The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna

I found this podcast as a young screenwriting student and immediately connected with Meg and Lorien’s advice. Episodes continue to unfold as you re-listen with more experience and a different perspective. Grateful for this pod!

I first came to TSL when Meg and Lorien pulled my name out of a hat for an AFF podcast episode to talk about my script Ghostboy. What I didn't expect was how much the conversations on this show would become part of the script's DNA. The way Meg and Lorien talk about emotional truth, character, and the stories we're afraid to tell is unlike anything else out there for writers. It's not about formula or structure for its own sake — it's about why you're telling the story you're telling. That's a different and more important conversation. I just submitted Ghostboy to the Austin Film Festival and Big Break. TSL is part of why it's ready. If you're a writer who wants to go deeper, this is the podcast for you.

I’ve been on a five year journey developing my TV series pilot and this show has been my constant companion. Meg and Lorien don’t just talk craft, they give you real industry talk, the kind you’d only get if you had a seasoned mentor in your corner. I keep a running note on my iPhone of highlights from episodes and guests that I come back to regularly. Essential listening for anyone breaking into, or continuously navigating Hollywood.

I’ve been a longtime listener and participant on the Circle + FB communities. I know I share this sentiment with other listeners, as we’ve been talking offline about it. The show just isn’t what it used to be. If you’ve been listening for awhile you remember when it felt more authentic - like friends chatting and commiserating over the wins and trenches of this craft. Over the last few months, it’s felt like the guests, interviews and conversations are forced and the hosts have lost their authenticity. And the production itself feels different. Idk what’s going on, but I know it’s something a lot of us are sensing. I had to unsubscribe from the membership platform because there was no value being added on a regular basis like there used to be. It’s all kind of sad. I want the best for all and hope it can return to what it used to be.