In this episode of the Script Reader Pro Podcast, Desiree and Scott dive deep into one of the most misunderstood (and most over-prescribed) topics in screenwriting: the writing process.
Rather than pushing a single “right way” to write, this episode breaks down why every writer needs to build a process that actually works for them, and why blindly copying someone else’s routine can completely derail creativity, confidence, and momentum.
Using real-world examples from working writers, well-known creatives, and their own lived experience, Scott and Desiree explore how process evolves over time, why structure and freedom aren’t opposites, and how thinking, talking, and experimenting are just as much a part of writing as putting words on the page.
In this episode:
- What “the writing process” actually means and why it’s different for every writer.
- Why no one gets to tell you how you must write (and when advice should be ignored).
- How physical environment, neurodiversity, habits, and life circumstances shape process.
- The difference between writing, thinking, planning, and processing story.
- How outlining, not outlining, or hybrid approaches can all work - if they serve you.
- Why thinking counts as writing (and why beating yourself up slows you down).
- When to share work-in-progress, and why waiting until “perfect” often backfires
- How to use feedback without losing confidence or creative control
Scott also shares how his own process blends mind mapping, character-first development, and detailed outlines, and how that approach has evolved over time. The episode reinforces that process is a tool, not a rulebook, and that successful writers adapt rather than conform.
