260 | You Have A Barf Draft…Now What? (5 Steps to take RIGHT NOW)
By The Screenwriting Life | August 14, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | August 14, 2025
The Screenwriting Life
Welcome to The Screenwriting Life, a podcast where Oscar-nominated writer Meg LeFauve and Emmy-nominated writer Lorien McKenna discuss not only the craft and business of Screenwriting, but also the emotional life: the ups and downs of being a creative, to remind you that you are not alone and to keep writing.
Explore more shows on the Talkhouse Podcast Network.
Talks
259 | Costume As Character: What & What Not To Include in Your Screenplay (ft. Courtney Hoffman)
By The Screenwriting Life | August 7, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | August 7, 2025
259 | Costume As Character: What & What Not To Include in Your Screenplay (ft. Courtney Hoffman)
258 | THE STUDIO Co-Creator on Keeping Satire Authentic and Grounded (ft. Frida Perez)
By The Screenwriting Life | July 31, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | July 31, 2025
258 | THE STUDIO Co-Creator on Keeping Satire Authentic and Grounded (ft. Frida Perez)
257 | Getting Repped in a Post-Strike Industry – Part 2 (ft. Daniela Gonzalez & Garrett Greer)
By The Screenwriting Life | July 24, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | July 24, 2025
257 | Getting Repped in a Post-Strike Industry – Part 2 (ft. Daniela Gonzalez & Garrett Greer)
256 | Getting Repped in a Post-Strike Industry – Part 1 (ft. Daniela Gonzalez & Garrett Greer)
By The Screenwriting Life | July 17, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | July 17, 2025
256 | Getting Repped in a Post-Strike Industry – Part 1 (ft. Daniela Gonzalez & Garrett Greer)
Indie Film Craft 3 | How to Get Life Rights As an Indie Filmmaker (and Make the Biopic Indie Audiences Actually Want) ft. The Bragg Brothers
By The Screenwriting Life | July 10, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | July 10, 2025
Indie Film Craft 3 | How to Get Life Rights As an Indie Filmmaker (and Make the Biopic Indie Audiences Actually Want) ft. The Bragg Brothers
255 | From Finalist to Staffed: How Austin Film Festival Helped Us Break In (ft. Sylvia Batey Alcalá & Mac Smullen)
By The Screenwriting Life | July 3, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | July 3, 2025
255 | From Finalist to Staffed: How Austin Film Festival Helped Us Break In (ft. Sylvia Batey Alcalá & Mac Smullen)
254 | “I’m Stuck”: What to Do When the Writing Just Isn’t Working
By The Screenwriting Life | June 26, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | June 26, 2025
254 | “I’m Stuck”: What to Do When the Writing Just Isn’t Working
253 | Producing a Hit Studio Movie: What Writers Should Know ft. Sheila Hanahan Taylor (Final Destination: Bloodlines)
By The Screenwriting Life | June 19, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | June 19, 2025
253 | Producing a Hit Studio Movie: What Writers Should Know ft. Sheila Hanahan Taylor (Final Destination: Bloodlines)
252 | Creating a Complex Protagonist with a Simple Goal ft. Kim Rosenstock (Dying for Sex)
By The Screenwriting Life | June 12, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | June 12, 2025
252 | Creating a Complex Protagonist with a Simple Goal ft. Kim Rosenstock (Dying for Sex)
251 | Writing with Your Partner (in Life & Work): Joe Forte on Collaboration, Mentorship, and Creative Retreats
By The Screenwriting Life | June 5, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | June 5, 2025
251 | Writing with Your Partner (in Life & Work): Joe Forte on Collaboration, Mentorship, and Creative Retreats
250 | Jac Schaeffer (WandaVision, Agatha All Along): Having a “Take” When Pitching on IP — or Anything
By The Screenwriting Life | May 29, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | May 29, 2025
250 | Jac Schaeffer (WandaVision, Agatha All Along): Having a “Take” When Pitching on IP — or Anything
249 | Screenwriting & Social Media: How Being Online Can Help Your Career
By The Screenwriting Life | May 22, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | May 22, 2025
249 | Screenwriting & Social Media: How Being Online Can Help Your Career
Indie Film Craft 2 | Trey Edward Shults on Working With The Weeknd, The Role Of The Camera & Vulnerable Storytelling
By The Screenwriting Life | May 15, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | May 15, 2025
Indie Film Craft 2 | Trey Edward Shults on Working With The Weeknd, The Role Of The Camera & Vulnerable Storytelling
248 | Working Writers Ask Us Questions: An Industry Mailbag
By The Screenwriting Life | May 8, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | May 8, 2025
248 | Working Writers Ask Us Questions: An Industry Mailbag
247 | Directing Fundamentals That Make You a Better Writer (ft. Rob Spera)
By The Screenwriting Life | May 1, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | May 1, 2025
247 | Directing Fundamentals That Make You a Better Writer (ft. Rob Spera)
246 | Do I Need to Self-Produce to Sell My Writing? (ft. Emily Brundige)
By The Screenwriting Life | April 24, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | April 24, 2025
246 | Do I Need to Self-Produce to Sell My Writing? (ft. Emily Brundige)
245 | How To Pivot Genres and “Re-Brand” Yourself As A Writer (ft. Carla Banks-Waddles)
By The Screenwriting Life | April 17, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | April 17, 2025
245 | How To Pivot Genres and “Re-Brand” Yourself As A Writer (ft. Carla Banks-Waddles)
244 | Brent Forrester’s (The Office, The Simpsons) Comedy Writing Masterclass
By The Screenwriting Life | April 10, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | April 10, 2025
244 | Brent Forrester’s (The Office, The Simpsons) Comedy Writing Masterclass
243 | If You’ve Ever Wanted To Quit Writing, Listen To This.
