Get the story out of your head
and into the world.
Story First. Words Last.
Try Stop Writing! for freeA book and software platform,
both designed to do one thing:
prove your story works before page one.
Trusted by writers at

“STOP WRITING! is an extraordinary act of generosity. David has engineered how to translate ideas to the page.”
EveryWriterHasFeltIt
That electric spark of an idea. Sprinting to the keyboard before it escapes. Hammering out pages, convinced that momentum equals progress. And it does. Until you stall out, written into a corner, watching an idea with so much promise dissipate into the creative ether.
I'm David Cornue. I've spent the past decade coaching professional writers, in workshops and one on one, and the most persistent problem I see isn't writing too little or too much.
It's writing too soon.
What if a few days of deep story development could spare you months of creative pain? That's the promise of my book and software, STOP WRITING! It doesn't replace your writing process. It prepares it. Write how you write. Build a plan first, so your story holds when the sentences arrive.
MasterStorytellers
Don't Just Write
“I can only start writing when I have the structure in place.”

Christopher Nolan
crafted an 80-page treatment before writing INCEPTION.
“You can't build a skyscraper unless you've got the architectural blueprints.”

Vince Gilligan
mapped out every BREAKING BAD episode on index cards.
“Structure's one of my favorite parts of writing.”

Suzanne Collins
outlined all three Hunger Games novels before writing a word.
They understand writing isn't rewriting.It's pre-writing.
What Professional Storytellers Say
“Stop Writing! encourages the writer to dissect multiple facets of story, character, and world-building before writing “Fade In.” Don’t write a word until you go through this must-read book. David’s concepts will change how you write.”
Erica Messer
From her foreword · showrunner & executive producer, Criminal Minds
“Damn. Hollywood’s best-kept secret just got out. For years, David Cornue was my unfair advantage. I’ve never come across a better coach for writers.”
Adam R. Perlman
Writer & producer, Billions, The Good Wife, The Newsroom
“This book belongs next to Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat! and Robert McKee’s Story. David advances story development with tools unlike any I’ve seen, built on rare insight into the writer’s mindset. It transforms how you think about writing.”
Jennifer Maloney-Prezioso
Tony & Emmy Award-winning producer
“The most important thing to solve in writing a successful story is the structure. David Cornue’s advice and techniques for achieving it are excellent.”
Stephen Schwartz
Composer & lyricist, Wicked, Pippin, The Prince of Egypt
“I coach actors, and I’m telling every one of them to read this book. Acting is storytelling. John Wooden gave coaches his Pyramid of Success. David has built the pyramid for story, and it’s a stroke of genius.”
Bob Krakower
Acting teacher & on-camera coach
“A must-read not just for screenwriters, novelists, and playwrights, but for producers, executives, and agents as well. David is the trusted guide every storyteller needs.”
Lloyd Segan
Executive producer, Wild Cards, The Dead Zone, Greek
“I wrote and produced television series for twenty-five years, and penned three novels. Then I read David’s groundbreaking book, and it opened my eyes to a new and better creative approach. You can teach old dogs new tricks.”
Grant Rosenberg
Showrunner & author of the Gideon novels
“I created software for your stories. Cornue’s book is software for your mind. Read it first, then come to the blank page. I promise it won’t be blank for long.”
Marc Madnick
Co-Founder & CEO, Final Draft
“Stop Writing is the ultimate road map to sort out all the crazy roads your brain goes down when sitting down to write. Damn, I wish I’d had it for all the bumpy back roads I traveled to finish my own projects. David Cornue is not just a prolific and gifted writer, he’s created a brilliant ‘how to’ guide, so you can be too.”
Iris Rainer Dart
Author of Beaches
“David has a way of explaining complicated concepts in a way that makes them understandable and actionable. He is one of the few early readers I trust to give me feedback. His advice is always supportive, on point, and elevates every script I send to him.”
Trevor Munson
USC screenwriting teacher & co-creator of Moonlight (CBS)
