The

TIM MORRIS SCHOLARSHIP
FOR STORY DESIGN & NARRATIVE ARCHITECTURE

THE STORY OF TIM

I was about thirteen when my uncle Tim began opening doors for me.

He was less than ten years older than I was, so for much of my life he felt less like an uncle than an older brother — and he became my pop-culture Yoda.

Tim introduced me to worlds I didn't know existed. David Bowie and Pink Floyd. Kubrick and strange arthouse movies. Animation festivals and Russian science fiction. Clarke, Heinlein and Herbert. Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. Great old movies, wonderfully terrible movies, and the glorious popcorn movies of the '80s and '90s.

He was an incredible source of art and culture, all wrapped up in the candy-bar wrapper of pop culture.

But the greatest thing Tim gave me wasn't a list of things to watch, read or listen to.

He taught me to be curious.

He showed me that there was always another filmmaker to discover, another writer to read, another strange little door worth opening just to see what might be on the other side.

That curiosity profoundly shaped the storyteller, teacher and person I eventually became.

Tim died in 2026. I can't repay him for everything he gave me. But I can continue the gesture.

Once a year, in his memory, I want to find a storyteller standing in front of a door they haven't been able to open alone — and do for them, in my own way, what Tim once did for me.

Open the door.

MISSION + PHILOSOPHY

Talent deserves opportunity. Opportunity deserves commitment.

The Tim Morris Story Design and Architecture Scholarship exists to give one promising storyteller each year something extraordinarily valuable: sustained, serious, one-on-one creative mentorship.

I'm looking for a storyteller at a point in their creative life when that kind of mentorship could make a meaningful difference — someone with curiosity, imagination, courage and something they genuinely want to say.

But opportunity alone isn't enough.

I'm also looking for someone willing to wrestle with the work: to question their assumptions, challenge themselves, get frustrated, get lost, discover unexpected answers and remain open to wherever the story leads them.

That's why this scholarship is resolutely human-to-human.

No generative AI. No shortcuts around the difficult parts. The uncertainty, struggle, discovery and occasional magic of finding your own answers aren't obstacles to becoming a storyteller.

They are how you become one.

This is a reciprocal commitment.

I WILL BRING EVERYTHING I HAVE.

I EXPECT YOU TO DO THE SAME.

THE AWARD

ONE WRITER.

TWO MONTHS.

ONE-ON-ONE.

ENTIRELY FREE.

Each year, one writer will receive a complete STORY FORGE PLUS engagement through Writer Igniter, entirely free of charge.

For two months, we'll work together intensively and one-on-one to build, interrogate and strengthen your story — from its underlying architecture and characters to its emotional, thematic and narrative design.

Whether you're developing a feature screenplay, television pilot, novel, stage play or graphic novel, our focus will be the same: discovering the strongest, clearest and most compelling version of the story you want to tell.

But the scholarship doesn't end when our two months together do.

As part of the engagement, you'll also become a lifetime member of Storytowne, my private community and resource centre for storytellers, with ongoing access to:

4,000+ screenplays. 300+ long-form instructional essays. 10 complete courses. And an open invitation to Writer Igniter live events — inside Storytowne and beyond — without charge.

When the formal scholarship ends, you'll remain part of Storytowne, with full access to its resources and opportunities for as long as you wish.

This is the same STORY FORGE PLUS engagement I provide to paying clients, with the same time, attention, honesty and creative commitment.

Nothing is held back because you didn't pay for it.

There is no application fee, purchase requirement or financial obligation. The scholarship has no cash value and cannot be sold, transferred or exchanged.

WHO CAN APPLY?

The Tim Morris Story Design and Architecture Scholarship is open to storytellers anywhere in the world.

You must be 18 years of age or older, able to communicate effectively in English, and committed to developing and writing your project in English. All mentorship takes place remotely via Zoom, email and DMs through my online community, Storytowne.

Emerging and experienced writers are welcome. You do not need professional credits, representation, formal training or industry experience.

You must have a story project you genuinely want to develop. Eligible projects include:

Feature Screenplays · Television Pilots · Novels · Stage Plays · Graphic Novels

Your project can be at almost any stage of development — from an early idea or outline to a treatment, partial draft or completed manuscript or script.

The project must be your original material, or material you have the legal right to adapt and develop. Unauthorized adaptations, fan fiction and projects based on intellectual property belonging to someone else are not eligible.

You must also be prepared to do the creative work yourself. All submitted material and all work undertaken during the scholarship must be created without generative AI assistance.

Where you live doesn't matter. Your résumé doesn't matter. Your story, your potential and your willingness to do the work do.

Former Writer Igniter clients and Storytowne members are welcome to apply. Current paying clients, Writer Igniter employees and contractors, and immediate family members are not eligible.

MAKE ME BELIEVE IN YOU.

This is not a writing competition.

You don't need a finished project, an impressive résumé or professional credits.

I want to discover a storyteller.

Introduce yourself. Tell me about the story you desperately want to tell. Tell me why it matters to you, what kind of storyteller you're trying to become, where you're struggling and what serious mentorship could help you accomplish.

You may make your case in up to 1,000 written words or a five-minute video.

Be sincere. Be funny. Be vulnerable. Be strange. Be ambitious.

Be yourself.

You'll also provide a working title, a concise description of your story and where the project currently stands.

NO AI. JUST YOU.