By The Screenwriting Life | April 3, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | April 3, 2025
243 | If You’ve Ever Wanted To Quit Writing, Listen To This.
Indie Film Craft 1 | Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz (Peanut Butter Falcon, Los Frikis) Discuss Authentic Collaboration
By The Screenwriting Life | March 27, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | March 27, 2025
Indie Film Craft 1 | Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz (Peanut Butter Falcon, Los Frikis) Discuss Authentic Collaboration
ANNOUNCEMENT: New Bonus Spinoff Show For Filmmakers Drops In Feed THURSDAY!
By The Screenwriting Life | March 24, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | March 24, 2025
ANNOUNCEMENT: New Bonus Spinoff Show For Filmmakers Drops In Feed THURSDAY!
242 | Welcome To Wrexham Showrunner John Henion Discusses Theme As A Central Creative Throughline
By The Screenwriting Life | March 21, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | March 21, 2025
242 | Welcome To Wrexham Showrunner John Henion Discusses Theme As A Central Creative Throughline
241 | Bob’s Burgers Executive Producers & The Great North Creators Discuss Adult Animation
By The Screenwriting Life | March 13, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | March 13, 2025
241 | Bob’s Burgers Executive Producers & The Great North Creators Discuss Adult Animation
240 | George Saunders’ Storytelling Masterclass
By The Screenwriting Life | March 6, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | March 6, 2025
240 | George Saunders’ Storytelling Masterclass
239 | Wicked Co-Writer Dana Fox on Why You’re Avoiding Your Writing
By The Screenwriting Life | February 27, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | February 27, 2025
239 | Wicked Co-Writer Dana Fox on Why You’re Avoiding Your Writing
238 | How To Create and Maintain a Screenwriting Career Outside of LA or NY (ft. Will Fetters and Chris Sparling)
By The Screenwriting Life | February 20, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | February 20, 2025
238 | How To Create and Maintain a Screenwriting Career Outside of LA or NY (ft. Will Fetters and Chris Sparling)
237 | Malcolm Washington & Virgil Williams (The Piano Lesson) On Adapting One August Wilson’s Pulitzer-Winning Masterpiece
By The Screenwriting Life | February 13, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | February 13, 2025
237 | Malcolm Washington & Virgil Williams (The Piano Lesson) On Adapting One August Wilson’s Pulitzer-Winning Masterpiece
236 | Liz Feldman (Dead To Me, No Good Deed): Writing is Self-Destruction, Self-Reflection, and Self-Correction
By The Screenwriting Life | February 6, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | February 6, 2025
236 | Liz Feldman (Dead To Me, No Good Deed): Writing is Self-Destruction, Self-Reflection, and Self-Correction
235 | Mike Jones (Soul, Dream Productions) Returns: What Makes a Great Act 3?
By The Screenwriting Life | January 30, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | January 30, 2025
235 | Mike Jones (Soul, Dream Productions) Returns: What Makes a Great Act 3?
