The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna

Find yourself asking the question 'Why bother” when it comes to your writing? Creative people are asking that question now more than ever, but bestselling author and world-renowned creativity expert Jen Louden wants you to go deeper and really ask the question, really think about it. On today's show, she walks us through why it's important for us to bother about what really matters, and how asking that question and approaching our writing with "self-compassionate grit" can help us get back on the page. For Meg And Lorien’s Episode of “Create Out Loud”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-out-loud-with-jennifer-louden/id1559415253 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even though pop culture often draws artists as free-spirited goofballs that "go-with-the-flow" true artistry lies in the art of self-discipline, self-esteem, and BOUNDARIES. The truth of getting work done means being willing to draw boundaries in your own life, around your work, and around your ART. How will you draw boundaries this week? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This topic comes up ALL the time on our Facebook group, and finally, we have definitive answers, and LOTS of them. How long should my pitch be, what should it look like, what should it actually include. WTF actually is a DECK??? How can avoid nerves for a meeting, what is my responsibility during a general. A-List producer Sheila Hanahan Taylor has EVERYTHING you need to know! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After decades working with writers in this business, Sheila Hanahan Taylor - A-List producer behind many beloved edge-of-your seat genre films like the Final Destination films - has brilliantly assembled a list of common mistakes she sees "rookies" make.And speaking of genre, Sheila brilliantly counters some of those condescending perspectives with her own experiences as to why genre may be the secret to getting your emerging work of the ground. She will FOREVER re-think the way you think about genre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feeling blocked, stuck, uninspired, or just BLAH? We're here to save the day!We were initially going to run an episode on boundaries (don't worry, we still will!) but a NUMBER of hurdles interfered with our ability to make that happen, so our intern Jess pitched a great idea to cut together a greatest hits "emergency" toolkit compilation to get you though this week! If you LOVE a highlight and want to listen to the full episode, here are the past episodes we compiled from: Episode 9 - How to overcome writer’s block Episode 14 - Outlining/Chunking In Your Writing Episode 20 - Importance of play Episode 21 - Overcome Excuses Episode 24 - Perfectionism kills your writing Episode 29 - The Long Road For Writers Thank you to Jess Fisher for assembling this episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marti Noxon is a force in our business. Known for her sharp voice, social commentary, and darkly funny writing, all of which is tied together by a knack for complicated and richly drawn female characters, she's on TV's most important voices.She's worked on everything from beloved genre projects like BUFFY to prestige crime dramas like SHARP OBJECTS, and she's here today to help us get a full and detailed look at the current landscape for writing in television.Learn what we REALLY mean when we say story engine, what makes Marti quit reading a sample while staffing, and whether we should pitch with a bible, treatment, or one page when we take a show out.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join the hosts and guest Andrew Stanton, a renowned storyteller, as they discuss storytelling intricacies in screenwriting. Topics include crafting compelling narratives, embracing creativity, navigating feedback, and exploring character motivations. Learn the importance of persistence, collaboration, and emotional engagement in creating authentic and memorable stories.

We had SUCH a great tangent on last week's episode, that we wanted to feature this conversation as it's own short MINISODE. Do you have a great character want that doesn't feel URGENT enough in your Act I? We're almost SURE it's because you haven't created a clear enough problem for your character yet. Listen to find out EXACTLY what we need... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do Voldemort, Regina George, and Hans Gruber have in common? They're great antagonists, of course! Whether it's an action movie, a comedy, or even a contemplative drama, story needs conflict, and antagonists CREATE conflict, so we're going to discuss what makes a great antagonist today on the show.For NPR's FULL Coverage Of Die Hard: https://www.npr.org/2021/03/18/978734467/die-hard-welcome-to-the-podcast-pal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emotionally rich writing has always been a Hallmark for both Meg and Lorien in their writing, and on today's show, we dig into the meat of what makes it work and why. TSL family member Savannah Morgan hooked us up with the London Screenwriter's Festival, and moderated an AMAZING interview w/ Meg and Lorien where they got into all of it. It's an amazing listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices