Finish the script you keep starting.
I'm Russell Bailey — a WGA screenwriter and coach. I help writers stop starting over, build a writing system that fits their real life, and finish a screenplay or pilot they're proud to submit.
100+ writers coached
Writers developing projects for HBO, Hallmark, and Lifetime
Guest lecturer at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College
Is this you?
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You have an idea you love, but you can't get past the outline — or Act 2.
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You've started the same script more than once.
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You write in bursts, then lose weeks.
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You don't need more theory. You need a process, a deadline, and someone who will tell you honestly what works and what doesn't.
If that sounds familiar, coaching is for you.
How coaching works
This is one-on-one coaching focused on the writing process itself — not just notes on a finished draft. I've spent nearly a decade teaching, training, and coaching people, and my style is simple: I turn complex ideas into clear next steps, and I give feedback you can actually act on.
• Weekly 30-minute 1:1 Zoom call — we check in, troubleshoot what's stuck, and set your writing plan for the week.
• An individualized plan — built around your project, your schedule, and how you actually write.
• Email support Monday–Friday — for accountability and questions between calls.
• Honest feedback — clear about what works, clear about what doesn't. No beating around the bush.
You'll be writing a new screenplay or teleplay during our time together. Most writers should expect to carve out about 2 hours a day, or roughly 10 hours a week — we will find a schedule that fits your life.
Coaching is $900/month. No long-term contract — we work month to month, focused on finishing.
Prefer to split it? Ask about 2 payments of $450.
Book a free first coaching call— let's talk about your project and whether we're a fit.
Tyy S., Screenwriter
After working with Russ, I was thoroughly prepared for the real-world environment of working in a writers' room.
Jack M., Screenwriter
No beating around the bush. You clearly say what works and you clearly say what doesn't. Just what I'm looking for.
Janis B., Screenwriter
Russ's feedback has been more helpful than any other feedback in terms of giving me the framework and character arc I need to dive into an effective rewrite.
Why learn from Russ?
I'm a working writer, not just a teacher:
• Member, Writers Guild of America (WGA)
• My own scripts have reached the quarterfinals of the Austin Film Festival, the Academy Nicholl Fellowship, and ScreenCraft
• My script Stud went into development at Team Todd (Memento, Austin Powers)
• I wrote, directed, and produced the feature film Barmy, which screened at the Feel Good Film Festival in Los Angeles
• I read scripts and wrote development notes at Benderspink (American Pie, The Hangover)
• At Script Pipeline, I helped run the writers workshop and the script contest that discovered Snow White and the Huntsman — and worked on productions including Operation Endgame, with Richard Kelly and Sam Levinson
• I founded Script Coverage Pro, helping indie writers and studios get scripts ready for the screen
• I've also coordinated production and post on everything from Samsung commercials to Camp Woodward for Fox and Hulu — I know how this industry actually works, on and off the page
And yes, I trained in improv at The Groundlings and UCB. Coaching sessions are work — but writing should also be fun, and I bring that energy to it.
None of that matters as much as what I learned from it — and what matters most now is helping you finish your next script.
Who this is for
Coaching is a good fit if you:
• Are 21+, based in the U.S., and have some screenwriting (or related) experience
• Have an idea for a script you genuinely want to write
• Can commit focused writing time each week
• Want direct, supportive accountability — not just encouragement
An application and a short writing sample in script format are required, so we both know it's the right fit.
Ready to finish?
Book a free first coaching call
Bring your idea, your stuck draft, or your questions. You'll leave with clarity on your next step — whether we work together or not.
-Russ
Instagram: @writewithruss