“As a teacher, I use STOP WRITING! to help students develop their stories. As a writer, I use the book and software for inspiration and clarity. David makes writers feel seen, and the process feel possible.”
Greg Johnson
NYFA teacher & writer of The Last Son, Old Guy
“In the brilliantly imagined book, ‘Stop Writing!’ David Cornue has attended to every detail a writer needs to break through in episodic and feature film. From the format of the essential one-sheet, to the beats of a tremendous story, to the art of capturing dynamic dialogue, this book is both practical and inviting. Thank you, David, for your commitment and guidance.”
Susan Youssef
Film Advisor, Yale University
StoryDevelopment
HasThreeDimensions
Phase 1
ENVISION
Find the Plot
Story Catcher
Capture idea
Logliner
Build your 7-part logline
Story Rater
Rate stories against 15 weighted traits
Phase 2
ENGINEER
Lay the Foundation
Story Sketcher
Draw up your 7-part story
World Builder
Design your story universe
Character Creator
Develop three-dimensional characters
Phase 3
EXECUTE
Build Layer by Layer
Plotliner
Build your story's throughline
3D Plotter
Sculpt multi-dimensional plots
Story Mapper
Organize every beat visually
Between each phase, you stop.
You collect evaluations.
You test the story.
You refine — then advance.
Between every phase
EVALUATE
Show Your Work
The Concept
Vet the premise
The Pitch
Validate the proposal
The Outline
Verify the plan
After You Stop Writing, You'll Be Ready To Start Writing.
Already have a draft?
My script coverage app gives you professional-grade story analysis and rigorous, honest feedback on structure, character, and craft, built on the STOP WRITING! methodology.
Visit the site →ChooseYourPath
A full year with the coach costs a quarter of a single private coaching package with me.
Every paid tier comes with a 14-day free trial — of that tier. No credit card. And if you picked the wrong door, switch to any other tier during your trial, free.
StoryBuilder
The complete method, self-guided
- Complete methodology — all four phases, first idea to finished outline
- The Field Guide — every tool explained step by step, in plain language from the book
- Evaluate tools — invite trusted readers to send feedback
- Unlimited projects
- Voice input
- STOP WRITING! book - Kindle*
The whole method as software, with the Field Guide beside you. Twelve tools across four phases walk your story from first idea to finished outline, and the Evaluate tools let you invite a few trusted readers before you move to the next phase. Ideas you caught in IdeaCatcher, the free companion app, are already here — waiting when you’re ready to build.
Try StoryBuilder freeStoryTeller
Interactive development with a virtual story coach
Everything in StoryBuilder, plus:
- dAIvid — your writing coach, guiding you through every tool
- Instant readers — on-demand feedback from virtual readers, tuned to your audience
- Hands-free voice input — talk your story through
- STOP WRITING! book - Kindle & Audiobook*
Now a coach walks the phases with you. Instead of the Field Guide, dAIvid steps in — a writing coach who challenges your assumptions, probes your structure, asks the hard questions, and brainstorms when you’re stuck. Talk your story through and he coaches in real time, at every step from first idea to finished outline. He suggests only when you ask — the pen stays in your hand.
Why dAIvid is different →Try StoryTeller free*Included with your annual plan — each format as it releases
Rather start on paper? The book carries the whole method, no subscription — See the Book →
The Choice Is Simple
Keep Writing In Circles
- Waste months on stories that don’t work
- Discover fatal flaws 100 pages too late
- Hope inspiration strikes at the right moment
- Join the majority of stories that never get made
Or Stop Writing and Start Building
- Know your story works before page one
- Write with the confidence of a mapped destination
- Cut the rewrite spiral before it starts
- Join the professionals who pre-write their success
Start Your 14-Day Free Trial
Your 14 days run on the tier you pick.
No credit card. Cancel anytime.
At day 14 you keep IdeaCatcher, free.
Rather work without AI? Start with StoryBuilder
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StillWriting
WithoutaPlan?
Every day you draft without proper development increases the odds you'll have to tear it apart later. Your ideas deserve structure before pages.
The best time to stop writing is now.