Living To Write

She was just five years old when she read the Little House on the Prairie books that made her want to tell stories. Today, she’s the screenwriter and showrunner taking us back into that world. Screenwriter/showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Housemaid, The Housemaid 2, The Boys, Archive 81) sits down with Brian and Bailey to discuss why she writes, how she writes, and how the entertainment busines...

After leaving the world of advertising for life as a writer, countless publishers passed on his novel before he finally heard the unexpected yes that changed everything. Screenwriter David J. Rosen sits down with Brian and Bailey to discuss why he writes, how he writes, the path that got him where he is, and the practices that keep him there. How did a panicky moment at a Snapple sales meeting pus...

His 2015 Fantastic Four screenplay was rewritten by so many other writers that eventually just three words of his remained. Today he’s the sole screenwriter on Mortal Kombat II, and already tackling the sequel. Screenwriter Jeremy Slater sits down with Brian and Bailey to discuss why he writes, how he writes, and what other writers would do well to keep in mind on their own journeys. How does a ki...

He wrote a screenplay his reps didn’t even know about. Five years later, his movie is on Netflix, starring Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton. Screenwriter Jeremy Robbins sits down with Brian and Bailey for a deep dive into how that all happened, how he navigates the film and television industries, and why he writes. How did Jeremy become a writer? What does he think about working in writers’ rooms...

Canadian writer-director Chandler Levack sits down with Brian and Bailey for a deep dive into how and why she writes. How did her music journalism experiences inform her screenwriting? How did she make her first film without a studio deal? How does she deconstruct her favourite screenplays when building her own scenes? Why are rom-com tropes so worthy of our love and respect? How do filmmaking car...

Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher of BriTANicK fame sit down with Brian and Bailey for a deep dive into how and why they write. How is their collaboration like an open romantic relationship? What were the writers’ rooms on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Saturday Night Live like? How can a detailed outline save your screenplay before you even start writing? How is effective pitching much more...

This episode features Rachel Shukert, showrunner behind The Baby-Sitters Club (Netflix) and executive producer on The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu) , charting her fascinatingly unconventional path from New York memoirist and playwright to Hollywood showrunner. Is television overstaffed right now? What’s the best way to get yourself into a writers’ room? How should writers think about the anxieties that b...

Imagine writing for an animated Disney series. Now, imagine being invited to write for the Star Wars universe. And imagine that leading you to the Marvel universe. And now, imagine your audience is preschoolers! In this episode of Living To Write, Brian and Bailey talk with James Eason-Garcia, who has done all this and more. His behind-the-scenes stories are fun and enlightening, and his industry...

Paul Schrader wrote classics like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and The Last Temptation of Christ, directed American Gigolo, Affliction and First Reformed, documented the history of the transcendental style of film, and he’s still hard at work telling stories with impact. In this special episode, we present his engaging Story Summit VIP Guest Lecture, recorded shortly after the 2024 Cannes Film Festiv...

Brian and Bailey chat with The Naked Gun (2025) screenwriters Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. Comedy ain’t easy. And neither is the job of continuing the beloved Naked Gun franchise with a new chapter that honors the spirit of Lt. Frank Drebin without feeling stuck in the past. But that is exactly what Dan Gregor and Doug Mand have accomplished, and they are here to discuss why and how they do what they...

Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson conclude their two-part conversation with former president of Paramount Motion Picture Group, David Paul Kirkpatrick. As the man who greenlit some of the most iconic films in cinematic history, David knows not only how the Hollywood machine works, but why it sometimes doesn’t. Why do so few people in the studio system actually read scripts? Why does strong cover...

On the latest episode of the Living to Write , Brian and Bailey chat with Story Summit founder and former Paramount Pictures studio executive David Paul Kirkpatrick in Part 1 of an unforgettable conversation. Throughout his illustrious career as president of the Motion Picture Group and head of production at both Disney and Touchstone, David helped bring to life some of the most iconic and influen...

On this episode of Living to Write, Brian and Bailey sit down with Emmy- and Peabody-award-winning writer/director Peter Hastings. With Dog Man now out in the world, Peter discusses why he writes, how improv led him to screenwriting, what it was like working with Steven Spielberg on Animaniacs, and how writing is like music for him. Plus, a look at the projects that shaped his career and what keep...

