It’s Been a While...
I can’t believe I just realized I haven’t sent a newsletter since March 9.
So much has happened over the last few months that I’m not even sure where to begin.
The Incubators
Since March, I ran two Vertical Series Incubators, and 28 incredible writers graduated. Watching these writers grow from ideas to fully developed projects continues to be one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
Even more exciting? Three of my incubator writers have received green lights in the last few weeks... two of them just this week!
The good news keeps coming.
Natalie Gergely’s project SWIPE LEFT, developed during our September Incubator, recently won Best Screenplay at the Apollo LA Drama Vertical Market and has now also been nominated for the Visionary Pen Award at the Verties.
Watching writers continue to succeed long after the incubator ends is honestly one of my favorite parts of this job.
Many of you have asked about the next incubator.
I may be announcing another one for August, so if you’d like to be first to know, join the waitlist here:
https://21dayscreenplay.com/incubator/
My First Writers Cruise
Then came something completely different...
I joined eight adventurous vertical writers on a cruise organized by the wonderful Mariannjelly Marval.
We sailed to Catalina (although... full disclosure... I stayed on the boat!) before heading to Ensenada, Mexico.
Cruises may never truly become my thing, but I have to admit—it was an incredible experience.
More importantly, spending several uninterrupted days together allowed all of us to really bond in a way that’s difficult to do online.
Mariannjelly is truly gifted at bringing people together, and I’m so glad I said yes.
My daughter Milan came with us, which made the whole trip even more special.
Straight to Cannes
I had only a few days after returning home before I was packing again for Cannes.
If you’re serious about becoming a screenwriter or filmmaker, I genuinely believe Cannes is something everyone should experience at least once.
It’s inspiring.
It’s exhausting.
It’s overwhelming.
And yes... it’s incredibly intense.
I usually arrive a few days early to recover from jet lag. This year I brought my NeuroMints with me (not sponsored!), and I have to admit they helped quite a bit.
It was also surprisingly cold...
And while networking has never come naturally to me, I keep reminding myself that growth usually happens just outside our comfort zone.
So I went.
I met people.
I had conversations.
I pushed through.
One of my favorite parts of the festival was seeing our community come together. We hosted The HUB Mixer at the Irish Pub, and a few days later celebrated Caribbean Night, organized by Simon Baptiste. It was wonderful seeing so many familiar faces, meeting new writers and filmmakers, and watching new relationships begin.
Those moments always remind me that this industry is built on people.
And I’m so glad I went.
I came home with some truly wonderful news.
Unfortunately, this industry has one very frustrating rule:
The bigger the news... the longer you have to keep it secret.
So I can’t share anything just yet.
What I can say is this...
2027 is shaping up to be a very exciting year.
But looking forward to TIFF!
Coming Home
As my plane was landing back in Los Angeles, I woke up to messages saying a wildfire was threatening the area where I live.
I had to call a friend and ask them to evacuate my family while I was still in the air.
Talk about emotional whiplash.
One moment you’re riding the high of Cannes.
The next you’re wondering if your home is still standing.
Life has a funny way of reminding us how quickly everything can change.
The end of May was... a bit of a roller coaster.
Celebrating the Team
One more piece of exciting news...
The Blind Bride of the Scarred Mafia Boss has been nominated by the Home of the Vertical Critics for Best Directing.
I’m incredibly proud of our entire team. Making these series is always a collaborative effort, and it’s wonderful to see the work being recognized.
Congratulations to everyone involved.
Learning to Say No
If I’m being completely honest...
The vertical world completely took over my life this year.
Every opportunity sounded exciting.
Every project felt important.
And for a while...
I just kept saying yes.
Eventually it all caught up with me.
Last month, my management team at Heroes & Villains and I had a long conversation about the direction of my career.
Together we came up with four criteria for saying yes to projects.
Does it offer at least two of these?
Money (a girl’s got to pay the bills.)
Prestige.
Strong attachments (actors, platforms, producers—anything that elevates the project.)
