Scriptnotes Podcast 715 - The Book Launch, Live!
Dec 9, 2025
Julia Turner, a culture journalist known for her work on Slate, joins to discuss the Scriptnotes book and its significance. She challenges the hosts on the value of criticism in storytelling. Comedian Ashley Nicole Black shares insights from her career while tackling leftover audience questions. They explore the bittersweet nature of completing creative projects, the impact of AI on storytelling, and the importance of maintaining a unique voice in writing. Plus, there's a fun live quiz on quirky Christmas movie lines that keeps the audience engaged!
AI Snips
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Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Book Focuses On Craft And Profession
- The book is about the craft and profession of screenwriting, not a step-by-step "how-to" manual.
- John and Craig curated podcast conversations and interviews into practical lessons for working writers.
Post-Project Letting Go
- Craig described the post-project sadness as sending your kid off where it no longer belongs to you.
- John echoed that once a movie opens it becomes the world's movie and you stop owning it.
Study Specific Scene Craft
- Read scripts, study scene-level craft: dialogue, conflict, transitions, and relationship-driven structure.
- Use specific examples and practical moments to accelerate from instinct to skill as a screenwriter.
