The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna

Join TSL Workshops: https://tslworkshops.circle.so When you're pitching — whether it's on studio IP or your own original idea — what sets you apart is your take. But what does that actually mean? This week, Jac Schaeffer (WandaVision, Agatha All Along) breaks it down. For Jac, a great take starts with the emotional core — “what is the deep down” that connects you to the material. From there, it's about delivering a pitch only you could give: not necessarily linear or formulaic, but full of energy, essence, and personal vision. We talk about how far is too far from the IP, how to navigate studio mandates, and how to protect your voice in rooms full of competing takes.

In this special roundtable, we're joined by three working screenwriters — Nic Curcio, Kristen Tepper, and Julia Yorks — who have each built successful writing careers while also growing authentic, engaged followings online. We talk candidly about the growing pressure for writers to maintain a social media presence. From expanding your network to attracting opportunities, social media can help. But it can also complicate your creative process, affect your mental health, and make the work feel secondary. This conversation is an honest look at that tension — and how, with the right mindset, social media can become less of a burden and more of a creative outlet that reflects your voice, supports your goals, and connects you to a writing community in an often isolating industry. --------------- Check out Nic, Kristen, and Julia's social accounts below... Nic Curcio Instagram: @nicolascurcio | TikTok: @nicolascurciowriter Kristen Tepper Instagram: @kristentepper | TikTok: @teppertoks Julia Yorks Instagram: @juliayorks | TikTok: @juliayorks --------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslwokshops.circle.so Trey Edward Shults is an inspiration to directors everywhere — including Jeff. His debut feature, KRISHA, was a no-name psychological drama shot in his own home on a shoestring budget under $30K. Against all odds, it won SXSW, screened at Cannes, and eventually sold to A24. KRISHA stands as a beacon for anyone looking to make a personal, ambitious feature with limited resources. Now Trey is collaborating with The Weeknd, and even though their new film HURRY UP TOMORROW feels bigger in scale, Trey's storytelling ethos remains unchanged: center the character, prioritize emotion, and use the camera as a tool to highlight the story — not to distract from it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.sol In this special edition of our mailbag series, we're flipping the script. Instead of questions from newcomers, today we hear from working, professional screenwriters—people already inside the industry, navigating the real-world challenges of a creative career. From handling difficult notes to sustaining momentum between jobs, Meg and Lorien dig into what it means to grow and survive as a writer at the professional level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so BUY ROB'S BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/FILM-DIRECTORS-FIELD-MANUAL-Filmmaking/dp/1662850549 Whether you're on set or on the page, great storytelling relies on clarity, efficiency, and emotional truth. This week, veteran director Rob Spera joins us to discuss his new handbook on the fundamentals of directing—and how those same principles can elevate your screenwriting. From working with actors to mastering visual storytelling, Rob shares actionable insights that will sharpen your craft and help you write with a director's eye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Emily Brundige was tired of waiting around for gatekeepers to say yes. So, she stopped asking. In this candid conversation with Lorien, Emily shares how her frustration with the traditional hurry-up-and-wait pitch process pushed her to self-produce an animated short. That project — born from passion, resourcefulness, and a refusal to wait — eventually became GOLDIE, a series now on Apple TV+. They dive into what it actually takes to make your own work, how festivals and buzz helped build momentum, and why animation is such a powerful space for self-starters. If you've ever felt stuck in development limbo, this episode might just give you the spark (and strategy) to make your move. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carla Banks-Waddles (BEL-AIR) has lived many lives as a writer. From being a valued member of multi-cam half hour rooms, to pivoting towards single cam serialized family dramas, Carla has had a wonderfully diverse career. How? She wrote her way there. Enjoy Carla's insightful, optimistic, and sometimes obsessive approach to how we can craft our dream career as writers. Whip out your swobes, and get ready to slork! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so TAKE BRENT'S CLASS: https://www.brentforrester.com/webinar Brent Forrester wasn't naturally funny, and he's the first person to admit it. And yet, when Brent was in his early 20s, he studied comedy like a science, and it has fostered one of the most successful comedy writing careers of anyone working today. Listen to some of Brent's inside tips when it comes to cracking the code on comedy. And focus on plosives. Always plosives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so You are not alone, and keep writing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WATCH LOS FRIKIS: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Los-Frikis/0H49M436MMS223JUKJ26Q95EKJ Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz are the first to admit "they're not the cool kids." Their widely celebrated debut THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON was bootstrapped by grit, hard work, and a ferocious commitment to making something authentic, and that same spirit fills every frame of their follow-up film, LOS FRIKIS. Like the filmmakers themselves, the movie follows a group of lovable outsiders finding their own way to make beautiful art in a system that opposes it. In today's conversation with Jeffrey Crane Graham, they discuss how filmmaking is like building a house: pre-production is a blueprint, production is about "collecting lumber," and post-production is an act of construction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are launching a brand new monthly BONUS show this Thursday in feed, hosted by our producer Jeffrey Crane Graham. Don't miss it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Whether you're on your billionth draft, or