New Year. Less toxic productivity BS.
Hello! I hope you had a wonderful holiday and you’re doing nothing this week but celebrating your 2025 wins.
In anticipation of next week’s “New Year’s freak-out” energy, I wrote some thoughts on toxic productivity speak in the screenwriting world in my totally free Substack.
A taste:
I’ve been a screenwriter for ten years and a screenwriting coach three. There are a lot of “shoulds” that get thrown around about writing productivity:
You should be writing every day.
You should be working on multiple projects.
You should treat screenwriting like it’s your full-time job.
I’ve been both a student and consumer of writer education and advice and have had to dole it out myself as a coach. I’m a huge productivity and accountability nerd. I’ll read any book with the word “habits” in it. But, I fucking hate the words “productivity” and “accountability.” We’re not robots on an assembly line. Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do for your writing is stare out into space. And “accountability?” Ew, stop yelling at me, equal human adult.
So yes to good habits, commitment, and discipline. Whether you want to be a screenwriter or the Interstate Sex Shop King of the Intermountain West, you’ll need all of that to succeed. How do all those good habits happen? It comes down to one question I ask myself and fellow writers…
If you like the cut of my productivity jib, and are looking for support in 2026, you’re in luck! My Bold Ones Support Group returns on Monday, January 26.
The Bold Ones is an intimate community of up to eight supportive screenwriters that offers care, authentic connection, and a hive mind of vast resources and guidance. During our ten biweekly group sessions, we help writers make space to complete the stories they love and pursue the careers of their dreams with the lives they have now.
In our ten Zoom meetings, we’ll:
* Celebrate wins
* Set achievable goals and intentions
* Ensure we’re scheduling time for ourselves
* Receive and give support
* Ask for professional guidance from Laura and fellow writers
* Identify roadblocks and clarify plans
* Break down big plans into small, doable actions
* Build community with fellow screenwriters
Perks:
* One free 30-minute Office Hours Check-in from January 26-June 1.
* 20% off all coaching packages through June 1, 2026, starting today!
* Ongoing e-mail group support.
* You’re welcome to hop into the other Monday session if you can’t make your usual time. You’re also welcome to submit a question for the group to answer if you can’t make a session. Our answers will be recorded and sent to you.
Join the Bold Ones Monday Afternoon Support Group
Join the Bold Ones Monday Evening Support Group
New Resources!
I added new time management and creativity books and free legal services to my free Resource List!
Brag Better: Master the Art of Fearless Self-Promotion by Meredith Fineman
How to Write A Vertical Series in 10 Day by Isabel Drean
Magic Maker: The Enchanted Path to Creativity by Pam Grossman
Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
California Lawyers for the Arts
National Directory of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Southwestern Law School Entertainment & the Arts Legal Clinic
Happy New Year!
Rest. Keep going when you’re ready. You got this!
Love, Laura
