Listen: Between the Sheets: Writing About Sex on TV

Photo credit: Douglas Welch

On January 10, we partnered with Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting to pull the covers back on a topic that still makes viewers blush: sex. Michelle Ashford (Masters of Sex, The Pacific), Cindy Chupack (I’m Dying Up Here, Divorce, Sex and the City), Sahar Jahani (13 Reasons Why, Ramy), Dayna Lynne North (Insecure, Single Ladies, Lincoln Heights), and Gladys Rodriguez (Vida, Dynasty, Sons of Anarchy) joined moderator and Stephens College Director Dr. Rosanne Welch for a frank discussion on how they approach writing about sex, from intimate scenes to revealing dialogue, and the nuances they consider when crafting stories about sex and sexuality. Listen below!

Listen: Research Methods for Writers with Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski

On November 14, we sat down with Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski the master scribes of biographical dramas for Dolemite Is My Name, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, and Ed Wood.

Held at the Writers Guild of America West HQ, we studied how this screenwriting team approaches their research, including how to find rich resources; how to approach and talk to experts, academics and gatekeepers; how to keep track of and organize information; and how to create compelling drama from true events and real people. Take a listen below to this insightful discussion!

Listen: Location as Character: The Craft of Writing Place

On October 1, we partnered with Columbia College Chicago to sit down with Ayanna Floyd Davis (The Chi), Connor Kilpatrick (Young Sheldon), Matt Lutsky (On Becoming a God in Central Florida), and Anthony Sparks (Queen Sugar) for a discussion about how writing location—whether real or fictional—sets the tone for a TV show and can shape the motivations of the characters. Moderated by Dr. Rosanne Welch. Have a listen!