Unscripted with Lauren Marie Fleming

In this episode, Lauren skips the marketing pitch and gets honest about burnout, ambition, and why she's looking for a softer way to move through the world — even in the final hours of her crowdfunding campaign.

🎬 Why this isn't the marketing email it was supposed to be

🎬 On burning out spectacularly — and making a bad decision that hurt a friend in the process

🎬 What it actually takes to make a movie beyond money: rest, community, joy, artistry, patience

🎬 The drive and ambition that got Lauren out of her conservative hometown, through twenty years of rejection, and to airports and bookstores across the nation

🎬 The softer form of motivation calling to her from the future — and why she's finally listening

🎬 Permission to rush forward with excitement and glee, and permission to stop and catch your breath — both are part of living a boldly creative life

🎥 SUPPORT MY SHORT FILM:

🔗 NoAnimalsHarmedFilm.com

✨ FOLLOW ALONG IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS:

✍️ Subscribe on Substack: https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/

📷 Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmariefleming

▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenMarieFleming

📚 READ MY BOOKS:

🔗 Escape into my queer romcom Because Fat Girl: http://becausefatgirl.com

🔗 Learn to profoundly love your body with my workbook Bawdy Love: http://bawdylove.com

🔗 Build a writing career with my Writer's Career Guide: https://laurenmariefleming.com/books/writerscareerguide

🚀 RESOURCES TO BUILD YOUR BOLDLY CREATIVE LIFE:

🔗 Learn more about the Creative Life Blueprint: http://creativelifeblueprint.com

🔗 Learn more about 33 Asks®: https://33asks.com

🔗 Learn more about Write Your Friggin' Book Already®: http://writeyourfrigginbookalready.com

Because the world needs our stories now more than ever.

In this episode, Lauren tackles the quiet epidemic affecting our generation: loneliness. She unpacks the staggering public health data behind our isolation and shares the exact steps she took to rebuild her community through art, dating, and film.

💔 The heavy reality of the US Surgeon General's 2023 loneliness declaration[cite: 5]

💔 Why 30% of millennials report feeling constantly or frequently alone[cite: 5]

💔 The dark side of "extreme self-reliance" and independence in millennial feminism[cite: 5]

💔 How the pressure to look "polished" online keeps us from sharing our true selves[cite: 5]

💔 Transforming the book launch of Because Fat Girl into a collaborative party[cite: 5]

💔 Reviving the "Queerie Bradshaw" blog and using the 33 Asks® program to go on 33 dates[cite: 5]

💔 Why making her upcoming film No Animals Harmed became the ultimate cure for her isolation[cite: 5]

🎥 SUPPORT MY SHORT FILM:

🔗 http://NoAnimalsHarmedFilm.com[cite: 5]

✨ FOLLOW ALONG IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS:

✍️ Subscribe on Substack: https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/[cite: 5]

📷 Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmariefleming[cite: 5]

▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenMarieFleming[cite: 5]

📚 READ MY BOOKS:

🔗 Escape into my queer romcom Because Fat Girl: http://becausefatgirl.com[cite: 5]

🔗 Learn to profoundly love your body with my workbook Bawdy Love: http://bawdylove.com

🔗 Build a writing career with my Writer's Career Guide: https://laurenmariefleming.com/books/writerscareerguide

🚀 RESOURCES TO BUILD YOUR BOLDLY CREATIVE LIFE:

🔗 Learn more about the Creative Life Blueprint: http://creativelifeblueprint.com

🔗 Learn more about 33 Asks®: https://33asks.com[cite: 5]

🔗 Learn more about Write Your Friggin' Book Already®: http://writeyourfrigginbookalready.com

Because the world needs our stories now more than ever[cite: 5].

In this episode, Lauren shares a raw, real-time look at how she processes massive creative rejection — and why putting yourself out there is a win, regardless of whether someone says yes or no.

💔 The heavy reality of wondering if making art is still worth it in your 40s

💔 Flashbacks to a Trader Joe's parking lot and the text that felt like the end of her publishing career

💔 How shifting your mindset around rejection can save your creative soul

💔 Real-time comfort from a giant white dog on the floor

💔 An inside look at the 33 Asks program and learning how to celebrate the ask itself

💔 Why your current rejection is proof that you are living a boldly courageous life

🎥 SUPPORT MY SHORT FILM:

🔗 http://NoAnimalsHarmedFilm.com

✨ FOLLOW ALONG IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS:

✍️ Subscribe on Substack: https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/

📷 Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmariefleming

▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenMarieFleming

📚 READ MY BOOKS:

🔗 Escape into my queer romcom Because Fat Girl: http://becausefatgirl.com

🔗 Learn to profoundly love your body with my workbook Bawdy Love: http://bawdylove.com

🔗 Build a writing career with my Writer's Career Guide: https://laurenmariefleming.com/books/writerscareerguide

🚀 RESOURCES TO BUILD YOUR BOLDLY CREATIVE LIFE:

🔗 Learn more about the Creative Life Blueprint: http://creativelifeblueprint.com

🔗 Learn more about 33 Asks®: https://33asks.com

🔗 Learn more about Write Your Friggin' Book Already®: http://writeyourfrigginbookalready.com

Because the world needs our stories now more than ever.