234 | Why Fairy Tales Are The Foundation For Modern Storytelling (ft. Kelly Younger)
By The Screenwriting Life | January 23, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | January 23, 2025
234 | Why Fairy Tales Are The Foundation For Modern Storytelling (ft. Kelly Younger)
233 | TV Development: Everything You Need To Know (ft. Glen Mazzara)
By The Screenwriting Life | January 17, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | January 17, 2025
233 | TV Development: Everything You Need To Know (ft. Glen Mazzara)
232 | A Writers’ Assistant Deep Dive (Part 2)
By The Screenwriting Life | January 12, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | January 12, 2025
232 | A Writers’ Assistant Deep Dive (Part 2)
231 | A Writers’ Assistant Deep Dive (Part 1)
By The Screenwriting Life | January 9, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | January 9, 2025
231 | A Writers’ Assistant Deep Dive (Part 1)
230 | Sing Sing Writer Clint Bentley: Creating Character Arcs Based On Real Lives
By The Screenwriting Life | January 2, 2025
By The Screenwriting Life | January 2, 2025
230 | Sing Sing Writer Clint Bentley: Creating Character Arcs Based On Real Lives
229 | The Screenwriting Life: Joy, Pain, & Legacy (TSL 2024 Supercut, Pt. 2)
By The Screenwriting Life | December 30, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | December 30, 2024
229 | The Screenwriting Life: Joy, Pain, & Legacy (TSL 2024 Supercut, Pt. 2)
228 | The Screenwriting Life: Joy, Pain, & Legacy (TSL 2024 Supercut, Pt. 1)
By The Screenwriting Life | December 26, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | December 26, 2024
228 | The Screenwriting Life: Joy, Pain, & Legacy (TSL 2024 Supercut, Pt. 1)
227 | Oscar-Nominated Writer Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich, Unbelievable): “Know The Difference Between Truth and Facts”
By The Screenwriting Life | December 19, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | December 19, 2024
227 | Oscar-Nominated Writer Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich, Unbelievable): “Know The Difference Between Truth and Facts”
226 | Challengers/Queer Writer Justin Kuritzkes: Asking The Right Questions While Writing
By The Screenwriting Life | December 12, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | December 12, 2024
226 | Challengers/Queer Writer Justin Kuritzkes: Asking The Right Questions While Writing
225 | Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters/Catastrophe) On Revealing Character
By The Screenwriting Life | December 5, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | December 5, 2024
225 | Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters/Catastrophe) On Revealing Character
224 | LIVE From Austin Film Festival 2024: Story Workshop
By The Screenwriting Life | November 29, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | November 29, 2024
224 | LIVE From Austin Film Festival 2024: Story Workshop
223 | Character Psychology Masterclass w/ Dr. Dan Siegel
By The Screenwriting Life | November 21, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | November 21, 2024
223 | Character Psychology Masterclass w/ Dr. Dan Siegel
222 | The Perfect Couple Showrunner on How To Craft A Murder Mystery (ft. Jenna Lamia)
By The Screenwriting Life | November 14, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | November 14, 2024
222 | The Perfect Couple Showrunner on How To Craft A Murder Mystery (ft. Jenna Lamia)
221 | Strategies To Focus Better While Writing (And Other Mailbag Questions)
By The Screenwriting Life | November 7, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | November 7, 2024
221 | Strategies To Focus Better While Writing (And Other Mailbag Questions)
219 | Practical Ways To Treat an Inactive Protagonist
By The Screenwriting Life | October 24, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | October 24, 2024
219 | Practical Ways To Treat an Inactive Protagonist
217 | How To Get A Manager (ft. Roadmap Writers’ Joey Tuccio)
By The Screenwriting Life | October 10, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | October 10, 2024
217 | How To Get A Manager (ft. Roadmap Writers’ Joey Tuccio)
216 | Only Murders In The Building Showrunner John Hoffman: “Write What Delights You”
By The Screenwriting Life | October 3, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | October 3, 2024
216 | Only Murders In The Building Showrunner John Hoffman: “Write What Delights You”
215 | Patton Oswalt: Embracing Risk as a Writer, Stand Up Comic, and Actor
By The Screenwriting Life | September 26, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | September 26, 2024
215 | Patton Oswalt: Embracing Risk as a Writer, Stand Up Comic, and Actor
214 | How TV Writers, Directors, and Actors Work Together (ft. Jon Huertas)
By The Screenwriting Life | September 19, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | September 19, 2024
214 | How TV Writers, Directors, and Actors Work Together (ft. Jon Huertas)
212 | Outlander Writer/Producer Barbara Stepansky: How Winning The Nicholl Fellowship Changed Her Career
By The Screenwriting Life | September 5, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | September 5, 2024
212 | Outlander Writer/Producer Barbara Stepansky: How Winning The Nicholl Fellowship Changed Her Career
211 | Sundance Favorite GHOSTLIGHT’s Kelly O’Sullivan: Indie Filmmaking Beyond LA/NY
By The Screenwriting Life | August 29, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | August 29, 2024
211 | Sundance Favorite GHOSTLIGHT’s Kelly O’Sullivan: Indie Filmmaking Beyond LA/NY
210 | “Monk” Creator Andy Breckman: How To Find Luck In Hollywood
By The Screenwriting Life | August 22, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | August 22, 2024
210 | “Monk” Creator Andy Breckman: How To Find Luck In Hollywood
209 | Hacks Creators Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky: Writing and Selling A Mixed-Tone Comedy
By The Screenwriting Life | August 15, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | August 15, 2024
209 | Hacks Creators Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky: Writing and Selling A Mixed-Tone Comedy
208 | Writing Animated Children’s TV: A Crash Course w/ Lorien
By The Screenwriting Life | August 8, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | August 8, 2024
208 | Writing Animated Children’s TV: A Crash Course w/ Lorien
201 | Mail Bag + Thoughts About the Dreaded Act 2b
By The Screenwriting Life | July 5, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | July 5, 2024
201 | Mail Bag + Thoughts About the Dreaded Act 2b
200 | Discovering & Embracing Your Strengths As A Writer (ft. Showrunner Joey Slamon)
By The Screenwriting Life | June 28, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | June 28, 2024
200 | Discovering & Embracing Your Strengths As A Writer (ft. Showrunner Joey Slamon)
ANNOUNCEMENT: Episode Drops TOMORROW.
