John and Craig welcome Aline Brosh McKenna to talk about the difficult journey through pages 70-90 of your feature. The end of the second act can drive even the most seasoned writers into an existential crisis, but together they offer their tips and tricks to navigating this difficult passage.

We then talk about the importance of tone: what does tone feel like on the page? And how can it distinguish great writing? We also talk mentors, procrastination, the Panic Monster and our inner Instant Gratification Monkeys.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Drew reveal how each episode of Scriptnotes is made and what they’ve learned putting together the Sidecasts.

Links:

• Aline Brosh McKenna
• Justin Timberlake joins the Five-Timers Club
• Scriptnotes, Episode 131: Procrastination and Pageorexia
• Why Procrastinators Procrastinate and How to Beat Procrastination by Tim Urban
• airbnb
• Scriptnotes, Episode 99: Psychotherapy for screenwriters
• Freedom blocks digital distractions
• Deadline on Aline’s Showtime pilot pickup
• They Came Together and Mutual Friends
• Bandolier hands free crossbody iPhone accessory
• Slate Culture Gabfest “Grief Sandwich” Edition
• Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
• Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
• Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
• Craig Mazin on Instagram
• John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon
• Outro by JT Butler (send us yours!)
• This episode was originally produced by Stuart Friedel. Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

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You can download the episode here.