This time on Living to Write, writer/director Drew Hancock, fresh off his feature debut Companion, joins us to talk about why he writes, how he made the leap to directing his first film, why story is everything, and how he keeps imposter syndrome from slowing him down. Support for this episode comes from Story Summit . This episode is produced by Brian Landwehr & Bailey Patterson.

Lucky there’s a Patrick Meighan guy! Join us as we chat with Family Guy writer Patrick Meighan on the show's 25th anniversary. Patrick shares insights into keeping the Griffin family fresh, balancing irreverence with heart, and his journey from intern to guy who writes the show. For more visit: Story Summit This episode of Living To Write is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

What do you do when you’ve got no credits, no connections, and no clue? TV writer Michael Jamin (King of the Hill, Beavis & Butthead) figured it out. On this episode of Living to Write, Michael stops by to talk writing, running a show, and how he broke into the industry with zero experience. We dig into how building a social media following helped launch his debut book, A Paper Orchestra , and...

Ever wondered what it’s like to send Nicolas Cage on a quest for a stolen truffle pig or craft a post-apocalyptic studio blockbuster? Writer and director Michael Sarnoski is here to share all the details on how he blends subtle darkness with authentic humane connection. Join us as Michael takes us through the writing process of "Pig" and "A Quiet Place: Day One," working on a studio franchise, vom...

The time has finally come. One of the Masters of Horror himself, Mick Garris, is here. Writer, director, producer, and Stephen King's most trusted collaborator, Mick is the mind behind The Stand, The Shining miniseries, Sleepwalkers, Desperation , and the legendary Masters of Horror anthology series. From Hocus Pocus to Critters 2 , he's lived every corner of genre filmmaking and survived to tell...

YES, CHEF! Today on the menu: Sofya Levitsky-Weitz, story editor and writer on FX’s The Bear ! When she’s not penning scripts for Gaslit (Starz) and The Dropout (Hulu), she’s busy writing her upcoming play, This Party Sucks . Let's go behind the scenes of The Bear , talk about writers’ room dynamics, how to break into the industry, and what keeps her coming back to the blank page. This podcast is...

Did someone say Greased Lightning ? On this episode of Living to Write , Hollywood legend and T-bird himself, Randal Kleiser, joins the show to chat about a career that spans Grease, The Blue Lagoon, White Fang , and so much more! We dig into his new book, Drawing Directors , his early days working with George Lucas, and the encounters with filmmakers who shaped his path. We also look at the lasti...

Welcome to Bailey Meets World! (IYKYK) This time on Living to Write, Bailey and Brian chat with Emmy-winning writer, producer, and director Mark Blutman, known for Boy Meets World, Girl Meets World. We discuss writing, the legacy of Boy Meets World, top-notch poutine (because priorities), and what every new emerging writer truly needs to hear. Plus, we cover his latest projects, thoughts on the WG...

On this episode of Living to Write, we’re hanging with the insanely talented Jessica Welsh! A fellow Story Summit Summiteer and the mind behind Shania!, the spec script that lit up the 2021 Black List. We dive into her writing journey, life in the Apple TV writers’ room, and her insider take on the 2023 writers' strike. Plus, the ultimate screenwriter showdown: Is outlining essential or just a cre...

“Writers don’t sell scripts hiding behind laptops.” This time on Living to Write , we’re joined by the wildly versatile Spyder Dobrofsky— Hallmark Christmas movie mastermind turned horror-western gunslinger with Teardrop on Tubi. We talk about his journey, his directorial debut ( Down Below ), and that time he ended up on The Jay Leno Show . The highs, the challenges, and what it really takes to m...

Welcome to the very first episode of Living to Write! And we’re kicking things off with a legend—Jeff Arch, Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Sleepless in Seattle and author of Attachments. We dive into the wild story of how Sleepless sold, the comedy gig that almost changed everything, and Jeff’s creative process. Plus, behind-the-scenes stories, hard-earned wisdom, and what it’s like mentoring Bri...