A WRITERS room, not A classroom
Isabel Dréan'sVertical Writers Lab
Developing the next wave of professional vertical series writers.
Request AN INVITATIONInvitation only · 5 weeks · Led by Isabel Dréan
A WRITERS room, not A classroom
Developing the next wave of professional vertical series writers.
Request AN INVITATIONInvitation only · 5 weeks · Led by Isabel Dréan
The Manifesto
The Lab is an invitation-only professional development program.
Selected writers gain real writers'-room experience developing a greenlit or commissioned vertical series under industry professionals — bridging the gap between education and professional production. You don't audit a lecture. You take a seat at the table where the series gets made. The Vertical Writers Lab is an invitation-only, unpaid professional writing development program designed for emerging writers ready to experience a real writers' room.
The Program
“Finding writers who truly understand vertical storytelling is one of the biggest challenges in our industry. Isabel's Vertical Writers Lab is a unique solution that develops talent through real-world production experience. That's why we've chosen to support this visionary initiative and participate in its inaugural program.”
CHRIS WICKE
PRODUCER · EMBR ENTERTAıNMEN
For Writers
Eligibility
The Vertical Writers Lab is designed primarily for graduates of Isabel Dréan's Vertical Incubator who have demonstrated exceptional writing ability, professionalism, and a collaborative mindset.
From time to time, a limited number of writers with significant professional experience may also be invited to request consideration.
Participation is highly selective to ensure an intimate, professional writers' room experience.
Participation is limited.
Request AN INVITATIONThe Vision
To become the premier professional development program for vertical storytellers — and a trusted pipeline of exceptional writing talent for the industry.
The Room WILL be lead by a showrunner with one in-training associate head writer and 3 writers
Participation is limited and based on writing ability, professionalism, collaboration, and readiness to work in a professional writers' room.
Request AN INVITATIONFAQ
The Vertical Writers Lab is an invitation-only, five-week online professional development program where a select group of writers goes behind the scenes of a greenlit vertical series. Participants experience the development process in real time — from story breaking and outlining to revisions, production deadlines, and production-ready scripts.
The Lab is designed primarily for graduates of Isabel Dréan's Vertical Incubator who have demonstrated exceptional writing ability, professionalism, and a collaborative mindset.
Participation is highly selective and by invitation. In exceptional circumstances, experienced writers may be considered at Isabel Dréan's discretion.
Yes. The Vertical Writers Lab is conducted entirely online through live, interactive writers' room sessions. Participants collaborate in real time from around the world while working under professional deadlines.
Each cohort runs for five weeks.
Participants collaborate on the development of a greenlit vertical series, contributing to story development, outlines, script assignments, revisions, and production-ready episodes as the project progresses.
Yes. Participants receive regular writing assignments throughout the Lab, including outlining, scene work, episode drafts, revisions, and implementing notes. Assignments reflect the pace and expectations of a professional writers' room, and meeting deadlines is an essential part of the experience.
The Vertical Writers Lab is an intensive program. Participants should expect to attend all scheduled writers' room sessions and dedicate additional time each week to writing, revising, preparing for meetings, and completing assignments between sessions.
Each cohort is intentionally kept small to maximize collaboration and mentorship. A typical writers' room includes 1 Head Writer Fellow, 1 Associate Head Writer Fellow, and 3–4 Writers Fellows.
Roles are assigned based on each participant's experience, writing strengths, collaboration, and demonstrated leadership.
Accepted participants are assigned a role within the writers' room based on their writing ability, professionalism, collaboration, and readiness to take on additional responsibility. Leadership roles are not guaranteed and may vary from one cohort to another.
Yes. Receiving and implementing professional notes is a core part of the Lab experience. Participants learn how to revise efficiently while maintaining the creative vision of the series.
No. The Vertical Writers Lab is an unpaid professional development program. Its purpose is to provide writers with real-world experience inside the development of a greenlit vertical series while learning the workflow of a professional writers' room.
Yes. Participants who successfully complete the program will receive a Certificate of Completion recognizing their participation in the Vertical Writers Lab.
No. The Lab is a professional development experience and does not guarantee employment or future writing opportunities. However, it is designed to prepare writers for professional writers' rooms and provides valuable experience working on an active production.
Participation is by invitation only. The primary pathway is through successful completion of Isabel Dréan's Vertical Incubator, where outstanding writers may be invited to join a future cohort.