The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna

Kemp Powers is a playwright, screenwriter, and co-director, and this year, he's one of the most talked about writers in our business. Kemp has not one, but TWO highly talked-about films in the 2021’s awards circuit, Pixar’s Soul (which he co-wrote with Pete Docter and past guest Mike Jones, as well as co-directed) and One Night In Miami, which he adapted from his own play, AND which was just nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. As someone who has adapted a feature from previously existing work, AND written for one of our industry’s most coveted IPs (Star Trek), Kemp is the perfect guest to discuss the art of ADAPTATION in screenwriting.

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John August? Yes. THAT John August.

We're thrilled to feature Screenwriting PODfather John August, famous for many things. Among them, award-nominated studio juggernauts like BIG FISH and CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, to his critically acclaimed Screenwriting podcast Scriptnotes, which I'm sure most of you already listen to. 

Today John is answering YOUR questions about Worldbuilding in your writing. How do we balance concision, economy, and "necessary details." Why are so we naturally inclined to write in a master shot rather than up close?

We answer that question, and more, today on the show!

CHECK OUT SCRIPTNOTES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scriptnotes-podcast/id462495496

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Emily Dickenson's poetry, The Girl w/ The Dragon Tattoo, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, these are all works we ALMOST didn't see because the authors ALMOST hid their work from the masses, and imagine the beautiful art we would've missed out on!

Writing is all about being vulnerable and putting yourself out there...so why are we so afraid to do it? What's at stake if we do, and more importantly, what's at stake if we DON'T? We ask all of these questions and more on today's episode, plus, a great question about dialogue.

Will you put yourself out there?

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Anne Lamott is one of culture's most celebrated voices when it comes to creativity and writing. Her book Bird By Bird is a modern classic (Ed Solomon says it's the best book on writing ever published), but Anne is uniquely positioned as someone who is beloved for BOTH her fiction and her non-fiction. On today's show, we discuss the importance of finding hope to unlock our best creative selves, how we can quiet that inner critic (yes, even 10 times NYT Bestselling Author Anne Lamott gets paralyzed by creative anxiety), and how we can turn our fear into excitement.

TO PRE-ORDER Anne's Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JKK77V2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

For SHAPES OF TRUTH: https://www.shapesoftruth.com/neal-allen-bio

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Ed Solomon is one of Hollywood's most recognizable writers, who represents a rare intersection of critical and commercial success. His 16 feature films have grossed over 1.6 Billion Dollars at the Box Office, and he's the creator or co-creator on three of Hollywood's biggest franchises: Bill & Ted, Men in Black, and Now You See Me.

But he'll be the FIRST person to tell you that he's not a "fancy" writer. He bristles at the idea, and argues that ego is one of the quickest ways to tank a career, especially a creative career. Instead, he feels that humility, curiosity, and daring are the keys to success, especially as a writer. Ed is a disarming orator, passionate teacher, and a great dude. So much to learn.

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Maybe your facing the blank page, maybe you're facing the second act, or maybe your facing your millionth rewrite; EVERY writer has hit that wall where there's nothing left in the tank, even though you need to get that car HOME. Where do you find inpsiration?

It's in there, and Meg and Lorien are going to help you get there. Maybe you need some help with plot, or maybe you need to learn how to love your characters again, but WHATEVER it is, we're giving you strategies to get there!

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Are you having trouble finding a good reason for the challenges you're facing in life right now?

Even in your worst moments, God has a PLAN. As I've watched my ailing mom suffer, I've been pushed closer to God to ask some of life's biggest questions as we've journeyed together. I've also been given the privilege to help others who are dealing with the same traumas. We may not always see it, but God is always building us a road towards a beautiful destination, even if that road gets windy.

ALSO, we have some throwback Maria chat, and you get to find out what's THE one squirrel-related reason I got my big hosting break? You have to listen to find out

RESOURCES:

Patreon: www.patreon.com/bettertogetherwithmaria

Dr. Joe Dispenza Ep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQmlDAzm_NA

It's your turn! For this week, we've gathered some of our most frequently asked CRAFT related questions for a deep dive on how to fix, tweak, tinker, and elevate your writing. Tricky questions around note-taking, essential questions about beefing up conflict with things feel flat, and other crucial craft questions get their due today, thanks to our brilliant hosts.

FOR MORE Info About NOTES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-getting-notes-on-your-work/id1501641442?i=1000467504323

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As a writer, you're in it for the long haul. And that's NOT a bad thing! It's a beautiful journey, filled with ups, down, highs, and lows, and it's made all the sweeter when you can SET your beacon! Remember, the road may be long, but it's worth it. 

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The details of your writing are a beautiful thing. They provide the nuance, voice, and texture that make your writing special.

But the details can be crippling if they prevent you from seeing your work as it REALLY is. Today we talk about how to see your work from a broad perspective, by Zooming out and getting that all-important "30,000 Foot View" of your writing. It's a game changer!

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