Your application and submitted creative material must be entirely your own work. No generative AI assistance of any kind is permitted — including brainstorming, writing, rewriting, structuring, critiquing or polishing.

I want your ideas, your words, your instincts and even your imperfections.

The only thing I'm asking you to sell me is you.

There is no application fee, membership requirement, purchase or subscription. Buying a Writer Igniter product or service will not improve your chances of being selected.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

There is no scoring system and no formula for choosing the recipient. I'm not looking for the most accomplished writer, the most polished project or the most impressive résumé.

I'm looking for the person and the story I believe I can help most.

I'll be considering five things:

STORY. Is there dramatic, emotional, thematic or imaginative potential here that makes me want to dig deeper?

VOICE. Is there an individual perspective behind the work? Does this storyteller have something to say — and a way of seeing the world that feels distinctly their own?

POTENTIAL. Do I believe sustained mentorship could help this writer and this project make a meaningful creative leap?

COMMITMENT. Are they prepared to show up, do the work, navigate uncertainty and frustration, challenge themselves and make serious use of the opportunity?

FIT. Am I the right person to help this particular storyteller develop this particular story?

The scholarship isn't an objective declaration of who is the "best" writer or who submitted the "best" project. Different writers need different things at different moments in their development.

Ultimately, I'm trying to answer one very simple question:

WHO CAN I HELP MOST?

THE COMMITMENT

This scholarship is a serious commitment of my time, attention and experience. Accepting it means making a serious commitment in return.

The recipient is expected to show up prepared, meet agreed-upon deadlines, complete the work between sessions, communicate when problems arise, engage openly with feedback and bring curiosity, discipline and professionalism to the process.

Most importantly, you must do the creative work yourself.

I will question, challenge, guide and help you discover and design your story. I will not write it for you, and no generative AI assistance of any kind is permitted at any stage of the scholarship.

The uncertainty, frustration, vulnerability and breakthroughs belong to you. That's where your voice comes from. That's where the growth happens.

That's the point.

THE FINE PRINT THAT MATTERS

Life happens. Lack of commitment is different.

Illness, family emergencies and legitimate personal circumstances will always be treated with compassion and reasonable flexibility. Communication matters. But repeated missed sessions, unfinished work, poor communication or a failure to participate meaningfully may result in the scholarship being ended.

Except in cases of serious misconduct, dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation or unauthorized use of someone else's intellectual property, the normal process will be:

Conversation → Warning/Probation → Termination

The use of generative AI at any point during the scholarship is grounds for immediate termination. You don't owe me perfection.

You owe the opportunity your effort.

YOUR STORY REMAINS YOURS.

This scholarship is built on trust.

Your story belongs to you. My tools belong to me.

You retain full ownership of your project, characters, story world and original creative material. Participation in the scholarship gives Writer Igniter no ownership, option, attachment, producer credit or financial interest in your work.

Is Writer Igniter entitled to a credit?
No. A Story Consultant credit is always appreciated where appropriate, but it is not required as a condition of the scholarship.

Writer Igniter retains ownership of its methodologies, teaching materials, terminology, worksheets and other proprietary tools used during the engagement.

Your creative process is protected, too.

Material shared during private scholarship sessions will be treated as confidential and will not be publicly disclosed without your permission. Likewise, private sessions and proprietary Writer Igniter materials may not be recorded, reproduced or distributed without permission.

The selected recipient should expect to be publicly celebrated. Acceptance of the scholarship includes permission to announce your name, photograph, general biography, project title, brief description and selection as the Tim Morris Scholar.

Anything beyond that — including excerpts from sessions, development discoveries, interviews, recordings, testimonials or other behind-the-scenes material — will only be shared with your separate consent.

The scholarship provides an opportunity for visibility. It does not require surrendering your ownership or your privacy.

TIMELINE

SEPTEMBER 2026

THE SCHOLARSHIP IS ANNOUNCED

The inaugural 2027 Tim Morris Story Design and Architecture Scholarship is introduced, along with the story and inspiration behind it.

OCTOBER 1, 2026

APPLICATIONS OPEN

The official application and Terms & Conditions become available.

NOVEMBER 30, 2026

APPLICATIONS CLOSE

Applications must be received by the published deadline to be considered.

DECEMBER 2026

REVIEW & INTERVIEWS

Applications will be reviewed and a shortlist of candidates may be invited to a private conversation as part of the final selection process.

There will be no public voting or popularity competition.

EARLY JANUARY 2027

RECIPIENT SELECTED

The selected recipient will be contacted privately, eligibility confirmed and the Scholarship Agreement completed.

JANUARY 26, 2027

THE INAUGURAL TIM MORRIS SCHOLAR IS ANNOUNCED

On Tim's birthday, the recipient and their project will be introduced publicly.

Each year, January 26 will mark the announcement of a new Tim Morris Scholar — and another door opening.

FEBRUARY–MARCH 2027

THE WORK BEGINS

The recipient undertakes their two-month intensive STORY FORGE PLUS engagement with Writer Igniter.

SOMEBODY OPENED A DOOR FOR ME.

Tim changed my life by showing me worlds I didn't know existed and encouraging me to explore them.

This scholarship is my way of carrying that gift forward.

Once a year, I want to find one storyteller with something inside them worth fighting for — someone curious, committed and ready to do the work.

Maybe that's you.

NOW I'D LIKE TO OPEN A DOOR FOR YOU.