stuck in post on a docuseries, finding a connective THEME to tell your story is one of the most valuable ways to create a cohesive and satisfying story. Today's guest, John Henion, understands that better than anyone. His impressive career as an episodic documentary filmmaker includes shows like CHEF'S TABLE and WELCOME TO WREXHAM, but whatever the project may be, John tells us how it always comes down to finding the emotional center of your story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://twslworkshops.circle.so The Molyneux Sisters believe that character is at the center of all great comedy. For them, specificity, character quirks, and close observations about the friends (and strangers) around them will always provide the cocktail for a great character. Hear about these two found their voice, honed their craft, and became important voices in the adult animated world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so George Saunders is a writer of novels, short stories, and non-fiction, whose work has amassed a collection of awards, including The Booker Prize for his debut novel, Lincoln in the Bardo. His essay collection A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, which focuses on the storytelling prowess of four Russian masters, was not only a bestseller, but invited passionate responses from his readers, who are as obsessed with story math as we are. George is the ultimate story junkie, as evidenced by his wildly popular Substack, Story Club, which features his musings about the mechanics, mystery, and magic of great storytelling. CHECK OUT GEORGE'S SUBSTACK: https://georgesaunders.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dana Fox offers an incredibly generous admission in today's conversation: "I find writing REALLY torturous." And yet, she's one of Hollywood's most successful writers, having written on major franchises like CRUELLA and recently WICKED, for which she has been nominated and won countless industry awards. What's her secret? Tune into as she discusses why writing can feel so hard and how she pushes through those blocks - or perhaps more fittingly, defies gravity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.cricle.so For decades, if you wanted to make it as a Hollywood writer, the first step was simple: move to Hollywood. But increasingly, screenwriters have found that they're able to create and foster screenwriting careers outside of Los Angeles. Two folks who have done that successfully, Will Fetters and Chris Sparling, join us today to talk about the practical logistics of making your Hollywood writing career work no matter where you live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so It's no secret that plays and movies are entirely different mediums, and even a play as celebrated as The Piano Lesson by late American master August Wilson demanded a cinematic treatment. From the start, co-writer and director Malcom Washington came in with a very specific take on the material, and was incredibly grateful when Oscar-nominated MUDBOUND co-writer Virgil Williams came on board to help nurture (and focus) that take on the page. In today's conversation, you'll hear the two of them wrote together in the desert, creating a routinized approach to the material, while still leaving space for discovery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so What sounds harder? Writing a pilot alone at your desk, or running your own TV show with 300 folks trying to execute your vision? For Liz Feldman, it's the former, which affirms what we often say on this show: writing is really, really hard. Despite that, Liz has almost 30 years of TV writing experience under her belt, including two hits for Netflix that she created and showran: Dead To Me and No Good Deed. Join us as she unpacks her creative process.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Pixar story genius Mike Jones gets candid with Meg about endings: what makes a great ending, and more important, what makes an emotional ending. Meg and Mike also discuss selfish characters, narrative feature film engines, and how to keep our storytelling fresh when we feel like we're locked in the same old patterns. DREAM PRODUCTIONS, which Mike developed (and even helped direct!), is on Disney+ now.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so To say that Kelly Younger is a fairly tell expert is an understatement. He has built an entire career around his obsession with fairy tale principles, so much so that he has becoming a coveted story consultant, and frequent writer for THE MUPPETS universe, with credits on MUPPETS NOW and MUPPETS HAUNTED MANSION. Younger has developed at Amazon, Apple, Hulu, Disney Studios, Paramount Animation, Warner Animation Group, Dreamworks Animation, Disney Originals, and consulted at Skydance Animation and on both SHREK 5 and PUSS IN BOOTS 2 at Illumination. He frequently gives invited studio talks on fairy tales and story structure. So why would should we care so much about a centuries-old artform? Kelly breaks it all down today.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Glen Mazzara has produced, created and/or showran a litany of amazing projects. His impressive resume includes The Walking Dead (he showran season 3), and Damien which he also created. But even Glen is the first to admit that there is a certain amount of luck that comes with getting the coveted greenlight. Navigating producers, networks, and the studio can be a complicated game of chess, but today, Glen breaks it all down with a refreshing amount of candor.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so As promised, here is part two of our support staff deep dive. We chat with Anthony Musella, showrunner's assistant to Rodney Barnes, who's known for some of the most subversive shows and movies of the last 15 years, such as The Boondocks and Winning Time. Anthony dives deep into what it's like working in development with one of Hollywood's busiest creatives.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so To help support relief efforts related to the fires in LA, consider donating to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation: https://supportlafd.kindful.com/?campaign=1040812 Listen as former writer's assistants Jonathan Hurwitz, Maggie Gottlieb, and Lauren Halberg detail their experience as writers assistants. They answer the important questions like: how do you actually get a writer's assistant job, how can you elegantly parlay that job into bigger opportunities, and...the dreaded quesiton: can I pitch?

