Struck by Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal follows the story of outcast high school senior Carson Phillips who blackmails the most popular students into contributing to his literary journal to bolster his college application; his goal in life is to get into Northwestern and eventually become the editor of The New Yorker. At once laugh-out-loud funny, deliciously dark, and remarkably smart, Struck by Lightning unearths the dirt that lies just below the surface of high school. The major motion picture Struck by Lightning features Colfer's own original screenplay and stars Allison Janney, Christina Hendricks, Dermot Mulroney, and Colfer in leading roles. )