careless mistakes, lack of funds and lack of transportation, “Unequally Yoked” opened in August of 2006 at the Dearborn Ford Performing Arts Center to a sold-out house. Since then, Vanessa has remained steadfast on accomplishing her childhood theatrical dreams and has obtained unimaginable successes.
Since “Unequally Yoked,” which is now a national bestselling DVD (garnering a Top 20 Amazon African American Cinema spot for over a year), there have been several ground- breaking shows she has birthed, including: “Affairs,” a murder mystery set in the south that was ultimately labeled a “game changer” for including elements such as police work and forensics; “Deranged,” a comedy suspense thriller about a nanny with ulterior motives that was performed in Toronto, Canada; and Angela Barrow-Dunlap’s “Church Girl,”(contributing writer) the hit national touring stage play now seen on BET. “Boss Lady,” the life-changing powerful saga, has the country buzzing and was released nationally on DVD in 2013 and recently Angela Barrow-Dunlap's "When Men Pray" (contributing writer), "Soul Custody" and many more.
Vanessa has also produced several short films and has several projects in development, including: "The Trial of Marcus Garvey," "Unequally Yoked Part II, The Awakening."
Lynn has had the honored experience to work with celebrities such as Robin Givens, Angela Winbush, Ginuwine, Keith Washington, Carl Payne, Karen Clark-Sheard, Kel Mitchell, Demetria McKinney, Tony Terry and Tony Grant to name a few.
Her debut book, Beyond the Chitlin’ Circuit: The Ultimate Urban Playwright’s Guide,is the first book of its kind and speaks to the myths, the challenges and the successes of the urban and independent playwright industry. Lynn's sophomore book "Girl, Get Your Date Life Right" speaks to the challenges of dating over 35.
Lynn currently serves as the CEO of Parables Entertainment, a comprehensive professional writing and consulting firm. Lynn is also the founder and CEO of Urban Playwrights United (UPU), where she helps playwrights nationwide perfect their craft and gain worldwide exposure for their works and the owner of The Crystal Room, all occasion hall.
Picking up beauty from the ashes, which she was given, Lynn continues to serve as a public speaker, script and content writer, mentor and theater consultant.
Course Curriculum
Frequently Asked Questions
Vanessa Lynn has been teaching and developing writers and producers for the past seven years. Hundreds of playwrights have benefited directly from her vast knowledge of the industry and her willingness and openness to share not only the ups, but the downs and direct information needed to take your career into overdrive. Through her book ",,The Ultimate Urban Playwrights Guide" and annual Urban Playwrights United Conference, countless lives have been changed, collaborations created and distribution of nearly ten independent DVD's world wide in major outlets such as Walmart, Redbox etc. These courses apply to any writer or producer in any genre or branch of entertainment. An invaluable career investment!
"...The Ultimate Urban Playwrights Guide" provides anyone who is serious about the business of theater and production with a blueprint on how to succeed. It is a candid view of the industry-it's triumphs and challenges from someone who have 'been there and done that!'
J. Hill, Austin, Texas