On Tuesday, Feb. 17, screenwriter and educator Brian Edgar visited the University
of South Florida, challenging students to think like working writers in the film and
publishing industries.
Edgar joined Honors affiliate faculty member Angela Jones鈥 Honors course, Unlocking
the Secrets of Ghostwriting: The Art of Storytelling through a Collaborative Literary
Process, a hands-on class that guides students through the storytelling process. In
the course, students identify the story they want to tell, develop an interview 鈥渂lueprint,鈥
build an outline, and shape the framework of a manuscript or storyline 鈥 whether it
becomes a book, audiobook, editorial, blog post, or short story.
Brian Edgar and Honors affiliate faculty Angela Jones and Tamara Nemirovsky
Throughout the semester, students gain insider perspectives from publishing and entertainment
professionals, including ghostwriters who have written for President Bill Clinton
and NBA legend Allen Iverson. The course also explores the role of artificial intelligence
in creative, editing, and publishing spaces. Students pitch their final projects to
a literary agent and have the opportunity to record an audio sample of their work
in a professional studio setting.
Edgar鈥檚 visit complemented the course鈥檚 emphasis on professional practice. Drawing
from his training at Columbia University鈥檚 MFA Film Program, he introduced students
to a common screenwriting technique: using note cards to map out scenes and organize
ideas. The method, often used by writers and filmmakers, helps test pacing, structure,
and narrative tension before committing scenes to a script.
Edgar has written scripts for Al Pacino, Killer Films, and HBO, and he regularly mentors
emerging writers through workshops at colleges, writers鈥 groups, and film festivals.
From Concept to Clarity
During the workshop, students were challenged to present a one-sentence summary of their story 鈥 known in the film industry as a logline 鈥 to their peers. A strong logline is often the first test of a screenplay鈥檚 viability, used to pitch projects to producers, agents, and studios. Edgar workshopped each logline, refining it until it reflected the clarity and precision expected in professional film summaries.
Edgar passed around his most recent screenplay, "Dark Sands," a thriller. Students flipped through the pages and got to see the format of screenplay on paper.
He also encouraged students to examine what makes their writing voice distinct and
how personal experience can coexist with outside influences.
鈥淒oes your voice come from you, or from the voices you鈥檝e heard before?鈥 a student
asked, prompting a discussion about how writers blend personal experience with the
influence of those who came before them.
Jones said she appreciated watching her students engage deeply with Edgar鈥檚 feedback.
鈥淏rian鈥檚 lecture was both enlightening and affirming that writing truly is a superpower
that intersects with every facet of the craft, whether you鈥檙e ghostwriting a screenplay,
novel, memoir, or podcast,鈥 Jones said.
Honors Dean Charles Adams said experiences like Edgar鈥檚 visit reflect the college鈥檚
commitment to immersive, real-world learning.
鈥淏ringing industry professionals into the classroom allows our students to test their
ideas against professional standards,鈥 Adams said. 鈥淭hese opportunities help them
develop the confidence, clarity, and creative discipline necessary to lead in any
field.鈥