Writing Coach · Ghostwriter · Producer · Publisher
Hi, I’m Margaret
Producer, teacher, publisher — and, for decades, a champion of other people’s stories.
Hollywood taught me how stories work
I started out making movies. I produced feature films, including Beaches, and co-founded All Girl Productions with my partners Bonnie Bruckheimer and Bette Midler. Working in film teaches you something you never forget: an audience will forgive almost anything except a story that doesn’t know where it’s going.
Teaching is what I love most
I love teaching even more than producing. I created a children’s writing program for grades K–12 and won a federal contract to bring it into public schools. I taught screenwriting at the University of Hawaii. I’ve also been a stay-at-home mom, which teaches you a thing or two about patience and about listening.
Today I coach writers of every age and stage, online, from my home in Georgia. Some are brand new to the page. Others have been carrying a book around for ten years. All of them have something to say.
Why I started All Girl Publishing
Women are being heard now more than ever before as a collective and as individuals. Yet many good stories never make it out of the drawer. I created All Girl Publishing to help women writers make sure their voices are heard — and to give the writers I work with a real path from first draft to finished book, without giving away their royalties.
1988 - Film producer
Produced feature films, including Beaches
1984 - Co-founder, All Girl Productions
With Bonnie Bruckheimer and Bette Midler
2005-2010 - Educator
Created a K–12 children’s writing program, delivered in public schools under a federal contract
2009 - University teacher
Taught screenwriting at the University of Hawaii
2026 - Publisher
Founded All Girl Publishing
2027 - Author
Women with Big Ideas, coming in 2027
Margaret South has spent decades helping writers bring their stories to life. She produced feature films, including the beloved Beaches, and co-founded All Girl Productions with partners Bonnie Bruckheimer and Bette Midler. Margaret created a children’s writing program for grades K–12, won a federal contract to provide it in public schools, and taught screenwriting at the University of Hawaii. She went on to found All Girl Publishing to help women writers ensure their voices are heard. A veteran of writers’ conferences, she has presented at the Maui Writers’ Conference, the Hawaii Writers’ Conference, the Crossroads Writers Conference, American Pen Women and others.
You may have seen me at…
I’m a veteran of the writers’ conference circuit and have presented at:
- Story Summit Writers’ Retreat in Middlewick, Glastonbury
- Okoboji Writers Retreat
- Maui Writers’ Conference
- Hawaii Writers’ Conference
- Crossroads Writers Conference
- American Pen Women
- Middle Georgia Lit Fest
- Macon Film Festival
- …and many others
“My decade-long journey of learning the craft never satisfactorily answered, “What is a story?” Margaret has answered this question.”
Rebecca Reuter
Writer
Let’s work on your story
I’m currently accepting new students and manuscripts. Come to a free Saturday class and see how it feels, or get in touch and tell me what you’re working on.