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What Is WriterJump?
As a storyteller, you are more important than you think.
Stories are the most powerful force on the planet to create change and inspire hope. Which makes storytellers like you powerful indeed. That's been true since the beginning of time. But it's especially true now.
After working for years as a professional writer-producer, and then with filmmakers as a story and pitch coach, script analyst, studio reader, festival judge, and screenwriting instructor at film schools across Canada, I decided to start WriterJump.
The goal: help storytellers of all backgrounds find their voice, tell their stories, and elevate their writing to a truly professional level.
WriterJump students and clients start by developing compelling ideas for film, television, web series, games, and novels. They are then taken through the progressive steps of thematic exploration, character development, world building, scene and dialogue construction, plotting, and storyboarding to create solid outlines for script development.
Next, we workshop their scripts in weekly, one-on-one sessions to produce final drafts that producers and production companies will take seriously.
Finally, we work together to develop the “Big Four” Pitch Package every writer should have at the ready when opportunity knocks, then set up their small business and finances so they can kick into high gear as professional writers. My students and clients have placed in writing competitions, won awards at international film festivals, and pitched to Netflix and other major platforms.
The big difference between WriterJump and other training platforms is that we’re not just going to take your current project to the finish line. I’m going to help you build a repeatable process – goal setting, milestone scheduling, accountable tracking, and document creation – so you can keep telling well-crafted stories for life.
I look forward to taking the next step with you on your writer’s journey!
Paul Donnett - Founder, Senior Instructor
Paul is an award-winning writer for film, web series, and graphic novels.
Having worked as a production company reader, he has also served as panel judge for the BC Student Film Festival, ZoomFest, Northern FanCon, the Pender Island Short Film Festival, and the Leo Awards.
He has taught screenwriting and film production at Vancouver Film School, Langara College, Vancouver Acting School, and Story Institute, and regular conducts story workshops and script editorial sessions with high school teachers and students across Canada.
In 2012, he founded Donnettwork Productions, providing script development, story editing, and score composition services for producers, independent writers and filmmakers, and companies who want to tell their stories.
Prior to his career as a writer and producer, he had past lives as a bartender, pastor, disabilities services provider, oil rig worker, and corporate recruiter. Father of five, he's never really grown up.
I started writing at age 5 because nobody told me I couldn't.
An only child in a single parent home, my favourite movies and books weren't just timekillers: they were my friends, my consorts, the universe in which all my dreams and wishes came to life.
By high school, I was acting in plays, writing for newspapers, illustrating kids' books, and composing music. The future was mine. But like too many, I bought into the idea that artists can't make a living, so I headed for college in search of a "real job".
Teacher. Pastor. Oil rig worker. Emergency responder.
By my 30s, I was set for life... and totally miserable. But I never stopped writing.
And my 13 year-old daughter Jenni saw me doing it.
MY
Story
I've got five kids but she's the one with the fearless mouth. Plus she knew me. Knew that, deep down, I wasn't an oil guy.
So one day she just laid it on the line: "Dad, you can't expect us to go out into the world and follow our dreams if you aren't going to set the example."
You get a message like that, not just from a child who gets it but echoing from your own heart, and it's time to get a move on.
With the unflagging support of my my wife, Melissa, I went back to school, learned to master the mechanics of great storytelling, and launched a career writing for film and comics.
Finally, I was me.
Since then, it's been my honour to work as production company reader, festival judge, story editor, international writing coach, and instructor at some of the greatest schools in the world.
So when I get the chance to meet people like you, ready to take the leap and tell your story, I can't wait to help you get started!