It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Holiday time is a lot of fun. The downside is that things slow down until mid-January. This is a great time to take a break from writing and refresh. You can still have a low key, but productive December by working on your craft. Below are some of my favorite podcasts, video channels, and books for writers. While I divided them into screenwriting and fiction, story is story. No matter what kind of project you are working on, you will benefit from learning about both.
Listen
Screenwriting:
Co-Pilots: TV Writers Talk TV Pilots
Happier In Hollywood - Two TV writers who are also best friends discuss screenwriting and life in Hollywood.
Ines Johnson is Having a Breakdown - Ines breaks the stories of popular TV shows.
John August’s Scriptnotes - Prolific screenwriter discusses craft.
Screenwriters Rant Room - A revolving group of screenwriters have free wheeling discussions about craft and the business.
Story Nerd - Breaks down popular movies.
The Screenwriting Life - Two screenwriters interview other screenwriters.
Two Writers Talking Shit - Two screenwriters interview other screenwriters.
Fiction Writing & Publishing:
Creative Penn Podcast - Interviews, inspiration, and information on writing and author business.
Fiction Author Business School – Craft
Novel Marketing Podcast - Craft and marketing for authors.
The Dialogue Doctor – Join Jeff Elkins for a live coaching session with a novelist.
The Happy Writer with Marissa Meyer
Wish I’d Known Then - Two authors interviewing other authors.
Worldcraft Club – Worldbuilding for writers.
Watch
Many of the podcasts have videos on YouTube, if you prefer watching to listening.
CinemaStix - Breaks down filmmaking and stories of movies.
Producer Patrick - News about the state of the entertainment industry.
Read
Most of the podcasters and authors also have newsletters. Look on their websites and the back of the books to subscribe.
Screenwriting:
Audrey Knox Newsletter - Audrey is a literary manager who writes about how to build a professional screenwriting career.
Ines Johnson is Having a Breakdown - newsletter
Making a Good Script Great by Linda Seger
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field
Writing the Pilot: The Streaming Series by William Rabkin
Fiction Writing:
How to Turn Your Screenplay into a Novel by Lindsey Hughes
On Writing by Eudora Welty
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now: How to Write Dialogue & Characters Readers Will Love by Jeff Elkins
The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
The Lie That Tells a Truth: A Guide to Writing Fiction by John Dufresne
Three Story Method: Foundations of Fiction by J. Thorn with Zach Bohannon
Write Your Hero: How to Create Fan-favorite Protagonists by Lewis Jorstad
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness into Words by Joanna Penn
Life
I Will Teach Your to Be Rich: No Excuses. Just a 6-week Program that Works by Ramit Sethi
Never Eat Lunch Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi
The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future by Ryder Carroll
Check It Out
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