Step inside the writers’ room and learn the art of professional note-taking.
The Opportunity
Looking to get a foot in the door of a writers’ room?
The role of the note-taker is one of the most valuable entry points into the screen industry – offering a front-row seat to professional story development while building invaluable relationships with writers and producers.
In this practical workshop, screenwriter and script editor Libby Butler (Ghosts Australia, Surviving Summer S2, Neighbours) will share the essential skills, techniques and professional insights needed to step confidently into this role – plus give you the chance to test your skills in a live mock writers’ room.
A clear and accessible introduction to one of the industry’s most valuable support roles, this workshop will give you the skills to open doors in your screen career.
What This Workshop Will Cover
In this hands-on session, Libby will guide participants through the fundamentals of effective writers’ room note-taking, including:
- What’s expected of a note-taker in a professional writers’ room
- How to structure notes so they’re clear, useful and production-ready
- How to prepare for sessions and stay focused during fast-moving story discussions
- Writers’ room etiquette – when to speak (and when not to!) and how to support the creative process
- Practical advice on finding and securing note-taking opportunities
The workshop culminates in a one-hour mock writers’ room, where participants will put their skills into practice during a live story discussion with professional writers.
Following the workshop, participants will receive private feedback on their notes via email, along with downloadable resources including note-taking templates, practical “hacks”, and the dos and don’ts of writers’ room documentation.
Who It’s For
This workshop is ideal for:
- Emerging screenwriters looking for pathways into professional writers’ rooms
- Early-career producers wanting to better understand the notes process
- Creatives interested in gaining practical experience with writers’ room workflows
Workshop Details
Date: Saturday 20th June, 2026
Time: 9:30am–3:00pm
Where: Online (Zoom)
Duration: 5.5 hours
Cost: $95 Screenworks members | $125 Non-members (including GST)
Includes:
- Practical instruction and examples
- One-hour mock writers’ room simulation
- Private feedback on your notes after the workshop
- Post-workshop PDFs with note-taking templates and resources
Breaks:
15-minute morning tea break
45-minute lunch break
What Do I Need To Apply?
- Completed application form
- Current CV
Guest Tutor
LIBBY BUTLER: Libby Butler is an award-winning screenwriter, director and producer. In 2025 she was a writer and script editor on acclaimed comedy series Ghosts Australia (Ten/Paramount+) which was nominated for a Best Narrative Comedy award at the AACTAs and Comedy Series of the Year at the SPA Awards. In 2023 she was writer/script editor on hit Netflix series Surviving Summer S2, which remains one of the most viewed Australian titles on the platform. In 2020 she co-created the short-form series LOVING CAPTIVITY, for which she received an ADG nomination on her debut. Other writing credits include NEIGHBOURS (Amazon/Ten), ERINSBOROUGH HIGH (Channel 5/UK) and THE HEIGHTS (BBC/ABC). Other script-editing/producing credits include THE EMU WAR, MS FISHER’S MODERN MYSTERIES (Acorn/Seven) and PLAYING FOR KEEPS (Ten). Focused on original work, Libby has several drama and comedy concepts in active development across Australia and the UK.
Since 2022, she has presented workshops on note-taking for Screen Australia, SBS, the AWG, Screen Queensland, Screenwest, Screen Tasmania, ACMI and the Victorian College of the Arts.
Screenworks’ The Art of Note-Taking is supported by Screen NSW.