By The Screenwriting Life | June 27, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | June 27, 2024
ANNOUNCEMENT: Episode Drops TOMORROW.
199 | The New Look Creator/Showrunner on Finding Empathy for our Characters
By The Screenwriting Life | June 20, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | June 20, 2024
199 | The New Look Creator/Showrunner on Finding Empathy for our Characters
198 | Girls5Eva Creator Meredith Scardino On How To Become INDISPENSABLE In A Writer’s Room
By The Screenwriting Life | June 18, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | June 18, 2024
198 | Girls5Eva Creator Meredith Scardino On How To Become INDISPENSABLE In A Writer’s Room
197 | Inside Out 2 Director Kelsey Mann and Writer Meg LeFauve on How To Approach A Sequel
By The Screenwriting Life | June 13, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | June 13, 2024
197 | Inside Out 2 Director Kelsey Mann and Writer Meg LeFauve on How To Approach A Sequel
196 | Inside Out 2 Writers Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein
By The Screenwriting Life | June 6, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | June 6, 2024
196 | Inside Out 2 Writers Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein
195 | Dustin Lance Black: Writing (And Adapting) Compelling Protagonists
By The Screenwriting Life | May 30, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | May 30, 2024
195 | Dustin Lance Black: Writing (And Adapting) Compelling Protagonists
194 | Romantic Comedy Writing Masterclass w/ Billy Mernit
By The Screenwriting Life | May 23, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | May 23, 2024
194 | Romantic Comedy Writing Masterclass w/ Billy Mernit
193 | Ten Common Traps That Will Kill Your Script (Pt. 2)
By The Screenwriting Life | May 16, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | May 16, 2024
193 | Ten Common Traps That Will Kill Your Script (Pt. 2)
192 | Ten Common Traps That Will Kill Your Script (Pt. 1)
By The Screenwriting Life | May 9, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | May 9, 2024
192 | Ten Common Traps That Will Kill Your Script (Pt. 1)
191 | Writing Visually On The Page (And Connecting To Your Theme) ft. Linda Seger
By The Screenwriting Life | May 2, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | May 2, 2024
191 | Writing Visually On The Page (And Connecting To Your Theme) ft. Linda Seger
190 | Getting Candid About The Business of Hollywood (ft. Navid McIlhargey)
By The Screenwriting Life | April 25, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | April 25, 2024
190 | Getting Candid About The Business of Hollywood (ft. Navid McIlhargey)
188 | Playwriting (and some BTS Behind the Making of Coco) ft. Octavio Solis
By The Screenwriting Life | April 11, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | April 11, 2024
188 | Playwriting (and some BTS Behind the Making of Coco) ft. Octavio Solis
184 | What Does A Hollywood Studio Reader Do? (TSL Listener Spotlight)
By The Screenwriting Life | March 14, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | March 14, 2024
184 | What Does A Hollywood Studio Reader Do? (TSL Listener Spotlight)
183 | How The Animated Film Industry Is Changing (And Why That Matters Creatively): WAR IS OVER Chat, Part 2
By The Screenwriting Life | March 8, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | March 8, 2024
183 | How The Animated Film Industry Is Changing (And Why That Matters Creatively): WAR IS OVER Chat, Part 2
182 | What Goes Into Creating an Oscar-nominated Animated Short?: WAR IS OVER Chat, Part 1
By The Screenwriting Life | March 7, 2024
By The Screenwriting Life | March 7, 2024
182 | What Goes Into Creating an Oscar-nominated Animated Short?: WAR IS OVER Chat, Part 1
