Fighting Existential Dread with Creativity

Hi friends,

It’s already starting to feel cliche to greet someone with “crazy times, eh?” I work from home anyway, so the quarantine is not that different. Except it is different. I did not choose it and neither did you. I’m certain my dog is picking up on the low-key anxiety that courses through everything now; she’s even more clingy than usual. And there's nothing any of us who aren't medical researchers or first-aid responders can do about it. Feelings of powerlessness stir up deep frustrations, and I find myself apt to fly off the handle at the strangest things. When I stop yelling at a pen that dared to stop working, I find there is comfort in acts of kindness and sharing. A friend’s Instagram of her singing on her balcony in Rome brings me to easy tears. Another friend’s online art class leaves me feeling peaceful and pleased: there is something I can do. I can create.

In the interest of keeping your creative energy flowing and saving your inanimate objects from abuse, we have some offerings:

First Episode Tomorrow

We’re launching our new Hearthside Salons tomorrow evening with the amazing and inspiring Liz Hara. I met Liz in 2013 when she participated in our writing retreat in Orvieto, Italy. Since then, I have been thrilled to watch her rise through various Hollywood writers rooms, while keeping her hand in her passion of puppet building and puppeteering. She’ll talk to us about what drives her forward, what she’s learned, and how she stays true to herself. Often the only writer of color in a room, she has a unique perspective on the TV process. Most importantly, she’s one of the most wildly creative, kind, buoyant people I’ve ever met.

Join us for free!

Get Support and Connect

This Wednesday will be our second Writers Lunch. Last week we kicked it off with writers in Puerto Rico, Montana, and New Mexico. I came expecting to answer people’s questions and provide value where I could. It turned out everyone just wanted to hang out and know they weren’t alone… and talk a little about favorite scripts. The Writers Lunch can be whatever you need it to be. I know there is at least one writer this week who would like to share some pages for feedback. What do you need? How can we help?

Join us for free!

New Online Workshop

Our current Concept to Pages workshop in Los Angeles started as an in-person group but Covid-19 forced us online. We miss hanging out together, but it turns out the workshop runs just fine in the virtual world.

If you’re ready to get a new script started, our next workshop starts online Saturday May 2 and runs through June 20, with a bonus table read session on June 27. We'll use tools we designed to help you nail your character and story before we move into scene construction and get you well on your way through a first draft.

LEARN MORE

Stay safe. Be well. Write lots!

--Heidi

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