
The Writers Panel
The definitive insider's guide to our current golden age of television, Ben Blacker's The Writers Panel is an ever expanding anthology of live convention panels and intimate in-studio interviews with the writers, producers, and show runners responsible for all the shows you can't stop watching. Over the course of nearly 500 episodes and counting, The Writers Panel has sat across from guests such as Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele (Key and Peele), Liz Meriwether (New Girl), and Damon Lindelof (Lost, The Leftovers) to talk about the art and business of creating great television. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Dec 12, 2023 • 50min
Untitled Female Driven Podcast crossover!
Hannah Rosner (Legacies) and feature writer Erica Schreiber of the Untitled Female Driven Podcast discuss mistakes they made early in their careers, from learning what to say in meetings to when to turn down a project. Listen to the first half of this conversation in which Hannah and Erica interview The Writers Panel's Ben Blacker on this week's episode of the Untitled Female Driven Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION.Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&As, meet-ups, and more: benblacker.substack.comLive Zoom Q&A with Marc Guggenheim (Arrow; Legends of Tomorrow) on Sunday 12/17! Join the Substack to join and ask your questions or to listen later!SOCIALS:Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/benblacker.bsky.socialTwitter: twitter.com/benBlacker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 28, 2023 • 54min
Marvel Comics editor Tom Brevoort
Marvel Comics editor Tom Brevoort discusses working on The Avengers and moving to the X-Men office, mistakes he's made, getting the best out of creatives, why he's optimistic about the industry's future, and lots more.Brevoort's substack, Man with a Hat, is the most informative and inside baseball newsletter about the comics industry out there. Subscribe here: https://tombrevoort.substack.comTHE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION.Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&As, meet-ups, and more: benblacker.substack.comSOCIALS:Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/benblacker.bsky.socialTwitter: twitter.com/benBlacker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 14, 2023 • 39min
Felicia Day (Third Eye; The Guild)
Writer/actor/producer Felicia Day (The Guild; MST3K; Supernatural) discusses her new audio series Third Eye, getting comfortable with outlining, her approach to world building, maintaining mental health in a difficult industry, and lots more. Third Eye is available now via Audible.THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION.Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&As, meet-ups, and more: benblacker.substack.comLive Zoom Q&A with The Tick creator Ben Edlund (Supernatural) next weekend. Join the Substack to join and ask your questions or to listen later!SOCIALS:Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/benblacker.bsky.socialTwitter: twitter.com/benBlacker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 7, 2023 • 47min
Marissa Jo Cerar (Black Cake)
Marissa Jo Cerar (creator/showrunner, Black Cake and Women of the Movement) discusses hiring a writers' room, what she reads, what she expects in interviews, and more. Black Cake is streaming now on Hulu!THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION.Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&As, meet-ups, and more: benblacker.substack.comLive Zoom Q&A with The Tick creator Ben Edlund (Supernatural) next weekend. Join the Substack to join and ask your questions or to listen later!SOCIALS:Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/benblacker.bsky.socialTwitter: twitter.com/benBlacker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14 snips
Oct 31, 2023 • 42min
Paul Tremblay on Short Horror
Author Paul Tremblay discusses writing horror short stories, turning the personal into the terrifying. They talk about the process of writing short stories versus novels, trusting creative decisions, and exploring different genres. They also explore the significance of timing in storytelling and fear of aging, along with their current entertainment recommendations.

Oct 24, 2023 • 29min
Krystal Ziv on Collaboration
In this craft-focused episode, Krystal Ziv (Wolf Pack; The Purge) discusses various types of collaboration.THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION.Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&As, meet-ups, and more: benblacker.substack.comSOCIALS:Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/benblacker.bsky.socialTwitter: twitter.com/benBlacker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 17, 2023 • 40min
Lily Sparks on YA
In this craft-centered conversation, author Lily Sparks (Teen Killers Club) discusses writing YA, showing the world as it should be versus how it is, sex in young adult fiction, and more. The final book in Lily's "Teen Killers" trilogy, Teen Killers at Large, is available now!THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION.Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&As, meet-ups, and more: benblacker.substack.comJoin Ben's advanced "Draft Intensive" class and go from outline to script, starts October 22: https://scriptanatomy.com/product/20231022-tv-draft-intensive-98/There are only two slots left, so sign up now!SOCIALS:Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/benblacker.bsky.socialTwitter: twitter.com/benBlacker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 10, 2023 • 31min
Lindsey Anderson Beer (Pet Sematary: Bloodlines)
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines writer/director Lindsey Anderson Beer discusses the Stephen King prequel, the intense draft process once she came on board, her background in neuroscience and robotics, the magic script that got her in the door, and lots more.Pet Sematary: Bloodlines is streaming now on Paramount+.THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION.Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&As, meet-ups, and more: benblacker.substack.comJoin Ben's advanced "Draft Intensive" class and go from outline to script, starts October 22: https://scriptanatomy.com/product/20231022-tv-draft-intensive-98/There are only two slots left, so sign up now!SOCIALS:Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/benblacker.bsky.socialTwitter: twitter.com/benBlacker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 3, 2023 • 1h 1min
BONUS: Patton Oswalt & Friends from SDCC
Superheroes and Not-so-Supervillains - Patton Oswalt (Minor Threats, Black Hammer: Visions), Jordan Blum (Minor Threats, Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.), Scott Hepburn (Minor Threats), James Tynion IV (The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos, Something is Killing the Children), Tate Brombal (The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos, Barbalien: Red Planet), and Jeff Lemire (Black Hammer, Mazebook; Sweet Tooth) discuss creating their own heroes, villains, and worlds in their creator-owned comics and more.Moderated by Ben Blacker (Hex Wives; The Thrilling Adventure Hour)Recorded at San Diego Comic Con, July 2023.THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION.Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&As, meet-ups, and more: benblacker.substack.comJoin Ben's advanced "Draft Intensive" class and go from outline to script, starts October 22: https://scriptanatomy.com/product/20231022-tv-draft-intensive-98/Space is extremely limited, so join now!SOCIALS:Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/benblacker.bsky.socialTwitter: twitter.com/benBlacker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 26, 2023 • 60min
Gerry Duggan on Thinking Visually
Gerry Duggan, writer of all media, talks about thinking visually, process, comics, art, movies, and more. They discuss the influence of visual arts and photography on their work in comic books, the process of writing and creating characters like Deadpool, and hopes for successful labor actions and equitable treatment in the TV industry.