Are You Ready to Tell Your Story to the World and Sell It For Millions?

Join Our Community of Writers Who Have No Time To Wait!

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Here's What To Expect

  • Master the Essential Building Blocks to a Successful Story.

  • Learn the Mechanics and Techniques of Storytelling.

  • How to Write a Treatment that Guides you Through your First Draft and Identifies Soft Spots in your Story.

  • Understand the Rules of Revision

  • Learn the Secrets of the 3-Act Structure.

Meet Your Coach

Kenneth Atchity

Coach / Instructor

Dr. Atchity (Yale PhD, Georgetown BA) has worked with writers since he became editor-in-chief of his high school Prep News more than fifty years ago. He’s a writer himself (20 books and counting, fiction and nonfiction), and works as an editor, professor, publishing consultant, speaker at writers’ conferences, literary manager, and producer. In pursuit of his lifelong mission to help storytellers get their stories to their maximum audience and adjusting to the volatile writing marketplace, he’s created a set of “sister companies” that serve every writer’s needs: thewriterslifeline.com, storymerchant.com, Atchity Productions, Atchity-Wong Productions, and storymerchantbooks.com. Atchity has produced dozens of films to date, with a half dozen more approaching production. To keep up with the needs of storytellers in a constantly-changing story marketplace, Ken believes in thinking outside the box.

Course Curriculum

    1. How to use this course

    2. Before we begin...

    3. Getting Your Story Straight

    4. 3 Things Writers Need to Know

    5. What is a Story?

    1. Plot

    2. Structure Part 1 | Three Act Structure, The Rule of 3’s, & Cold Opens

    3. Chart of Three Act TV Structure

    4. Structure Part 2 | Openings & Cliffhangers

    5. Structure Part 3 | Turning Points & Plot Twists

    6. Theme

    7. Setting

    8. Quiz 1

    1. Introduction to Character

    2. Supporting Characters

    3. Protagonists Part One | The Four Elements of a Hero

    4. Protagonists Part Two | Examples

    5. Antagonists

    6. Quiz 2

    1. Point of View

    2. Intensity & Drama

    3. Intensity Chart Example

    4. Revision

    5. The Treatment

    6. Treatment Example - Angels in the Snow

    7. Treatment Example - Joe Somebody

    8. Final Exam

    1. Closing Thoughts

    1. 1 on 1 Virtual Coaching Oppurtunities

    2. Story Merchant Academy Suggested Reading

About this course

  • $189.00
  • 30 lessons
  • 2.5 hours of video content

What People Are Saying

“Every second- or third-career transition needs a coach, mentor, cheerleader and friend. Ken Atchity fits the bill perfectly. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of literature and writing. Generous coaching skills. An intimate understanding of the anatomy of a novel. And he's a door-opener...from idea to story, from story to the rest of the entertainment world. He's the real deal.”

Dr. Dave Davis, Author of THE POTTERS TALE and THE LAST IMMORTAL

“I just finished reading your book Writing Treatments that Sell and had to get in touch to say what an excellent read! It was so honest and clear, (no B.S.) with really great advice for screenwriters on how to present their ideas to the industry. I just wish I’d read it a few years ago before pursuing screenplays that were dead ends and wasted so much time. It’s my new go-to reference before I start a screenplay.”

Jonathan O'Brien

“I consider the Getting Your Story Straight coaching to be some of the best money I’ve ever spent.”

John P. Shannon

“Ken Atchity was the first person to believe in me and in Carlo Gambino, the main character in my book, Gambino: The Rise. Ken opened my eyes to the fact that the general public might be just as interested in the Gambinos as I was. And he was right. Having my book optioned by a major production company is a dream come true. I cannot thank Ken and Julius Nasso enough for this opportunity.”

James E. Pierre, Author of GAMBINO: THE RISE

“If it was not for Ken Atchity, I would not be an author. Over 70 literary agents turned down my first manuscript… but Ken saw it as a novel and film. I just needed a major rewrite. Nine months later we had a movie deal and a two book deal for MEG! Congrats. You landed the best manager out there.”

Steve Alten, Author of New York Times Bestselling series MEG

“Dr. Kenneth Atchity’s mentorship helped me develop my skill with narrative technique. He applied his insight, experience, wit, and wisdom to show me my strengths as a writer and gave me practical tools to overcome my weaknesses. Thanks to him, I can now write with the focus and clarity of a master.”

Robert Rivenbark, author of the prize-winning novel THE CLOUD

“Every second- or third-career transition needs a coach, mentor, cheerleader and friend. Ken Atchity fits the bill perfectly. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of literature and writing. Generous coaching skills. An intimate understanding of the anatomy of a novel. And he's a door-opener...from idea to story, from story to the rest of the entertainment world. He's the real deal.”

Dr. Dave Davis, Author of THE POTTERS TALE and THE LAST IMMORTAL

“I just finished reading your book Writing Treatments that Sell and had to get in touch to say what an excellent read! It was so honest and clear, (no B.S.) with really great advice for screenwriters on how to present their ideas to the industry. I just wish I’d read it a few years ago before pursuing screenplays that were dead ends and wasted so much time. It’s my new go-to reference before I start a screenplay.”

Jonathan O'Brien

“I consider the Getting Your Story Straight coaching to be some of the best money I’ve ever spent.”

John P. Shannon

“Ken Atchity was the first person to believe in me and in Carlo Gambino, the main character in my book, Gambino: The Rise. Ken opened my eyes to the fact that the general public might be just as interested in the Gambinos as I was. And he was right. Having my book optioned by a major production company is a dream come true. I cannot thank Ken and Julius Nasso enough for this opportunity.”

James E. Pierre, Author of GAMBINO: THE RISE

“If it was not for Ken Atchity, I would not be an author. Over 70 literary agents turned down my first manuscript… but Ken saw it as a novel and film. I just needed a major rewrite. Nine months later we had a movie deal and a two book deal for MEG! Congrats. You landed the best manager out there.”

Steve Alten, Author of New York Times Bestselling series MEG

“Dr. Kenneth Atchity’s mentorship helped me develop my skill with narrative technique. He applied his insight, experience, wit, and wisdom to show me my strengths as a writer and gave me practical tools to overcome my weaknesses. Thanks to him, I can now write with the focus and clarity of a master.”

Robert Rivenbark, author of the prize-winning novel THE CLOUD