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Clint Bentley, our guest on today's show, and his filmmaking partner Greg Kwedar, co-write and co-produce every feature film project they tackle, with one of them taking on the role of director. This wildly unique and successful partnership has led to one of the year's most beloved movies, "Sing Sing." Today, Clint unpacks how he and Greg decided to tackle the project, how they involved the real life creators behind the program that inspired the movie, and - yes, this is true - how they managed to pay everyone on set the exact same day rate.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so What brings you the most joy when it comes to writing? What pisses you off about writing? Advice for your younger self? Happy new year!! :45 - Dave Holstein (Episode 196) 7:04 - Kelsey Mann (Episode 197) 12:40 - Meredith Scardino (Episode 198) 17:11 - Todd A Kessler (Episode 199) 19:48 - Joey Slamon (Episode 200) 25:28 - Christopher Vogler (Episode 204) 31:29 - Nitza Wilon & Elizabeth Kaiden (Episode 207) 33:25 - Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky (Episode 209) 39:28 - Andy Breckman (Episode 210) 42:51 - Kelly O'Sullivan (Episode 211) 46:18 - Barbara Stepansky (Episode 212) 47:42 - Tate Hanyok and Alex Convery (Episode 213) 1:02:09 - Jon Huertas (Episode 214) 1:08:06 - Patton Oswalt (Episode 215) 1:11:15 - John Hoffman (Episode 216) 1:16:00 - Jenna Lamia (Episode 222) 1:20:40 - Sharon Horgan (Episode 225) 1:23:52 - Justin Kuritzkes (Episode 226) 1:27:25 - Susannah Grant (Episode 227)

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so At the end of every episode, we ask our guests the Three Big Questions: What brings you the most joy when it comes to writing? What pisses you off about writing? What advice would you give to your younger self? Today's supercut captures the heartfelt answers from TSL guests over the past year. Part 2, coming soon! 1:04 - Charlotte Stoudt (Ep 164) 7:24 - Tom McCarthy (Ep 169) 12:24 - Adam Grant (Ep 171) 22:45 - Jodie Foster (Ep 174) 28:00 - Michael Arndt (Ep 176) 31:00 - Celine Song (Ep 177) 37:54 - David Heminsgon (Ep 178) 42:15 - Elizabeth Hargrave (Ep 180) 46:50 - Lloyd Taylor (Ep 181) 50:25 - Dave Mullins, Brad Booker, & Sean Ono Lennon (Ep 182) 1:06:22 - Jennifer Deaton (Ep 184) 1:14:32 - Cole Haddon (Ep 185) 1:19:30 - Jeff Melvoin (Ep 186) 1:23:00 - Debby Wolfe (Ep 187) 1:26:20 - Octavio Solis (Ep 188) 1:34:27 - Carole Kirschner (Ep 189) 1:39:26 - Navid McIlhargey (Ep 190) 1:43:50 - Linda Seger (Ep 191) 1:49:23 - Billy Mernit (Ep 194)

Many of Susannah Grant's movies are based on true stories, which, for a writer, often invites thorny questions about adaptation — What should I include? Is it essential that every detail I include happened verbatim? In answering these questions during today's fascinating conversation, Susannah sheds light on an important reality: sometimes in fiction writing, there's profound difference between truth and facts.

