Where serious screenwriters grow and develop their projects - together.
Surround yourself with others who are as passionate and determined as you.
Everyone tells you that writing is lonely, right?
Here is something I learned over the years:
That’s a choice.
Writing doesn’t have to be lonely at all.
Sure, there’s a point where it’s just you and the blank page, but being alone and lonely aren’t the same.
There are other talented people who know what you’re going through. They understand the trials of such an ambitious pursuit.
They understand the frustration of story problems that seemingly can’t be solved and the joy of actually solving them. Sometimes in a way better than you ever imagined.
They understand that screenwriting is mostly, "no," but one single "yes" is all it takes.
Screenwriting is challenging through every phase. It’s challenging when you first decide to pursue it. It’s challenging after your first option, your first sale, and your first production.
But it’s a lot easier with like-minded people supporting you and rooting for you every step of the way.
If you're serious about your screenwriting, Story and Plot Pro is the place for you.
Surround yourself with others who are as passionate and determined as you.
Everyone tells you that writing is lonely, right?
Here is something I learned over the years:
That’s a choice.
Writing doesn’t have to be lonely at all.
Sure, there’s a point where it’s just you and the blank page, but being alone and lonely aren’t the same.
There are other talented people who know what you’re going through. They understand the trials of such an ambitious pursuit.
They understand the frustration of story problems that seemingly can’t be solved and the joy of actually solving them. Sometimes in a way better than you ever imagined.
They understand that screenwriting is mostly, "no," but one single "yes" is all it takes.
Screenwriting is challenging through every phase. It’s challenging when you first decide to pursue it. It’s challenging after your first option, your first sale, and your first production.
But it’s a lot easier with like-minded people supporting you and rooting for you every step of the way.
If you're serious about your screenwriting, Story and Plot Pro is the place for you.
Why Community?
LEARN FROM EACH OTHER
In a community, you don’t just learn from one teacher. You learn from each other. This is most obvious when one member’s project faces obstacles, and everyone learns from the solutions. But it also includes the life experiences unique to each of us. Each person has different strengths and points of view for you to draw upon. While each member will have their own goals, we all share the goal of getting better.
ENCOURAGEMENT
A screenwriting career is a marathon. It’s ups and downs. Whether you call it resistance, or The Dip, there will be moments when forward momentum feels like a slog. When that happens, wouldn’t it be nice to have some people on your team? People who have been there, know how you’re feeling and want you to succeed? Maybe even some friendly competition reminding you that if they can do it, you can do it, too.
ACCOUNTABILITY
As William Goldman said, “The easiest thing to do on earth is not write.” We all know the drill. That bathroom isn’t going to clean itself, right? Sitting alone, we can find a hundred reasons not to push ahead. But we know that making commitments to others increases our chances of achieving our goals. In Story and Plot Pro, you’re not just counting on your fellow members. They’re counting on you.
Learn from a PRO
I’m Tom Vaughan. I've written screenplays professionally for 27 years and taught the subject for nearly as long.
Story and Plot Pro is the focus of my teaching these days.
My goal is to help you achieve your screenwriting ambitions. And this membership is designed from the ground up to help you do that.
Story and Plot Pro is for the most devoted of screenwriters.
The backbone of the membership is the eight formally scheduled classes every quarter. These aren’t just the normal curriculum of screenwriting fundamentals either. Those are important, and it’s why MASTERING STRUCTURE and IDEA TO OUTLINE are required, but…
This membership is about developing professional-level material to sell or produce.
It’s about creating the screenplay you always wanted to write, the one that jumpstarts your career.
What would the opportunity mean to you to develop a new screenplay with someone who has done it professionally for 27 years?
We won’t be just developing your project. You'll follow my progress as I develop mine, too. I’ll be sharing my current work every step of the way, right alongside yours and everyone else’s.
While the eight classes are front and center, the membership and everything surrounding it might be an even better value. The membership is where l share every new thing I learn and encounter in this business, and we encourage every member to do the same.
I am active on the boards daily, answering questions and pushing you forward every step of the way.
There are weekly events, guest interviews, and script readings. Even virtual events that are designed solely for camaraderie. All while the entire membership curates the best free resources out there to share with the group.
