Bring your zits & unrequited love, your band camp tears & those bangs you cut yourself!

In this 5-week ALL LEVELS screenwriting course, we’ll revisit who we were in high school, roll around in the cringey nostalgia, do an archeological dig in our moms’ basements, dust off any old shame, fall in love with our V1 prototypes, and from this tender and hilarious place craft an achingly specific high school heroine for the ages. Not “you” necessary—though perhaps pieces of you, folded into an awesome all-new character!

Weekly, we'll be taking a deep dive into the beloved teen genre, with a focus on the classics (John Hughes, et al), as well as the brave innovators, and most importantly: looking at what HASN’T been done in the teen space yet! Our guiding question will be: How can our teen script concepts harness the undeniable power that is the teen agony-humiliation-dream trifecta to create stories that offer broader representation, and push creative boundaries?

Students will meet at least twice 1:1 with Lauren on Zoom, for hands-on support and guidance as your idea starts to come to life. Additionally, throughout the 6 weeks, Lauren is always available for 1:1 support in “office hours" as well.

Workshop takeaways

• A wildly unique teen TV or film concept.

• A brilliant, utterly original protagonist.

• Starter scenes!and the confidence to continue to write this brilliant motherfucker to completion.

We’re smashing our shadow selves wide open to find freedom on the page—and in our writing. This course offers a deeply supportive, safe space for parsing tender memories and past selves, and a cathartic protocol through which to access our vulnerability and our most unapologetic authenticity.

Enrollment criteria

Beginner to experienced screenwriters welcome! Women-identifying or nonbinary writers only.

Meeting Dates

Sunday, February 23, 2025

Sunday, March 2, 2025

Sunday, March 9, 2025

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Sunday, March 23, 2025

"YTSWAFS" Testimonials

“YOUR TEENAGE SELF WAS A F***ING STAR was fabulous. Lauren immediately created a safe space for everyone, giving us an opportunity to explore our own childhoods and unearth long-forgotten memories. I walked away from this class incredibly excited for my new project!”
—Kelley Greene

“Lauren is the best screenwriting teacher I’ve ever had. No, seriously. She is able to keenly identify what kind of writer brain you have and provide tangible solutions to your creative blocks that go way beyond canned advice and common knowledge. Remember your favorite teacher from school who made you feel seen and met you where you were at and knew exactly what you needed to hear? That’s her.”
—Aliza Small

“I loved this class! Part group therapy/part generative workshop, this class helped me shift how I'm looking at my writing and my creativity in general. As someone who has written a lot but also gets stuck a lot, this helped me find my joy again and most importantly leave my "cool" critical ego at the door.”
—Hadley Dion

“Lauren is the best! Her teaching style is so welcoming and encouraging for writers of all skill levels. The skills I took away from this class will have a lasting impact.”
—April Pascua

“I want everyone who feels like they have a story trapped inside them to take a class with Lauren, regardless of whether that's a screenplay or a novel or a short story. This class felt like the safest place ever to explore my creativity and be vulnerable in sharing my ideas, and that's such an incredible gift for a writer.”
—Kristina Johnson

About the Instructor

Lauren Veloski is a screenwriter, comedy writer, creative coach, and founder of THAT'S BANANAS. Her first feature script, the indie comedy “SORRY, THANKS,” was praised by Lena Dunham for writing “as seamless as any studio rom-com—if studio rom-coms had astute, nuanced dialogue.” An “unromantic comedy” about casual douchebaggery, “SORRY, THANKS” world-premiered at SXSW, played 15 fests internationally, and sold to IFC/Sundance. After 15 years as the “story brain in the room” on countless television and film projects, Lauren launched THAT'S BANANAS in 2022 to do what she most loves: work one-on-one with writers at all levels, helping them come fully into their badassery and power on the page. Visit her online at www.thats-bananas.com or on Instagram at @writingisbananas.