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The 7-Step Premise Development & Testing Process: How to Create, Build, and Test the Perfect Premise Line for any Story

At a Glance

  • In-person seminar on how to develop the perfect premise line for any story
  • Covers the essentials of premise development, log line development, and premise-idea testing as well as two essential structures necessary to tell any story
  • Come prepared to work on at least one of your premise ideas

A solid premise line is essential in writing effective agent or publisher query letters, pitching film production companies or studios, or for having that perfect elevator pitch ready for that unexpected meeting with whoever might be empowered to move your story forward to final publication or production. But, how do you know you really have a story? And how do you know your story will “work”?

The way you know is by learning the real meaning, purpose, and power of the premise line. The premise line is not just a “pitch tool,” it is your canary in the coalmine and when fully mastered can save you time, money, and literally years of writing frustration. In this hands-on course, participants will learn how to master the dynamic process of premise line creation, design and testing which are so critical for validating any story’s narrative integrity. Along with case studies from the movies and literature, participants will take original story ideas and then implement premise building and testing techniques to generate an original premise line, as well as developing a story’s log line.

Over the course of this 3-hour workshop, you’ll learn:

The 2 Essential Structures Needed to Tell Any Story 

  • The 7 components of the Invisible Structure
  • The 7 components of the Visible Structure
  • The real definition of “story premise”

The 7-Step Premise Development Process

  • How to determine if you really have a story
  • The anatomy of a premise line
  • Case studies from film and literature

Premise Typing: Know What Kind of Premise You Have

  • The soft-generic premise
  • The 7 components of every high-concept premise
  • What is a log line and why you need one
  • What is a tag line and why you need one

The 7-Step Premise & Idea Testing Method

  • Learn the Premise Testing Checklist
  • Test and validate your own premise idea

If you are ready to learn real tools that will lead to productive and profitable writing, then this workshop is for you. Sign up today!

Where:

The Writers Store
3510 West Magnolia Blvd
Burbank, CA 91505

What past students have said about Jeff Lyons’s workshops:

"Jeff Lyons's unique insights on the Enneagram and its impact on story structure is at once comprehensible and enlightening. Since making use of it, my characters have sprung to authentic life. All writers should give this a try." 
~Masha Hamilton - Award-winning Author of 31 Hours, The Camel Bookmobile; Journalist

"Jeff Lyons's mind-blowingly brilliant combo of the Enneagram and innovative story structure shakes things up and virtually reinvents the storytelling wheel. I'm hooked!"
~Caroline Leavitt - New York Times Bestselling Author of Pictures of You, Award-winning UCLA Novel Writing instructor, Book Critic

"Unlike most writing gurus, Jeff Lyons is actually a real writer. He not only 'gets' story at its deepest level, he can guide even a novice writer through the steps necessary to create a polished, commercial screenplay or novel. Hire him!" 
~Stephen David Brooks – Writer / Director Heads N TailZ

"Jeff Lyons has an impeccable grasp of story. Grounded in the fundamentals, with a deep understanding of what makes characters tick, Jeff is a superlative instructor, coach and mentor. Storygeeks is the best!" 
~Julie Gray – Founder 'Just Effing Entertain Me'

"Jeff Lyons's story development classes have been extremely helpful ... presented in a well-structured fashion." 
~Claudette Young – Ventura County Writers Club, Author

Product Details

  • Instructor: Jeff Lyons
  • Date available: 02/26/2013
  • Publication date: 04/04/2012
  • Return policy: This item is not eligible for return.

Return Policy

Your satisfaction is our top priority. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please return the item(s) for an exchange or refund within 30 days from the purchase date, unless otherwise noted on the product page.

Ship the item(s) to The Writers Store via a traceable and insured method. You will be responsible for return shipping fees.

Please include a completed Return Form with your shipment. Refunds take up to one week to process once we have received the item(s).

Software returns must be deactivated and uninstalled from your computer before a refund may be issued. Please contact the software manufacturer if you need assistance uninstalling or deactivating your software.

The following items are not returnable: Hollywood Creative Directories, DVDs (opened), and Gift Certificates.

Meet the Instructor: Jeff Lyons

Jeff Lyons has more than 25 years' experience in the entertainment and publishing industries and is a working screenwriter and author. He is a regular guest lecturer at the UCLA Extension Writers Program, as well as a webinar instructor for The Writers Store and Writer's Digest University. Jeff is the founder of Storygeeks, a professional services company offering story consulting, training and editorial services to screenwriters, novelists and nonfiction authors. His film Billy Miske is currently in pre-production in the U.K. through M4West Pictures Ltd. More information can be found on his website, www.storygeeks.com. Follow @storygeeks on Twitter a...