What happens when we let go of expectations and write from a place of trusting your intuition? In this first episode of our Playwright Mini-Series, Jennifer chats with playwright, writer, and screenwriter Amy Berryman about navigating her writer's journey with intention, agency, and a little “woo.” Amy shares how different forms of writing activate different parts of her brain, how intuitive playwriting lets her characters lead the way, and how outlining for screen projects often starts before the fun begins. She dives into her process, shares her philosophy on residencies or self-made retreats, and offers actionable tools for giving your writing the same value you give to other commitments. Together, they normalize the reality of many drafts, the vulnerability of sharing your work, and the courage it takes to trust yourself while also discerning what feedback to incorporate. Whether you're a seasoned writer or starting out, this conversation invites you to return to your creative self, one intuitive action at a time.

Amy Berryman is a playwright, actor, and teaching artist. Her play WALDEN had its world premiere on London's West End in 2021 at the Harold Pinter Theatre, under the direction of Ian Rickson and produced by Sonia Friedman. The play then had its U.S. premiere at Theaterworks Hartford, directed by Mei Ann Teo. It most recently premiered off-Broadway at Second Stage, directed by Whitney White, and was nominated for a 2025 Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Play, as well as nominated for the John Gassner Award for a new American play in the 2025 Outer Critics Circle. Berryman's other works include ALIEN GIRLS (O'Neill Finalist 2024, Powers New Voices at the Old Globe, Center Theatre Group Writers' Workshop Commission), GOD'S FLESH (MTC/Sloan Commission), THE NEW GALILEOS (O'Neill Finalist 2019), THREE YEAR SUMMER, THE WHOLE OF YOU, and EPIPHANY, OR WHAT WOULD YOU? (Shakespeare's New Contemporaries Finalist). Berryman is developing work for TV and film in LA and is a MacDowell Fellow.

Sign Up for Amy’s Class: https://www.amy-berryman.com/classes

Amy’s Website: amy-berryman.com

Amy’s Instagram: @amyrberryman

Amy's NPX: ⁠newplayexchange.org/users/20564/amy-berryman

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