Best of all, we will be doing all of this together.
Find your screenwriting superpower faster. Become a member.
Why not just teach another screenwriting class?
To be honest, I wanted something more.
I have been teaching primarily introductory classes for the last few years, including my current courses at The University of Houston. I still love seeing light bulbs go off with these core concepts, but for my private training, I wanted something deeper.
I want to help writers develop material. I want the relationships and creative energy I had experienced twice before, once as a teacher and another as a student.
SWAMP AT 3400 MAIN STREET - HOUSTON
These were the original Story and Plot weekly classes. Eight of us met every Monday night, and we developed some fantastic material. It was a generous, creative group. We laughed hard, and we learned. I learned how to teach, and they learned how to write screenplays, and I certainly got better as a writer, too.
Fifteen years later, we still talk, grab drinks, and watch each other’s kids grow up. It remains a favorite chapter in my creative life.
IMPROV BOOT CAMP - LOS ANGELES
Improv was my creative community in Los Angeles. Boot Camp was four times a week from noon-2pm. I was among 24 revolving students with some of the best coaches and teachers I’ve ever worked with. We did terrific work, I learned a new craft, and I made friends that I still have today.
There is something unique about learning a creative endeavor in the safety and support of a group. This is especially true when learning a craft that's all about emotion. Within this collaborative learning, individuals tap into a wealth of resources, experiences, and support.
These weren’t just classes. They were communities. And this is what I want from Story and Plot Pro.
A thriving community, a collective journey, and a hands-on masterclass in the art and craft of screenwriting.
How It Works.
Eight Live Classes Every Quarter
The backbone of Story and Plot Pro and where the quarterly price point comes from.
Each class covers topics relevant to the membership. We examine structure, character, and improving the read. We break down films relevant to the projects we’re working on and host professional guests with open Q&As.
The price of the entire membership is how much I charged for my sold-out eight-week sessions in Los Angeles, meaning just these classes are worth the price of membership alone.
The Membership
This is not social media. We don't want it to be. The membership is your sanctuary from all that. It is your creative tribe that shares the same vocabulary and values story as you do.
Think of it as a specialized writers’ group, strategically led by a professional screenwriter and educator.
We exchange ideas, punch-ups, and simple, honest feedback. Whatever your project, we’ll be there supporting you, cheering for you, and keeping you on track
With Story and Plot Pro, you’re not just writing, you're growing. We all are.
Develop Projects From The Beginning
You can jump in and focus on a rewrite, but the soup-to-nuts approach may be the best way to leverage Story and Plot Pro.
It took me 20 years before I started to collaborate with my agents and managers before I wrote a screenplay. You don't need representation for this, though. You just need trusted allies. And that's what Story and Plot Pro is all about.
Bring in multiple story ideas, and we will narrow down the best ones based on your current goals. Want to sell it? Want to make it yourself? Want a calling card script? We'll figure out the best projects, whatever your answer.
Then, using the steps we learned in Mastering Structure and Idea To Outline, we'll go all-in and build from the ground up.
Break Your Structure With A Pro
How big of a difference do you think it would make to break your story structure with a professional screenwriter of 27 years? This isn’t just advice, either. This is sitting in the writer’s room with one of the best structure people out there and mapping out the cinematic story you always wanted to tell.
These kinds of opportunities don’t come along often. Not only will you get to do this yourself, but you’ll also watch others break their stories. Through each of these reps, you'll absorb a most invaluable skill that will last the rest of your career.
Notes Down To Every Word
Your mentorship doesn’t stop with story structure.
Your support includes how to generate great scenes and sequences, and perhaps one of the most important but poorly understood skills of all…
How to make your screenplay a “good read.”
We'll take any ten pages of your screenplay and comb through each sentence and every word to teach you to improve the readability of your script. You'll make your writing clearer, more visual, and more emotional.
When the reader is finished, they will not have read a script.
They will have watched a movie.
We Love Film And TV
It's why we got into this, right? We're storytellers. and in the Pro membership, that's how we watch and discuss movies and shows: as storytellers.
