Writers Group Therapy

It's the end of the world! Complimenting last week's session on adaptations, in this week's session we discuss the recent hit sci-fi film "Annihilation." SPOILER ALERT - we discuss major plot points and the ending. SHOW NOTES Annihilation on IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2798920/ Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer on Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/Annihilation-Novel-Southern-Reach-Trilogy/...

Session #33 is about Adaptations. We discuss how adaptations get it right and wrong, some or our favorites and do is it better to read the book before or after? SHOW NOTES: None for this episode

SPOILER ALERT! - In this week's session, we take a writer's perspective on the new Spielberg film "Ready Player One" and discuss the nostalgia-heavy story and how it differs from the source material. SHOW NOTES: None this episode.

In this week's session we interview young-adult novelist Rebekah Walsh about her writing projects including a ground-breaking novel-in-progress "Crossplay" about a trans-gender teen on a journey of self discovery through cosplay. SHOW NOTES: None for this episode.

Is your script serialized or procedural? What? It's a sitcom! Since when are sitcom's categorized as either of those? We debate how you categorize your work, whatever genre, in this week's session of Writers Group Therapy. SHOW NOTES: None this episode.

How do you find time to write? As aspiring screenwriters, we always struggle to find time to focus on our writing projects. It's a skill and we discuss our best ideas for how to make writing a priority to keep you moving forward. SHOW NOTES - None

In a very special session of Writers Group Therapy, we interview veteran comedy writer and executive producer Dan O'Shannon. Having written for some of the most iconic and successful comedies in TV history (Modern Family, Cheers, Newhart, Fraiser, and many more), we are excited to learn from Dan's experience in Hollywood and the writers' room.  SHOW NOTES: Dan O'Shannon on IMDB: http://www.imdb.co...

It's that time again! No, not Spring, well, yeah, almost, but here on Writers Group Therapy it's Screenwriting Contest, Fellowship and Festival season. Now is the time you should be getting your spec scripts done to submit to the big fellowships in May and June as well as the other screenwriting contests and festivals. We discuss what, when and how to write in this week's session.  SHOW NOTES: War...

In this week's session, we talk about how Science Fiction has gone mainstream, with films like "The Shape of Water" and "Get Out" winning Oscars, and with Marvel and Star Wars dominating box offices worldwide, sci-fi isn't just for nerds any longer. SHOW NOTES: All Time Wordwide Box Office Gross: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/ 15 Sci-Fi Movies You Didn't Know Won Oscars: https://scree...

In this week's session, we discuss the latest Marvel blockbuster "Black Panther," from a writer's perspective, and discuss characters, gender roles, world building and more. ****!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!**** We discuss many plot details of "Black Panther" in this week's session. If you haven't seen it yet, and you don't want anything spoiled, save this session for after you've seen the film. SHOW NOTES...

Do you like musical TV shows? Listen in on this week's session as we interview screenwriter/songwriter Adam Pineless and talk about his punk rock musical TV pilot. SHOW NOTES: AdamVersus.com (http://adamversus.com) - listen to Adam's single "Big Bungalou's Jumpin' Jambalaya in New Orleans"

How, when and where do you get a writing mentor? What makes a good mentor? Are you a mentor? Join us in this week's session all about mentors. SHOW NOTES: Barri Evins' Big Ideas for Screenwriters: http://bigbigideas.com Erik Bork's The Flying Wrestler: http://www.flyingwrestler.com Marc & Elaine Zicree's Supermentors: http://supermentors.com

Do you focus all your time and effort into crafting the perfect script for your passion project? Or do you write anything and everything until your eyeballs bleed? We discuss where we fall on the continuum of working on one project to multiple projects in this week's session of Writers Group Therapy. SHOW NOTES: None for this episode.

They'res nuthing woors then ungood gramer! Of course you want people to be enthralled by your characters and story, and not distracted by your poor punctuation, but writing with proper grammar also can make a difference in how an actor reads a line and how it impacts the other characters in the scene. We discuss the myriad of reasons to check and double-check your work for proper grammar.  SHOW NO...

How, and when, do you protect your work? Do you need to file for a copyright? With the Writers Guild? We discuss the hows and whens of copyrighting your script.   SHOW NOTES: U.S. Copyright Office online registration system - www.copyright.gov Writers Guild of America West - www.wga.org Writers Guild of America East - www.wgaeast.org  

Is it easier to push a political or social agenda writing for animated films and TV shows than in writing for live action? We discuss Jem & the Holograms, Gummy Bears, Smurfs, A Bug's Life and everything Pixar and more.

What is coverage? Is it necessary? Why do you need it? We discuss the pros and cons of getting your scripts covered. Show Notes: Articles on Coverage GoodInARoom.com: Script Coverage - Is it worth it? https://goodinaroom.com/blog/script-coverage/  Inktip.com: When is the right time to get analysis? https://www.inktip.com/tips-analysis.php Scritpmag.com: Why You Shouldn't Use a Script Coverage Serv...

You have the ideas. Now what do you do with them? We discuss how and why to keep an idea file. SHOW NOTES: Google Keep : keep.google.com - I (Tom) just discovered this free note keeping app from Google.  Evernote : www.evernote.com - Evernote syncs all your notes between all your devices and computer.  Free basic or premium upgrades available. Writer’s Journals  – http://amzn.to/2jPSoA0 Planners a...

Do you have your new year's resolutions ready? Yeah, neither do we -- We have something better! We discuss some great ways to kick off 2018. Visit www.writersgrouptherapy.com for more info.

Do you write what's popular and hot? Or write the passion project you can't stop thinking about? In this week's session, we debate the pros and cons of writing what you like versus writing what sells. Visit www.writersgrouptherapy.com for more info.

Happy Hanukkah! Keep those creative juices flowing with these fun writing prompts for the holiday (8 of them for the 8 days of Hanukkah). Visit www.writersgrouptherapy.com for more info.

Happy holidays! You've bought the tree, you've sung the carols... but you still have to buy the presents! We talk about some things to give the writers in your life. Visit http://writersgrouptherapy.com/2017/12/session-13-christmas-2017/ for show notes with links to great gift ideas.

No man is an island. Well, except for maybe writers. We're known for being solitary creatures. But if you want to be successful, maybe you shouldn't go it alone. We discuss the pros and cons of being in a writers group. Visit www.writersgrouptherapy.com for more info.   Show Notes: Patricia C. Wrede's blog post about her writers group, as mentioned in the show: http://www.pcwrede.com/a-group-of-on...

You're ready to quit your job and be a professional writer! Great idea...or is it? We discuss when you know it's time to take that leap of faith. Visit www.writersgrouptherapy.com for more info. Show notes: My apologies, I misspoke. It's Damien Chazelle, not Chapelle.

We discuss the how, what, when, where, and why of creating a show bible. Visit www.writersgrouptherapy.com for more info. Show notes: Sample TV Bibles:  https://sites.google.com/site/tvwriting/bibles