As a freelance journalist for more than 30 years, and a published playwright, Daniel Dercksen received the number one spot for most popular lifestyle contributor for 2012 on Biz Community.com. A qualified ETD Practitioner (Education, Training and Development) - accredited by SAQA (The South African Qualifications Authority) - working in accordance with the principles of the Department of Education and focusing on outcome-based education, training and development, he launched The Writing Studio 19 years ago and, since then, has presented workshops in scriptwriting and creative writing throughout South Africa, including a Master Class for Screenwriters for the Talent Campus at the Sithengi Film and TV Market in Cape Town, a "Directing Actors" workshop with actor Eriq Ebouaney; the launching of an evening course in scriptwriting at the City Varsity Film TV and Multimedia School in Cape Town; community workshops the Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre in Kwa Mashu as part of the annual Kwa Mashu Film Festival, a course for the Cape Film Commission at the Ikapa Youth Film Festival, and a Masterclass at the 2012 Kunjanimation Animation Festival

Graduates of the workshops include award-winning playwrights Neil Coppen (Abnormal Loads) and Jeremeo Le Cordeur (February 14th), filmmakers John Barker (Bunny Chow and How To Steal a Million) and Henk Pretorius (Bakgat, Fanie Fourie Se Lobola, the audience award-winner at the 39th Seattle International Film Festival, Sedona Film Festival and Pan African Film Festival), novelists Lauren Beukes (Zoo City, The Shining Girl) and Gary Hirson (The Magic That is Ours and Calm in Storm), Consuelo Roland (shortlisted for the Sunday Times Fiction Award and received an Honorary mention for the Olive Schreiner Prize for her novel The Good Cemetery Guide), and journalist/ publicists Illa Thompson and Kevin Kriedeman.