Justin Kuritzkes is having a good year. Two of his scripts, Challengers and Queer, were brought to life by world-renowned director Luca Guadagnino. Despite being about wildly different worlds, both scripts center complicated characters swirling in complicated romantic dynamics. Challengers, our focus of today's conversation, was born out of Justin's newfound interest in tennis, and a fascination with what might be happening off the court between players in an intimate sport. His script instantly attracted Zendaya's attention, so it's safe to say he did something right!

Join TSL Workshops: www.tslworkshops.circle.so (Through January 1, use coupon code HOLIDAY24 to get a 5-day free trial + 50% off your first 3 months!) Despite the BAFTA wins, Peabody Awards, and IFTA nominations, Sharon Horgan didn't really begin her writing career until her mid-30s, but her previous professional experiences have given her valuable ammo to write interesting, nuanced characters. Today we discuss how she reveals that nuance as she writes. Season two of Bad Sisters is available on Apple TV+ now.

Join TSL Workshops NOW with our special 2024 coupon code HOLIDAY24: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Thanks to AFF for welcoming us back this year for another Story Workshop, and a special thanks to Brittney, Jessica, and Adam for sharing their projects. If you'd like to reach Adam to discuss his cult-inspired TV show, you can reach him here: https://www.adambranson.com/contact

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.cricle.so As writers, we are aiming to create the most believably human characters we can, and one of the best ways to inform this is to dig into our characters' humanity is to understand their psychology. Today, we're honored to welcome world-renowned emotional psychologist Dr. Dan Siegel to share how human beings form belief systems based on traumatic experiences in their developmental years, and what it takes for them to transform (aka, the three act journey of a feature). GET DAN'S NEW BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Personality-Wholeness-Therapy-Integrating-Developmental/dp/1324016299

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Jenna Lamia's first producer/creator/showrunner credit wasn't just a success — it was a smash hit, becoming one of Netflix's top five most streamed TV seasons EVER. The show, which stars Nicole Kidman, is a sleek and funny murder mystery set around a bougie Nantucket wedding, and today, Jenna talks all about how she adapted Elin Hilderbrand's best-selling novel into one of the year's most successful shows.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Another mailbag! We answer your brilliant questions, and talk a bit about Austin. Buckle up!

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so On today's spooktacular episode, we welcome three creatives behind Hulu's new campy horror slasher romp CARVED: Director and co-writer Justin Harding, co-writer Cheryl Meyer, and star Peyton Elizabeth Lee to talk about horror, and particularly, how we write it. Happy Halloween!

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so We talk about ACTIVE protagonists all the time on the show, but we know that creating one is easier said than done. Luckily, Meg and Lorien have a laundry list of practical exercises you can explore today to bring your protagonist to life. But first, we talk with longtime TSL listen and TSL workshops member Laurel Senick about a lovely email she sent us.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so How does a TV writer go from working on a classic sitcom (The Office), to a deeply-felt immigrant dramedy (Little America), to creating a hidden camera show (Jury Duty), and most recently, creating an Emmy-nominated female-driven workplace drama (Lessons in Chemistry)? Hard work. Despite his mega-career, Lee Eisenberg doesn't believe he is in the upper echelon of Hollywood's most talented writers, but he does believe he outworks almost anyone else in town. Tune in to find out how you can, too.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Joey Tuccio may know more writers in Hollywood than just about anyone. In fact, he loves writers so much, that he created an entire program to nature, incubate, and propel writers to representation through his brainchild ROADMAP WRITERS. Today, in a re-broadcast of a hugely attended Facebook live from 2023, we ask the hard questions about what it really takes to get a manager.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so John Hoffman is the first to admit his surprise at just how comfortable he felt directing Meryl Streep on his set for Only Murders In The Building. She's not the only legend to have appeared on the show...Steve Martin, Martin Short, Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Nathan Lane: it's a murderers' row. And yet, it's been decades of hard work, ups and downs, passes, "almost-greenlights" and visits from Moetta...John's imaginary muse, that have earned him the confidence to showrun one of TVs most beloved comedies. Learn about how he built that confidence in today's lovely conversation.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so/ When Patton Oswalt considers a part, he has a simple litmus test: "When the movie is finished it's either gotta be, I can't believe they pulled this off, or this movie should not have been made." Risk has always been an important part of Patton's life as an artists in every medium: writing, acting, performing, and stand up. Enjoy this incredible conversation with one of our best working stand ups.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: http://tslworkshops.circle.so Though he's perhaps best known as Miguel on This Is Us, Jon Huertas has been a TV staple for decades, having worked on broadcast, cable, and streaming, both in front of and behind the camera. With such a deep well of experience, Jon has incredible advice for TV writers in today's conversation.

