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.
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INSIGHT

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.
INSIGHT

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.
ADVICE

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.
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