As part of building this community, I'm updating the About page. Just curious which of these two vibes with the most people and would make you feel like, "Hell yeah, I need to sign up for that!" I was debating and debating, then I thought... I know a whole group of people with opinions! Let's hear it! Which would you prefer if you were landing on the About Page for the first time, and why? VERSION A: ✍️ The Writer’s Forge Stop forcing structure. Learn to create unforgettable characters that get noticed by agents and managers who can take your career to the next level. Most writers stay stuck because they’ve been taught structure-first. The beats look right… but the script feels dead. It’s missing a beating heart — characters that feel real, alive, primal as hell, and hit the reader on a gut level. The kind that make an industry reader flip back to the title page and think: “Who tf wrote this?” I’m J. David Stem (Shrek 2, Jimmy Neutron, Rugrats, Disenchanted). Studios hired me for 25 years to rebuild scripts from the inside out. Now I help writers do the same inside The Writer’s Forge. 🔥 Hot Seats — clear, honest feedback 🎯 Accountability — write with momentum 💬 Emotional Authorship — build characters reps care about If you’re serious about leveling up, get in here. $5/month for now — jumping to $50 soon. Let’s get to work. VERSION B: Stop writing in isolation and start thinking and acting like a professional. I’m J. David Stem, a $2.5B box office screenwriter and script doctor. Inside The Writer’s Forge, I teach serious writers to level up their craft with confidence — supported by a community that actually shows up and grows together. Get instant access to: 🔥 LIVE Story Hot Seats — real fixes, real clarity, coached by me 💪 Emotional Authorship — create characters actors actually want to play 🎯 Rewrite Rescue — diagnose what’s broken and fix it with professional precision 🎤 Pitching & The Business — insights from my former agent and working TV writers

Hey 👋🏾 Fellow writers ✍🏾 After speaking with @David Stem an idea of peer script swap was brought into play How it works: We swap scripts (w.e you're working on doesn't have to be fully finished) to get feedback from our peers on our writing process If you want to get more than one opinion feel free to do so If you're in say "I'm in" and we can start exchanging

Grab a cup and jump in. I want to hear what you're building, what's moving, and where you're stuck. I'll share what's coming next for the Forge, answer questions, and help you get traction on whatever you're writing. Quick, casual, useful. See you at 12:30.

I know it's been quiet this week, but there's a lot moving in the background and I'd love your input. I'm lining up guest writers to come in, talk shop, and answer your questions — including Phil Stark, screenwriter-turned-therapist and author of How to Be a Screenwriter. He wrote Dude, Where's My Car? and spent years on That 70s Show, so he'll have plenty to share. I want to start having guest writers and agents and such in regularly. How's Phil sound as one to kick it off? Also I dig deeper into how to run this community well, I've been exploring the Skool "Challenge" feature — and I think we might have something here. A December Challenge built around pages, word count, or scene output could be a great way to get momentum. But only if it's supportive, collaborative, and genuinely fun — not another source of pressure. We all put enough weight on ourselves already. So before I build anything, I want your take on this: Would a December writing challenge help you? If yes, what would make it feel motivating instead of stressful? Drop your thoughts below. I want to hear from you — and I want to shape this with you, not at you.

Decided to take a fresh look at my original concept this morning which has evolved into brainstorming session which is causing me to rethink some aspects of my original rough outline. I think this new approach will actually make for a better overall storytelling in the end . At least that’s what I am hoping