The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna
Meg LeFauve & Lorien McKenna
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Oscar-nominated writer Meg LeFauve and Emmy-nominated writer Lorien McKenna discuss the craft and business of screenwriting, as well as the emotional ups and downs of being a creative. They aim to remind listeners that they are not alone in their struggles and to keep writing.
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Ep. 310 | Bringing Your Phyiscal Life To Your Writing w/ Coach Khatchig Chouljian 10.09.2026 48minToday Joe Forte is join by fitness coach, Khatchig Chouljia for a very different way of attacking the writing process. Coach Khatcho is s the founder and head coach of MindBodyFit, a private fitness and health coaching studio based in Glendale, California. With his understanding of cognitive science, he brings a less is more approach to fitness. Joe and he dive into the 70 percent approach, and they dive into how Coach Khatcho's approach to fitness really is so similar to the writing process and all tips can easily apply to the page. He also of course gives some great, quick and easy exercises to refresh after sitting at the desk for a while. Inspiring and important for your writing and your health. Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside TSL Workshops. Episode Links: https://www.coachkhatcho.com/ Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram | TikTok The Screenwriting Life is produced and edited by Alex Alcheh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
EP. 309 | The Deepest Dive Into STRUCTURE w/ John Yorke 27.08.2026 1t 7minMeg LeFauve is joined by fellow story junkie and world-leading expert in narrative and a winner of multiple awards, including BAFTAs and a Golden Globe, John Yorke. John's first book, Into the Woods: How Stories Work and Why We Tell Them His newest release and follow up - Trip To The Moon: Understanding The True Power of Story shifts the focus from how fictional screenplays work to how storytelling shapes the real world. This episode covers a wide range of topics from structure to theory and more. Story Structure and Why Stories Work The Midpoint as the Moment a Character Encounters the “Lesson” The Midpoint → Crisis → Climax Progression Storytelling as a Version of the Scientific Method Conflict and Why Writers Avoid Hurting Their Characters Characters, Belief Systems, and Psychological Change Mirroring and Character Opposites Trip to the Moon and Storytelling Beyond Screenwriting What are your fears for AI/Is there a use? What Makes a Great Climactic Action Creating Emotion in the Audience Movies vs. Television and Cliffhangers Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside TSL Workshops. Episode Links: https://www.johnyorkestory.com/team/john-yorke/ Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram | TikTok The Screenwriting Life is produced and edited by Alex Alcheh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 308 | WRITING EXERCISE: Go DEEPER With Your Characters 13.08.2026 48minLorien McKenna is joined by TSL producer Alex Alcheh for a really exciting exercise. Get out your pen and paper, make 4 quadrants and follow along. Lorien asks specific questions about YOUR LIFE to unlock the depth a character should have. They discuss character introductions and how most have such little specificity. Lorien highlights the import to ask questions of your own life so you can ask those questions about your characters. And, she gives one additional exercise within the exercise - The Trader Joe's Test. Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside TSL Workshops. Episode Links: Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram | TikTok The Screenwriting Life is produced and edited by Alex Alcheh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 307 | Inside THE PITT'S Writers Room w/ Simran Baidwan 30.07.2026 57minMeg LeFauve is joined by Simran Baidwan, former power house lawyer turned brilliant writer and executive producer of HBO's hit show, THE PITT. Simran's thorough and eloquent advice for emerging writers mixed with her raw and real honesty about why The Pitt's writers room is so special is such a gift. Simran speaks on how they build a season for The Pitt. What happens when an idea shifts the plot lines for the season, and how she attempts to see it as a writing opportunity rather than an "OH S*IT" moment. And so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 306 | The Importance Of Being A Writer Advocate w/ Betsy Beers 16.07.2026 1t 5minBetsy Beers is a stallwart producer of film and television having been the creative partner of Shonda Rhimes at Shondaland since its inception, shepherding every project the company has ever produced from Grey's Anatomy to Bridgerton. Lorien, Meg and Betsy dive deep into what it really means to produce at a high level and even more importantly Betsy's specific style of producing which in her words means - doing whatever is needed to make the thing go and to make the writer feel most comfortable to do their best work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 305 | Overcoming The Dreaded ACT TWO 02.07.2026 1t 5minAct two is every emerging AND professional writers white whale. It is consistently the most challenging part of writing a screenplay and yet the most critical. Lorien and Meg dive deep into how to approach Act Two, offering a piece by piece breakdown and expectation of what should occur in Act Two. Providing clear examples from some of the best films. They also answer YOUR specific questions as well. Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside TSL Workshops. Episode Links: Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram | TikTok The Screenwriting Life is produced and edited by Alex Alcheh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 304 | A Tapesetry of World Building and Characters w/ Jennifer L. Armentrout 25.06.2026 47minJennifer L. Armentrout, the phenomenal New York Times Bestselling author of the Flesh and Fire Series, The Blood and Ash Series and so much more, dives deep with Lorien McKenna. They discuss Jennifer's process and how she keeps such high concept sci/fi romance with so many worlds, timelines and characters afloat and fresh. They also talk through the challenges of the publishing world. Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside TSL Workshops. Episode Links: Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram | TikTok The Screenwriting Life is produced and edited by Alex Alcheh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 303 | How To Welcome The Mess! (Ultimate Adventures In Screenwriting) 18.06.2026 46minMeg, Joe and Lorien have another round of The ULTIMATE Adventures In Screenwriting. Diving into their weeks which always leads to deep thoughts and important realizations. The thesis for today's episode how to live in the mess. Not fear it, not try to rush through it but truly welcome it. But, there is a time and place for that mess and that is on the page. They talk about the importance of clearing their email inbox, taking care of the "annoying" life things before sitting down to write and how that can be freeing. A lot more on this very open episode. Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside TSL Workshops. Episode Links: Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram | TikTok The Screenwriting Life is produced and edited by Alex Alcheh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 302 | Finding The Authenticity & Tone Of Margo's Got Money Troubles w/ Eva Anderson 11.06.2026 58minMeg LeFauve is joined by co-showrunner of the hit Apple series, Margo's Got Money Troubles, Eva Anderson, to talk all things crafting one of the best series of the year. She gives keen insight into her time on Your The Worst, where she really learned how to break a season. As well as what she learned from being a playwright and working in reality television. Meg and Eva deep dive into what it's like to work with television giant, David E. Kelly, and how going against character expectation can be a major blessing. Eva has hired a first time television writer for the season 2 room of Margo. Her insight into why she chose this writer may be a bit different than you'd expect. Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside TSL Workshops. Episode Links: Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram | TikTok The Screenwriting Life is produced and edited by Alex Alcheh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 301 | The Shakespearean Level Stakes of NEMESIS w/ Courtney A. Kemp 04.06.2026 50minLorien McKenna is joined by Co-Creator and showrunner of the hit Netflix Series Nemesis. Courtney talks about seeing her protagonists in ACTION, how she created worthy adversaries, and how the pilot really is the show. Courtney adores Shakespeare and highlights how season 6 of her first smash hit, Power is as she says "Richard The Third". A fabulous episode filled with incredible inspiration for new and emerging writers. Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside TSL Workshops. Episode Links: Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram | TikTok The Screenwriting Life is produced and edited by Alex Alcheh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 300 | SHOP TALK: Can You And SHOULD You Work On Multiple Projects? 28.05.2026 35minLorien McKenna and Joe Forte hop into the shop to get specific and about their work. Answering the question of multiple projects. How many projects are too many? How do they keep track of ideas and projects? Does multiple projects mean writing only or can another art form feed your writing? A beautifully insightful episode. Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside TSL Workshops. Episode Links: Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram | TikTok The Screenwriting Life is produced and edited by Alex Alcheh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 299 | Lessons From Judd Apatow & Being In The Cut! w/ Andrew Jay Cohen 21.05.2026 59minJoe sits down with Writer/Director/Producer Andrew Jay Cohen who is in the thick of post production on his latest directorial offering, Soapbox written by Max Barbakow and David Duchovny. Before diving into the weeds with his directorial and post production process, Andrew gives insight on what he took from his time working alongside Judd Apatow for a number of years on films like Anchorman, 40 Year Old Virgin and more. Andrew is incredibly honest about his perfectionist streak and the freedom that Apatow's approach to the script and production gave him. He also talks about what having a critical & box office bomb taught him and how his first major success, Neighbors was a dream come true. He dives into a bit of the post production process for Soapbox with Joe. Gems Gems Gems! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 298 | The Layers That Build The Muppets Special w/ Albertina Rizzo & Kelly Younger 14.05.2026 1t 1minThe Muppets are beyond iconic and have over 50 years of canon to draw from. Meg chats with showrunner of The Muppets Special, Albertina Rizzo & writer on the special, and returning guest, Kelly Younger, on their approach, execution, how they ran the writers room, and so much more. They also dive into building sketch comedy, variety shows and Meg asks a few questions about the latest season of Jury Duty for Albertina and, Kelly is a fairy tale expert! So, a top 3 fairy tales for writers was needed. Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside TSL Workshops. Episode Links: Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram | TikTok The Screenwriting Life is produced and edited by Alex Alcheh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ep. 297 | The Craft Of Creating An IP Based Action Film w/ Jeremy Slater 07.05.2026 57minMortal Kombat II is out in theaters this weekend! Joe Forte chats with writer Jeremy Slater about taking on the second installment of an iconic video game turned film franchise. With so many characters and plot points to navigate, fight sequences to think about and beyond, how does one put that on the page and keep it fresh and exciting for all involved and all who hope to enjoy it? Jeremy provides a plethora of gems on the business and the craft in this thought provoking, action packed episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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296 | The ULTIMATE Adventures In Screenwriting 30.04.2026 1t 5minThis week we have an old school Meg and Lorien dive deep into the life and world of screenwriting. The day to day life stuff. The bucket of S*it stuff. The things that swirl in your head stuff. And the, "I still have to write" stuff. If you want to feel seen, heard, understood and connected to others and have a good laugh... this is the episode for you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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295 | What Are The Elements Of A Good Scene? SUPERCUT 23.04.2026 28minLorien and Meg have asked numerous guests the same important questions, What are the elements of a good scene? You will hear different ideas from the industries best including: Melissa Rosenberg (Dexter) Derek Kolstad (John Wick) Maggie Lane & Eric Jarboe (Hotel For The Holidays/Christmas Switch) Dana Fox (Wicked) Alex Woo & Erik Benson (In Your Dreams) Chandler Baker (Oh.What.Fun.) Jesse Andrews (Hoppers) Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside TSL Workshops. Episode Links: For more information on Flipping The Screen and to sign up for the workshops, email [email protected] Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram | TikTok The Screenwriting Life is produced and edited by Alex Alcheh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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294 | TSL Workshops Check In w/ Danicah Waldo & Emily Roberson 16.04.2026 53minTSL Workshops are one of the two tent poles of The Screenwriting life. Folks a part of the TSL Workshops community participate in two live zooms with Meg and Lorien per month. One, a Q & A about anything and everything writing and the business and the other, a select few get picked each month to "pitch" their stories/scripts to Meg and Lorien. The two then dive deep with the writer, asking questions, pushing to get answers and give constructive feedback to bring the writers to the next level of their stories. Danicah and Emily both pitched their stories in one of the zooms and now are back to share the unlock moment for them, what they shifted and where they are now in their process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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293 | The Wild World Of Verticals Feat. Shelby Farrell 09.04.2026 1t 1minWith the industry in a contraction, writers are trying to figure out how to find steady work. ENTER - VERTICALS! Lorien is joined by writer and creator Shelby Farrell who has developed numerous features and verticals. She offers a premium program, Flipping The Screen, teaching writers to write for the new medium. Shelby walks through the pros and cons of the space as well as the keys to writing a successful version of one. Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside TSL Workshops. Episode Links: For more information on Flipping The Screen and to sign up for the workshops, email [email protected] Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram | TikTok The Screenwriting Life is produced and edited by Alex Alcheh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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292 | What "Finding Your People" Really Means In This Business w/ Maggie Gottlieb, David F.M. Vaughn & Sean Presant 02.04.2026 54minLorien is joined by Maggie Gottlieb, Sean Presant & David F.M. Vaughn, colleagues and friends from the writers room of the Tabitha Brown led Youtube show, Tab Time. They get real about the realities of networking in this business and what we should be focusing on: real, genuine connection. Making friends. Supporting each other. Lifting each other up. ____________ Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside TSL Workshops. Episode Links: https://www.youtube.com/@ItsTabTime Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram | TikTok The Screenwriting Life is produced and edited by Alex Alcheh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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291 | MAILBAG! Meg And Lorien Answer YOUR Questions 26.03.2026 1t 1minOn this edition of TSL, Meg and Lorien giving a wonderful mix of answers to some phenomenal listener questions, from detailed craft questions, to the business piece and everything in between. What do you do with your script after you've written it? How do you approach producers? Animated vs. Live Action - How to decide? How to get into the business if you don't live in a major market? Mindset of a writer. And so much more! ____________ Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside TSL Workshops. Episode Links: Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram | TikTok The Screenwriting Life is produced and edited by Alex Alcheh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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