How do you keep doing creative work when the world is falling apart around you? To sift through the despair and doubt, John welcomes back legendary Scriptnotes guest, writer-turned-psychotherapist Dennis Palumbo. They discuss the many feelings that catastrophic events can bring up in artists, the personal narratives that often inform those feelings, and how to keep moving forward when you feel like the band on the Titanic.

We also follow up on AI, and answer listener questions on competing with brain trusts and how to support a friend embroiled in controversy.

In our bonus segment for premium members, Dennis guides us through the best examples and worst mistakes of portraying therapists on screen.

Links:

“Am I Just Fiddling While Rome Burns?” by Dennis Palumbo for Psychiatric Times
Scriptnotes 99 – Psychotherapy for Screenwriters
ShotDeck
River Runner Global
At the Existentialist Café by Sarah Bakewell
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Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram
John August on BlueSky, Threads, and Instagram
Outro by Spencer Lackey (send us yours!)
Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

278: John — Only the Blind Can See