We reverse engineer structures, genres, and character transformations from the movies relevant to the projects we're working on. Whether you're writing comedy, action, horror, or a character-focused drama, here is where we learn how to use the genius and failures of others to influence our own work.
Sometimes, we're a scientific lab as much as a creative collective.
And so Much More
Story and Plot Pro is your knowledge hub on the internet curated just for you. How? Because we know what you're working on. As I add every new thing I learn into the membership, so does everyone else. This is the hive mind working every day. You'll also get the following:
- Bi-weekly events, like office hours and professional guests.
- Private meetings with me on career strategy and next steps.
- Marketing help
- Discounts on all additional services.
- Screenwriting software discounts.
- Curated screenplay library and discussions
- A determined and continuous experimentation of what adds value and what doesn't...
Our Goal: Quality Over Quantity
Story and Plot Pro is designed to be small. Unlike many other screenwriting "communities," growth and size are not the point here. In fact, it undermines the point. With a high barrier of entry and strict admission, we ensure that each member shares our values of story and emotion first, as well as the power of encouragement and positive energy.
This small number also allows for more individual attention and tighter bonds. Let other places focus on scaling their business. We've got something else in mind.
Sometimes, the shortest way there is the scenic route.
Let's Review
GROUP LEARNING
ENCOURAGMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY
BUILT TO BE SMALL
Two class days. Your pick.
This quarter we will offer both a Tuesday class and a Saturday class. No matter which class you sign up for, you will all be a part of the same online community, and you can make up for any class you miss on another day.
Story and Plot Pro is for advanced screenwriters who are already familiar with our vocabulary and our methodology. Because of this, both the Mastering Structure Course and the Idea To Outline course are prerequisites.
If you have not enrolled in these courses, but wish to enroll in Story and Plot Pro, you can enroll in the bundle HERE.
Tuesday Class
- 8 live group classes each quarter ($497 value)
- Notion story and structure digital template ($99 Value)
- Membership to the Story and Plot Pro Community. ($200 Value)
- 30-minute one-on-one onboarding Zoom call. ($99 Value)
- First 10 Page notes ($199 value) and hot seat sessions.
- 25% off one full screenplay consultations ($148 value)
The Tuesday Schedule
May 13, 2025, 630pm CST
May 20, 2025, 630pm CST
June 3, 2025, 630pm CST
June 17, 2025, 630pm CST
June 24, 2025, 630pm CST
July 8, 2025, 630pm CST
July 15, 2025, 630pm CST
July 22, 2025, 630pm CST
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$497
Saturday Class
- 8 live group classes each quarter ($497 value)
- Notion story and structure digital template ($99 Value)
- Membership to the Story and Plot Pro Community. ($200 Value)
- 30-minute one-on-one onboarding Zoom call. ($99 Value)
- First 10-page notes ($199 value) and hot seat sessions.
- 25% off one full screenplay consultations ($148 value)
The Saturday Schedule
May 17, 2025, 12pm CST
May 24, 2025, 12pm CST
June 7, 2025, 12pm CST
June 14, 2025, 12pm CST
June 21, 2025, 12pm CST
July 12, 2025, 12pm CST
July 19, 2025, 12pm CST
July 26, 2025, 12pm CST
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$497
More About Me
If you qualify for Story and Plot Pro, you know who I am. But if not, here is a little of my history: I started out in theatre as an actor and a playwright before turning to screenwriting. I have written screenplays professionally for about 27 years now and I have been teaching for nearly as long.
My seventh film was WINCHESTER, starring Helen Mirren, which was released theatrically in 2018. My next film, THE QUEEN MARY was release in 2023 and the plan is to see my ninth film DADDY'S GIRL go into production this fall.
I have worked on assignment as a screenwriter at Phoenix Pictures, TNT, MTV Films, Castle Rock Entertainment, ABC, NBC, CBS, Warner Brothers, Sony Pictures, Disney, and more. I have developed screenplays for Matthew McConaughey, Nicolas Cage, Barry Sonnenfeld, Chow-Yun Fat and many others.
I am a damn good writer, but I am an even better teacher. One of my proudest accomplishments is teaching and designing the screenwriting curriculum for my beloved alma mater, The University of Houston.