In this episode, Lauren shares why coming home from a filmmaking tech event almost made her cancel her entire movie — and why that reaction has nothing to do with her actual competence.

🎬 Why Lauren felt "triggered" by tech — and why that word is exactly right

🎬 The physiological panic of learning film equipment as a first-time director

🎬 How misogyny in film school kept women out of cinematography and directing classes

🎬 The math problem: how Lauren went from best in class to "I'm just bad at math" — and how that mirrors her relationship with tech

🎬 What a gaffer, a grip, and G&E actually mean — and why she left film school not knowing

🎬 "God, give me the confidence of a mediocre white man" — on perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and doing it anyway

🎬 Why she's doing it scared, mediocre, and before she feels ready — and why you can too

🎥 SUPPORT MY SHORT FILM:

🔗 NoAnimalsHarmedFilm.com

✨ FOLLOW ALONG IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS:

✍️ Subscribe on Substack: https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/

📷 Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmariefleming

▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenMarieFleming

📚 READ MY BOOKS:

🔗 Escape into my queer romcom Because Fat Girl: http://becausefatgirl.com

🔗 Learn to profoundly love your body with my workbook Bawdy Love: http://bawdylove.com

🔗 Build a writing career with my Writer's Career Guide: https://laurenmariefleming.com/books/writerscareerguide

🚀 RESOURCES TO BUILD YOUR BOLDLY CREATIVE LIFE:

🔗 Learn more about the Creative Life Blueprint: http://creativelifeblueprint.com

🔗 Learn more about 33 Asks®: https://33asks.com

🔗 Learn more about Write Your Friggin' Book Already®: http://writeyourfrigginbookalready.com

Because the world needs our stories now more than ever.

You wouldn't think that body positivity and independent filmmaking have much in common. But as someone who was once told Hollywood would be too fatphobic for someone like me, learning to love the skin I'm in was the ultimate game-changer for my career.

Stepping into my power as a queer, fat woman didn't just give me the confidence to wear a bikini at the beach — it gave me the confidence to go to law school, pitch to professionals, write best-selling books like Because Fat Girl, and finally step behind the camera as a director.

If the culture can be wrong about our bodies, they can be wrong about who is allowed to tell stories. I'm making my upcoming short film, No Animals Harmed, on my own terms — because the world needs our stories now more than ever.

🚀 RESOURCES TO BUILD YOUR BOLDLY CREATIVE LIFE

🔗 Learn more about the Creative Life Blueprint: http://creativelifeblueprint.com/

🔗 Learn more about 33 Asks®: https://33asks.com/

🔗 Learn more about Write Your Friggin' Book Already®: http://writeyourfrigginbookalready.com/

📚 LAUREN'S BOOKS

🔗 Read Because Fat Girl: http://becausefatgirl.com

🔗 Read Bawdy Love: http://bawdylove.com/

✨ JOIN THE UNSCRIPTED JOURNEY

✍️ Subscribe on Substack: https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/

📷 Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmariefleming/

▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenMarieFleming

Because the world needs our stories now more than ever.

How a Cancelled UCLA Class Accidentally Gave Me My First Short Film Script

For 20 years I wanted to make a short film — and for 20 years I let having no idea what I'd write about stop me from making that dream happen. Then a cancelled UCLA class accidentally handed me my perfect script.

In this episode, I walk you through exactly how it happened:

*The sketch comedy class I almost didn't take,

*The four beats of sketch comedy that unlocked my storytelling brain.

*The moment my teacher told me to stop trying to cut my sketch down and turn it into a short film instead.

I also talk about why I walked away from Hollywood after film school, how writing a novel secretly prepared me to write a script, and why Roger Bannister's four-minute mile is the best metaphor I know for doing the creative thing you've convinced yourself is impossible.

What you'll learn:

* The four beats of sketch comedy (and why they work for short films too)

* Why the skills you already have are more transferable than you think

* How to recognize when you've been limiting yourself before you even tried

Follow the full filmmaking journey:

Substack: unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com

Instagram: instagram.com/laurenmariefleming/ 

YouTube: youtube.com/laurenmariefleming

Because the world needs our stories now more than ever.

In this episode, Lauren shares what she learned after spending a weekend with the Alliance of Women Directors — and why she left more convinced than ever that women are changing the film industry from the ground up, with or without Hollywood's permission.

