For decades, soap operas have captivated audiences with unforgettable characters, epic family dynasties, shocking twists, passionate romances and cliffhangers that keep viewers coming back day after day. Behind every iconic series is a team of writers who have mastered one of television's most demanding storytelling disciplines: serialized narrative.
In this immersive one-day workshop, Daytime Emmy and Writers Guild of America Award-winning writer Jamey Giddens takes participants inside the world of daytime television to explore the craft, structure and business of writing long-form, character-driven stories. Drawing from his experience writing for Days of Our Lives, Beyond the Gates, Sistasand his own series, Ambitions, Giddens shares the techniques professional writers use to sustain compelling storylines across months—and even years—of television.
Participants will explore what makes serialized storytelling unique, from creating emotionally rich characters and interconnected worlds to developing long-term story projections, dramatic pacing and unforgettable cliffhangers. The workshop will also examine the collaborative writers' room process, the fundamentals of soap opera script structure and formatting, and practical strategies for pursuing a career in television writing.
Whether you're an aspiring television writer, screenwriter, playwright, content creator or storyteller looking to strengthen your long-form narrative skills, this workshop offers an engaging, behind-the-scenes look at one of television's most influential storytelling formats and the techniques that continue to shape episodic storytelling today.
