Start With Abundance: How To Approach Notes Without Losing Your Mind

You've finally finished your script. Your characters sing on the page. The dialogue is witty and propulsive. The ending packs an emotional punch that brings tears to your eyes. For a moment, it's the best thing you've ever written.

Then the notes come in.

A few readers don’t understand why your main character makes the choices they make. The jokes aren't landing like you thought. The studio executive is wondering if you could deliver something with an entirely different tone…by tomorrow. Suddenly the script you were proud of a moment ago feels like a pile of rubble you have to sift through and reconstruct into something completely different. Where do you even begin?

In this interactive workshop, Emmy-nominated writer and executive producer Zach Dodes (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series; School Spirits; Coven Academy) walks you through blow-ups of every size and shows you why the scarcity mindset is a myth—and how to engage with each note from a place of abundance. You'll practice navigating curveball notes, from lost locations to a missing actor to a major change of tone, and pivoting toward clever solutions that deepen the story rather than weaken it. By the end of this session, you'll have the confidence to face difficult notes head-on, plus practical tools to manage your mental health through the revision process.

This workshop will be held in-person at the WGAW HQ in Los Angeles. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Event starts at 7 p.m. In order to encourage attendee participation, this workshop will not be recorded.

If you have any questions, reach out to us at events@wgfoundation.org.