🎬 A shocking statistic: in 2025, women held just 16% of directing roles and 7% of cinematographer roles in Hollywood

🎬 Lauren's backstory: entering film school in 2001, leaving in 2006 convinced she could never make it as a queer, fat woman in the industry

🎬 What changed after Because Fat Girl hit airports and bookstores nationwide

🎬 Inside the Alliance of Women Directors conference: collaboration over competition, zero gatekeeping, and a room unlike any she'd been in before

🎬 The two things every woman told her when she shared her story — and why both mattered

🎬 What "no gatekeeping" actually looked like: producers, software, grants, funding, even cinematography workout routines, all shared freely

🎬 Lauren's promise to keep sharing everything she learns as she returns to filmmaking

🔗 Learn more about the Creative Life Blueprint: http://creativelifeblueprint.com/

🔗 Learn more about 33 Asks®: https://33asks.com/

🔗 Learn more about Write Your Friggin' Book Already®: http://writeyourfrigginbookalready.com/

📷 Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmariefleming/

✍️ Subscribe on Substack: https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/

▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenMarieFleming

Because the world needs our stories now more than ever.

How a Cancelled UCLA Class Accidentally Gave Me My First Short Film Script

For 20 years I wanted to make a short film — and for 20 years I let having no idea what I'd write about stop me from making that dream happen. Then a cancelled UCLA class accidentally handed me my perfect script.

In this episode, I walk you through exactly how it happened:

*The sketch comedy class I almost didn't take,

*The four beats of sketch comedy that unlocked my storytelling brain.

*The moment my teacher told me to stop trying to cut my sketch down and turn it into a short film instead.

I also talk about why I walked away from Hollywood after film school, how writing a novel secretly prepared me to write a script, and why Roger Bannister's four-minute mile is the best metaphor I know for doing the creative thing you've convinced yourself is impossible.

What you'll learn:

* The four beats of sketch comedy (and why they work for short films too)

* Why the skills you already have are more transferable than you think

* How to recognize when you've been limiting yourself before you even tried

Follow the full filmmaking journey:

Substack: unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com

Instagram: instagram.com/laurenmariefleming/ 

YouTube: youtube.com/laurenmariefleming

Because the world needs our stories now more than ever.

Dear friend,

As I start to cast, hire crew, and crowdfund for my first film, I’m scared that I have no idea what I’m doing.

It feels even scarier to publicly admit that (so scary, in fact, I’ve put off sending this email for over a week now).

If fear is holding you back, I have some good news, and I have some bad news.

Bad news, it’s not going away.

Good news, you’re not alone.

Bravery is a glorious and magical cycle.

You just need someone to take the first step and get it started.

So, here I am, saying that I’m scared shitless I’m going to mess this short film up, but I’m doing it anyway, because I want to live a boldly creative life.

What about you?

Where are you feeling brave these days?

Let me know in the comments.

Let’s inspire each other to go out there and do it scared.

Because the world needs our stories now more than ever.

With love,

Lauren

P.S. I’m working on the crowdfunding incentives for my short film. If you have any ideas, I’d love to hear them! Picking the incentives is, hilariously, the scariest part of crowdfunding to me right now.

Dear friend,

Do you ever feel like you’re just too old?

Lately, I’ve found myself worrying that I’m “past my prime” — which is hilarious considering I’m only 43. Statistically speaking, I’m only halfway through my life, and with my family’s genes, I could live to be 45 or 105.

You never know.

What I do know is that life is too short to wait to go after your dreams.

In today's episode, I talk about the joys of being "over the hill" and encourage you to go after your dreams – no matter what your age.

Are you trying something new in your life? Reply and let me know, I’d love to cheer you on.

Lauren

____

Sharing Is Caring

If you’re interested in making movies, or just love to hear about the process, these books are great to pick up:

* Story by Robert McKee – the book everyone in the industry insists you read and truly a great one for any storytellers out there, regardless of your genre

* Dialogue by Robert McKee – this gave me such great tips for writing better scenes between characters

* The Original by Priya Parmar – I love how queer this book is and how wonderfully alive Hollywood feels in this novel

If you found this post to be inspiring, you’ll love my books:

* The Writer’s Career Guide: How to Build a Sustainable Creative Life on Your Terms – if you want to start a writing career and get paid for your creative work, I put everything I know into this book

* Bawdy Love: 10 Steps to Profoundly Loving Your Body – with its journal prompts and coloring pages, this book is fun and healing

* Because Fat Girl – a perfect summer read if you want to escape into a world of filmmaking that has fabulous fashion and a happy ending for all

Some of these are affiliate links, meaning I get a % if you buy through this link. It’s an easy way to support my work and get a great new read.