
The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna 284 | "Oh. What. Fun." Writer Chandler Baker On Going From Novel To Screenwriting
14 snips
Feb 7, 2026 Chandler Baker, a corporate attorney turned New York Times bestselling novelist and screenwriter, shares her journey from law to writing. She talks about adapting a short story into the feature Oh, What Fun, collaborating with Michael Showalter, and the craft shifts between novels and screenplays. Conversation also covers showrunning surprises, finding high-concept ideas in real life, and balancing creative risk with financial reality.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Collaboration Sharpens Structure
- Writing with Michael Showalter taught Chandler to be very intentional about structure and pacing.
- Collaboration accelerated drafting and helped manage ensemble storylines effectively.
Personal Themes Deepen Audience Connection
- Emotional labor and visibility are recurring themes in Chandler's work about women.
- She found a stronger audience response when she wrote honestly about motherhood and domestic roles.
Keep The Day Job As A Safety Net
- Keep a day job as long as possible to protect creative risk-taking and financial safety.
- Use the stability to take artistic risks without compromising the art itself.