Directing opportunities (it’s time for me to make my way back into the director’s chair.)
If a project doesn’t check at least two—and ideally three—of those boxes...
The answer has to become no.
That sounds simple.
It isn’t.
Most writers spend years in survival mode.
We’re conditioned to say yes because we’re afraid another opportunity may never come.
Learning to say no is an entirely different skill.
I’m also discovering that leveling up comes with unexpected emotions.
Limiting beliefs.
Fear of success.
Feeling a little less grounded as life starts changing around you.
They’re good problems to have.
But they’re still things you have to learn to navigate.
Maybe some of you are experiencing something similar.
Tuscany
One announcement I can finally share...
This October I’ll be mentoring at an incredible writing retreat in Tuscany, Italy.
And honestly...
I cannot wait.
She Writes Under the Tuscan Sun
October 14–19, 2026
Early bird pricing starts at $2,600
Payment plans available with a $500 deposit
Mentorship groups are limited to 6–8 writers per mentor, so it will fill quickly.
The retreat includes:
Five nights in beautiful Tuscany
Private or shared accommodations
Three delicious meals every day
One-on-one story sessions
Dedicated writing time
Group feedback
Welcome wine tasting
Pasta-making class
A local market visit
The official early bird deadline technically passed while Mariannjelly and I were both buried with work...
So if you mention this newsletter, they’ll honor the early bird pricing through July 31.
You can find all the details here:
https://www.onceuponascript.com/she-writes-under-the-tuscan-sun-2026
I would absolutely love to see some familiar faces there.
100 Days of Summer
One last thing...
We recently kicked off our 100 Days of Summer Writing Challenge inside The HUB, and I have to say, I love seeing everyone show up for each other.
Writing can be such a solitary job, so having a community that’s cheering each other on, celebrating wins, and keeping one another accountable makes all the difference.
It got me thinking...
What are you excited about this summer?
I’ll go first.
This summer, I’ll be diving back into a rewrite of my Italy-set romantic comedy, A Taste of Amore. It’s a project that’s incredibly close to my heart, and I’m excited to spend some uninterrupted time with it before heading back to Italy in October.
Now it’s your turn.
Hit reply and tell me...
What’s your big creative goal for the summer?
Whether you’re finishing a screenplay, writing your first page, directing your first short, or finally taking that leap you’ve been putting off, I’d love to hear what you’re working on. Hit reply!
One More Thank You
Before I go...
Thank you.
Seriously.
To everyone who has purchased How to Write a Vertical Series in 10 Days...
I honestly can’t believe the response.
I’m hoping to record the audiobook soon...
If I can find a spare hour to sit in front of a microphone.
And if anyone has experience editing audiobooks and would like to help, I’d love to hear from you.
That’s enough from me for now.
I simply wanted to pop into your inbox, say hello, and let you know what I’ve been up to.
Thank you for following this crazy journey. Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or only recently joined this community, I appreciate every single one of you.
More exciting news is coming...
As soon as I’m actually allowed to talk about it.
Until next time,
About the author:
Isabel Dréan is a professional screenwriter, educator, and story consultant working across vertical series, feature films, and television. She is the creator of multiple produced vertical dramas, including the #1 VIGLOO series The Blind Bride of the Scarred Mafia Boss, and the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller How to Write a Vertical Series in 10 Days.
She has written multiple produced feature films and develops projects internationally across romance, thriller, holiday, and destination-driven storytelling. She is the founder of the Vertical Series Incubator and the creator of THE HUB, a global community connecting writers with producers in the microdrama space.
Through her programs, speaking, and mentorship, she helps writers move from spec scripts to produced credits and build sustainable careers in both traditional and emerging formats.
Where to find Isabel:
On Facebook. On substack: Isabel Drean IG: Isabel Drean
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Great article. Joanna Penn at The Creative Penn might have information on editing audiobooks. She also references her process in her Patreon, and there is a group chat for questions.