Reference Desk #18 — ScriptNotes Podcast

ScriptNotes, as you might guess, is a podcast “about screenwriting, and things interesting to screenwriters.” It’s hosted by working screenwriters John August and Craig Mazin, with frequent high-profile guests like Christopher McQuarrie and Vince Gilligan.

I’ve never written a screenplay. While it might be fun to try at some point, my interests mostly lie in prose fiction. Luckily, I’ve found that most of the episodes I’ve listened to are filled with good advice and discussion that’s applicable to all sorts of fiction writing, not just movies and TV.

The podcast recently crossed the 600-episode mark in their 11th season (what do seasons even mean in podcasting?) Episodes are typically about an hour long, and vary from screenwriter interviews to listener Q&A to deep dives on specific writing topics or specific movie scripts.

As an example, recent episodes included a discussion about the dynamics of writing a story with a large cast of characters, and an analysis of the “side-quests” and “sub-quests” that make up the scene-to-scene meat of a larger character arc.

The show only keeps something like the most recent 20 episodes in their free feed. As someone who sometimes binges podcasts, I was actually a bit relieved to not feel the need to “catch up” on something new with so many episodes.

However, if you really like the free samples and are willing to pay, the entire back catalog and some bonus content is available via subscription on their website, for $5 per month or $49 per year. They also include a few minutes of bonus content at the end of each episode, for subscribers. I may decide to pick up a sub for a month or two, just to surf through some of the old episodes.

722 – Orality, or Writing to be Spoken Scriptnotes Podcast

John and Craig ask, are screenwriters just oral storytellers who happen to write things down? They compare the literate and oral markers of the medium, how it separates screenplays from other literary forms, and consider whether screenplays are just one long pitch. We also look at the upcoming WGA member meetings, follow up on having enough time in the edit bay, Steve Jobs, Eva Victor, justifiable Dad pride, and answer listener questions on deliverables and what makes a script "undeniable." In our bonus segment for premium members, we look at the incredible slate of upcoming movies and make predictions for the 2026 box office. Links: Steve Jobs' email to himself How Will the Miracle Happen Today? by Kevin Kelly Havelock's orality tester Quantum computing for lawyers by JP Aumasson Swoop Inhibiting a master regulator of aging regenerates joint cartilage in mice by Krista Conger The Sheep Detectives trailer Get your copy of the Scriptnotes book! Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Become a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscription Subscribe to Scriptnotes on YouTube Scriptnotes on Instagram John August on Bluesky and Instagram Outro by Jennifer Lucy Cook (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.
  1. 722 – Orality, or Writing to be Spoken
  2. 721 – Preparing to Direct (with Eva Victor)
  3. 720 – Watch Your Tone
  4. 719 – When Good Enough Isn't Enough
  5. 718 – No Worries if Not
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Author: Samuel Johnston

Professional software developer, unprofessional writer, and generally interested in almost everything.

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