The Creative Writing Life

Screenwriter-film instructor-podcaster John Ingle talks about his experience as an award-winning screenwriter, the Movies By Minute concept, and how he uses the movie JAWS as a learning tool. @Inglefilms on X/Twitter

Writer-musician Carlos Baker talks about how writing his book and playing music helped him deal with his depression, why 80s movies are AWESOME, and an impromptu blues performance! https://ckbakerband.com/

Screenwriter & writing coach/consultant Jeff Kitchen talks about the concepts behind his new book The Hero's Dilemma, what "dramatic action" is, and the need for CONFLICT in your story https://script.kitchen/

Screenwriter Bob DeRosa (KILLERS, THE AIR I BREATHE) talks with Paul about how he got his start (and his dislike of the phrase "breaking in"), loglines, the writing process, and the importance of "there are no shortcuts". @thembob on X/Twitter

Paul talks with screenwriter & Grey List organizer Brad Johnson about what the List is, how it came to be, the significance of publishing it, and how writers can get ready for next year. The Grey List 2024: https://bit.ly/48sHSF7 Plus - a big announcement!

In this week's episode, Paul talks with author Tyler Snure about how he developed and published his Y.A. fiction while still in high school(!), his creative process, and what he discusses in his presentations about writing. http://snurestories.com @SnureStories

In this week's episode, Justin and Paul talk to screenwriter Victoria Male about how she got her start, working for director Ivan Reitman, and what advice she has for screenwriters. Worth noting - soon after this recording, Victoria's script SHOWSTOPPER was selected as a finalist in the Nicholl Fellowship

Paul chats with dramatist/writer/screenwriter Barry M Putt, Jr about writing for audio drama, techniques for creating engaging stories, developing a marketing plan, and his book about the 70s TV show ALICE. https://www.barrymputtjr.com/ Barry's non-fiction book Stories Told through Sound: The Craft of Writing Audio Dramas for Podcasts, Streaming, and Radio is available at bookstores everywhere. See the "books" tab of this web site for further details including upcoming public appearances. Barry's other books include: Alice: Life Behind the Counter in Mel's Greasy Spoon (A Guide to the Feature Film, the​ TV series, and More). He is currently working on a book entitled The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew on Film, TV, and Stage for BearManor Media.  ​ Barry has scripted over 50 audio-drama adaptations and original productions. His audio-drama version of Beauty and the Beast will be released by Blackstone Audio in 2024. The third season of the western audio-drama series Richard Wade, U.S. Marshal that he writes for Radio Theater Project debuts on Dramafy in 2024. Barry has written for other audio-drama companies including Colonial Radio Theatre on the Air!, Baicizhan Technology, Voices in the Wind Audio Theatre, and DTC Radio.  ​ His plays have been performed throughout the U.S. and in France, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates. They include Triangle and The Porch at the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival and The Lollipop Lady and Dead Body by Turtle Shell Productions. Barry served as head writer on the episodic, comedy-horror, TV show In the Cellar and the Telly Award-winning series The Wisdom Tree. He wrote the script for the VR series Maren’s Rock, which was produced by Daniel Gaucher and PKVR.    Barry has presented at various conferences including the National Dramatists Guild Conference and BCC's Aspiring Writers Conference. He is available to present on writing for stage, screen, audio drama, TV writing, and marketing approaches. 

This week Paul chatted with Jennifer Manocherian on her work in theater and teaching writing. https://thepeacestudio.org/board-bio-jennifer-manocherian/ Theater Producer and Writer Jennifer Manocherian has been a Broadway and off-Broadway theatre producer for over thirty years. She wrote the book of a musical, Marry Harry, with composers Dan Martin and Michael Biello, which had a production at the York Theatre in NY, then was filmed in a sound studio for online streaming (amazon prime video, www.streamingmusicals.com and broadwayondemand.com). The same team wrote a short musical for streaming that will be available shortly. She wrote and produced the film Family Blues, also on amazon prime video, and has another film planned for filming next year. Aside from other writing projects, she teaches introductory screenwriting at The Sarah Lawrence Writing Institute. Prior to her career as a producer, she was a family therapist and a divorce mediator. Jennifer serves on the board of New York Stage & Film, a nonprofit devoted to developing new works.

Paul Zeidman sat down with Charles D'Amico, Award-winning Author, Founder & President of Blue Handle Publishing and Book Puma Author Services. They discussed writing, editing and publishing. https://bluehandlepublishing.com/ https://bookpumalive.com/