RSVP for the TSL/Roadmap AFF Party Here: https://bit.ly/4cQWUHa Years ago, Alex Convery and Tate Hanyok were merely attending the Austin Film Festival as screenplay competition winners, and this year, they're attending as panelists! Find out how they used the festival to meet writers, rep, and most importantly, motivate their career in the right direction.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS FOR FREE: https://tslworkshops.circle.so/ Barbara Stepansky's career is the culmination of years of incredibly hard work. In addition to winning the highly competitive Nicholl fellowship, Barbara is a WGA-award winner for a TV movie, the head writer on a German-language Netflix show, and a writer/producer on Starz' Outlander. Today's conversation is all about how Barbara built her uniquely multi-faceted career.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: tslworkshops.circle.so How does a Chicago-based Indie film team break into Sundance, sell their movie at the fest, debut with a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and make a Box Office Splash? They make a really, really great movie. Writer/director Kelly O'Sullivan knows a thing or two about Indie Filmmaking; her debut Saint Francis won SXSW in 2019. Toaday she discusses how she writers, casts, and directs outside of the traditional indie ecosystem, and how you can too.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Whether it was writing for SNL in the '80s, writing RAT RACE in the 90s, or creating MONK in the 2000s, it's no secret that Andy Breckman has had an incredible career. What does he chalk it up to? Luck (and a whole lot of hard work).

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: www.tslworkshops.circle.so When Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky, and Lucia Aniello were first pitching Hacks, they didn't have a precise tonal comp when the network asked. But the trio ultimately knew that they wanted a show that was allowed to be "hard funny," but still make lots of space for rich emotional moments. Today, Paul and Jen discuss HOW they walk that tightrope while writing, and how centering Ava and Deborah's professional and personal relationship serves as their creative North Star helps the process.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: www.tslworkshops.circle.so Animation is a MEDIUM, not a genre. This, among many other important lessons on today's episode, is one of the first thing Lorien tells people who are interested in writing animated TV for children. Today we discuss how to break into children's animated TV, how production considerations weigh into the writing process, and what it means to signal a "red alert" in your work (hint: this is a good thing).

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: www.tslworkshops.circle.so Let's be frank: sexism and ageism are no joke in Hollywood. That being said, women over forty posses superpowers that the peers may lack - experience and wisdom. For Nitza Wilon & Elizabeth Kaiden, this is part of the juice behind the Writers Lab, the only screenwriting lab solely focused on nurturing women and non-binary folk over 40.

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS!: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Today, we're joined by Jaiver Barrios, Lauren, O'Connor, and Hilary Swett to discuss the INVALUABLE resources that the WGAF library provides for writers…FOR FREE. RESOURCES DISCUSSED: WGF Blog (Spec Primer Example!): https://www.wgfoundation.org/blog/2023/1/18/formatting-your-spec-script-a-primer-part-22?rq=abbot WGF Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/WritersGuildFoundation

Today is your last day for a lifetime TSL Workshops Discount! Sign up here: https://tslworkshops.circle.so

Sign up for TSL Workshops!: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Get Chris' Book!: https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Journey-Mythic-Structure-3rd/dp/193290736X Though Chris Vogler is generally credited with introducing the FRAMEWORK of The Hero's Journey into modern Hollywood discourse, it almost didn't happen. When someone else plagiarized his memo and trafficked it to Jeffrey Katzenberg trying to take credit for it, Chris faced a crossroads. Find out HOW he managed that, and became an essential creative pillar behind the development of THE LION KING.

Sign up today - https://tslworkshops.circle.so