I Tried Mindy Kaling’s 1 Hour Writing MasterClass (Review)

As the Mindy Kaling MasterClass trailer revealed, if she can do it, you can do it. Is it really that simple? Does the class calm the chaotic waters of your mind and fill the gaping chasm of self-doubt? I wanted to know the answer; so, I watched the entire class in one go. Want to know what my verdict is? Keep reading.

⏩ Quick Summary: Mindy Kaling MasterClass Review

Mindy Kaling MasterClass	Rating
Content Quality	3.8/5
Engagement Level	4/5
Instructor Expertise	4.5/5
Practicality	4/5
Value for Money	3.5/5
Community & Support	2.5/5
Overall Rating	3.7/5

🤷‍♀️ Who is Mindy Kaling? Why should you learn from her?

Mindy Kaling is a fantastic scriptwriter known for shows like The Office, The Mindy Project, and Never Have I Ever. You should learn from her class, Scripting Your Own Success, because she inspires you with her journey to success, which was made possible by determination in the face of rejection, creativity, and effort.

👥 Who is this Class for?

If you are an aspiring scriptwriter or someone in the entertainment industry wanting to know how scriptwriting works, this class is for you. However, merely watching the video will not make you the next star in the entertainment industry. You have to put in the necessary effort and work hard.

🟢🔴 Pros and Cons

The nature of the universe is such that when you take something and analyze it, you will find both the good and the bad. Sometimes, depending on perspective, the same characteristic can be a blessing or a flaw.

The same rule applies to the Mindy Kaling Scripting Your Own Success MasterClass. So, let’s see what is great and what is underwhelming about it.

📚 What You’ll Learn

You will learn how to write a better script and deal with feedback. Mindy also discusses her sacred order – that is the order in which she thinks about the script – the characters, the structure, and the dialogue. Before delving into that we learn how Kaley’s determination ended up getting her hired to write for the popular American version of The Office. Who knew a play like Matt & Ben would serve as her stepping stone to success?

Learning to put yourself in the shoes of the characters you create even though they are radically different from you helps write better. She also discusses the importance of outlining. It prevents writer’s block – the nightmare of most writers. 

We also get to see a few clips of Steve Carell as Michael Scott to help us understand the points she makes. I loved the clip from the episode ‘Classy Christmas’. Now., let’s discuss her take on building characters, creating clear structures, writing engaging dialogue, and thriving in the entertainment industry.

Three-Dimensional Characters

As every writer worth their salt knows, realistic and relatable characters are crucial for the story to be engaging. Mindy emphasizes the importance of taking the time to build the characters’ backstories (not just the MC’s). In a novel, you have the luxury to build a character as you go. However, when we write scripts for TV shows we don’t always have that option, do we? That’s why her tips for developing three-dimensional characters are helpful. Even she has made the mistake of not doing so; don’t feel bad if you slip up. Just make sure to learn and grow.

A, B, C Stories

Mindy still uses index cards and sticks them to a board to create the structure. It may seem pretentious (even she says so), but I think it’s a good idea. You can just stare at the board and start writing the scenes. You don’t get that sort of overview when using a computer, do you? 

We also learn more about creating the A, B, and C stories – main storyline, secondary storyline or subplot, and smaller subplot. I simply paused the video and stared at my laptop screen for some time when she started talking about cold opens and throw-forwards. Fortunately, when I did start the video again she explained them using episodes from ‘The Office’ and ‘Never Have I Ever’. So, it sank in better.

Dialogue

Nothing is more daunting than sitting in front of our devices and wondering how to write dialogues that would be realistic enough to resonate with the audience. Mindy provides a handy tip to overcome that initial hesitance and start writing. Moreover, you learn about the editing process which is similar to novel writing but takes a lot less time to complete.

What do you think it’s like to work with actors? She loves table reads, as the actors bring life to the dialogues she wrote. It takes maturity to accept that dialogue alone cannot prop up a show and the actors are a key part in its success. I mean, come on, even the minute expressions on an actor’s face can make you laugh or cry. Therefore, I concede her point that knowing when to use dialogue and when to let the visual and audio cues do their work is important.

Running A Show

Mindy discusses going from one among the gang of wonderful writers for ‘The Office to being a showrunner of the ‘Mindy Project’. Her reference to the call sheet reminded me of Jensen and Misha blaming the number one on the call sheet – Jared Padalecki – for the minor destructions on set (even though they are all equally destructive).

Being a showrunner is not for the faint of heart – at least that’s what she says. Knowing what it entails can make you feel better prepared though. You have to work a lot and your work is never really done. Pitching, tone meetings, and communications with network executives in addition to shooting the show can be exhausting. Mindy also explains why you have to develop a thick skin fast and deal with rejections.

Finally, we learn about Spec Scripts and why they can be valuable. Also, Kaley discusses how many of the scripts we write may never see the light of day. That might be a bitter pill to swallow, but that’s how it is. At least, it serves as a practice and helps us write even better. Every cloud has a silver lining, I guess.

💵 Mindy Kaling MasterClass Cost

MasterClass offers three membership annual plans: Standard, Plus, and Premium. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee. You have to subscribe to one of the plans to access any and all of the 200+ classes on this site. You must dole out $120 for the Standard plan, $180 for the Plus plan, and $240 for the Premium plan. The Plus and Premium plans have an offline mode and allow access on multiple devices (2 and 6).

All plans are available at half their prices, at the moment, due to the holiday season. If the price still seems excessive, take comfort in the fact that you can also access fantastic classes like Aaron Sorkin teaches Screenwriting, Shonda Rhimes teaches Writing for Television, and Steve Martin teaches Comedy. Now, the price seems just right, don’t you agree?

👫 What Others Say

To provide a well-rounded review of Mindy Kaling’s MasterClass, I discussed it with friends who have taken the course and explored feedback from learners across the globe.

Here’s a summary of their shared experiences.

The relatable content and practical advice paired with Kaley’s charismatic teaching style resonated with the learners. However, they wish the class had more in-depth content and that there was a way to get feedback on their assignments. The overall response is mostly positive.

🎯 Final Verdict: Is Mindy Kaling MasterClass Worth It?

It is certainly a great resource if you have never taken another MasterClass in writing. If you have, then this Mindy Kaling MasterClass review must have revealed you won’t have much to learn. However, it is still worth watching to understand how scriptwriting for TV shows works. And, the writing assignments are excellent.

FAQ’s about Mindy Kaling MasterClass

1. Is Mindy Kaling MasterClass free?

No, the class cannot be accessed for free. You have to subscribe to the Standard, Plus, or Premium plan to access any course on MasterClass. The good news? You can watch all the classes available.

2. Can I download Mindy Kaling MasterClass?

A Plus or Premium membership subscriber can download the class for offline viewing. However, you can access the downloaded content only through the ‘My Downloads’ section. And, you can watch as long as your subscription is active.

3. What is the duration of the Mindy Kaling MasterClass?

The class is 1 hour and 7 minutes long and isn’t divided into short video clips like most classes on MasterClass. All the information is provided in a single video which can be a blessing for binge-watchers and a curse for those with a short attention span. I nearly experienced brain death by the end of the video due to my low attention span. I am never experimenting again.