In Writing with Hattie Crisell

S3 Ep21: Lucy Prebble, playwright and screenwriter

Jan 29, 2021

Lucy Prebble, playwright and screenwriter, shares insights on Succession, relationships with actors, and quitting TV success. She highlights her writing process, the importance of dialogue, and the secret of writers' rooms. Lucy reflects on her journey from Secret Diary of a Call Girl, while encouraging support for independent bookshops

01:01:04

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Episode guests

Lucy Prebble

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Quick takeaways

Tailoring characters to actors enhances performance by aligning traits with strengths.

Creating a focused workspace improves productivity and separates work from personal life.

Prioritizing emotional depth over cleverness in writing establishes deeper audience connections.

Deep dives

Tailoring Roles to Actors

Writing parts is compared to tailoring roles to actors, where the character's traits and strengths shape the role, similar to fitting a suit. This approach ensures that the character's portrayal aligns with the actor's abilities and enhances the performance.

Importance of Clarity in Screenwriting

01:06

Learning from Displeasure

01:34

Building a Mega Wall of Plot Points

01:13

John Mulaney on Evolving His Stand-Up Style

01:09

Introduction

3min

Enhancing Productivity with a Dedicated Workspace

4min

Exploration of Early Writing and Career Aspirations

6min

Early Career Beginnings and Playwriting Journey

2min

Crafting Compelling Stories for Theatre and Screen

11min

Navigating the Challenges of Television Writing

26min

Transformative Shift in Creative Control

7min

Supporting Independent Bookshops and Lucy Prebble's Plays

2min

Season 3 is here! My first guest is Lucy Prebble, playwright of A Very Expensive Poison and Enron; showrunner of the Sky series I Hate Suzie; and part of Jesse Armstrong's writing team on the HBO drama Succession. Lucy lets us into the secrets of that writers' room, sheds light on the relationship between writers and actors, and reflects on what she learnt from quitting her first TV success, Secret Diary of a Call Girl.

To buy Lucy's plays, or any other books mentioned on In Writing, visit https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/in-writing – your purchases support independent booksellers (and this podcast).

This episode is sponsored by Papier. Listen out for a discount code for 15% off your first order.

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In Writing with Hattie Crisell

S3 Ep21: Lucy Prebble, playwright and screenwriter

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Tailoring Roles to Actors

Creating a Productive Writing Space

Reflecting on Writing Strategies

Empowering Writing Choices Through Saying No

Crafting Compelling Narratives

Importance of Clarity in Screenwriting

Learning from Displeasure

Building a Mega Wall of Plot Points

John Mulaney on Evolving His Stand-Up Style

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts