Ep. 469: Putting Our Reading Into Our Writing

Ep. 469: Putting Our Reading Into Our Writing

Author: The Onward Project May 7, 2026 Duration: 33:42
Liz and Sarah talk about how they plan to incorporate what they’ve gleaned from Natalie Goldberg’s book, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, into the next draft of their novel Bad Trip. Inner censor be damned! In Take A Hike, they share whimsy ideas from listeners who are participating in Mimsy May. Then they talk about why Writers Room Pro is one of their favorite HIH WFH tools. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from career coach Carole Kirschner — spend twenty minutes researching whoever you’re going to meet with. Finally Liz recommends Caro Claire Burke’s buzzy new novel, Yesteryear.  Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Sign up for Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter Chickening Out at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. It’ll come right to your inbox! Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCra Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within https://amzn.to/4umNtbn Writing Down the Bones Deck: 60 Cards to Free the Writer Within https://amzn.to/4tare7B WritersRoom Pro: https://www.writersroompro.com/ Career Coach Carole Kirschner: https://www.carolekirschner.com/  Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke: https://amzn.to/3RkCbWQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For over two decades, television writers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain have navigated the unique pressures of Hollywood as a team, and their Happier in Hollywood podcast pulls back the curtain on that journey. This isn't just industry gossip; it's a candid conversation between two friends who have built a career and a life inside a famously tough town. Each episode feels like grabbing a table at the commissary with them, where they translate their personal and professional hurdles into relatable lessons. You’ll hear how a blend of stubborn optimism and pragmatic Midwestern grit helped them thrive in a male-dominated field, offering tangible advice that goes far beyond writing a script. Their discussions tackle everything from navigating office politics and difficult conversations to the small, daily practices that maintain sanity. This Happier in Hollywood podcast, from The Onward Project, transforms specific Hollywood struggles into universal themes about resilience, partnership, and finding your footing in any high-stakes career. It’s about the unglamorous work behind the glamour-the ass-kicking, the occasional ass-kissing, and yes, even the office yoga-that actually makes a sustainable life possible. Tune in for a surprisingly grounded perspective from two veterans who have learned to carve out happiness on their own terms.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Happier in Hollywood
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 448: Be The Killer Bee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:27
Before Liz and Sarah dive into the episode, Liz shares the sad news of her dad’s recent death and thanks listeners for the outpouring of love and support. Then they talk about their Team Theme for 2026 and how they want…
Ep. 447: Networking Up: It’s Scary! (Do It Anyway) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:21
Executive Coach and Friend of the Pod Michael Melcher joins Sarah to discuss the benefits of networking up. Making connections with higher ups is intimidating but worth it! Michael stays on as Guest Host to discuss the i…
Ep. 446: Thanksgiving Listener Hacks Bonanza! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:05
Happy Thanksgiving! Liz and Sarah share a veritable cornucopia of practical hacks from listeners. Some faves? Use a hotel room pants hanger to clip the curtains closed. Put whitening mouthwash in your water flosser. Atta…
Ep. 445: Fighting The War Of Attrition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:04
Every episode, Liz and Sarah refer to winning the “war of attrition.” Today they discuss concrete ways to get IN that war — you can’t win if you’re not in the fight! In Career Lessons With Laverne, they talk to career co…
Ep. 444: HIH 2025 Gift Guide! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:57
‘Tis the season for gift giving! Liz and Sarah share their favorite gifts of 2025 — everything from a Hori Hori Knife to a Hot Potato Shock Game to Sarah’s new favorite hair product. Also? Here’s a special link for anyon…
Ep. 443: How To Be Pitch Perfect [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:13
Liz and Sarah have SO MANY pitches coming up! They decided to hire Pitch Coach, Jordana Oberman, to help them up their game. And they’re so glad they did. In Take A Hike, Sarah shares why a recent L.A. Zoo outing with Vi…
Ep. 442: Sucking It Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:40
After a recent rude encounter related to one of their projects, Liz and Sarah talk about how sometimes you just have to suck it up. (Being able to see your own facial expression on Zoom helps!) In honor of Halloween, the…
Ep. 441: More Notes & Celebrating Steps Along The Way [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:51
Recently Liz and Sarah discussed how the rubber was meeting the road on their Netflix pilot. They were sure they were done with the notes process and were now awaiting some kind of yay or nay on the project. But they wer…
Ep. 440: Pitch Decks & Meeting IRL [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:54
Liz and Sarah talk about how they approach constructing pitch decks — finding the perfect photo is Sarah’s superpower! In Take A Hike, they discuss why it’s so important to take the time to meet people in person. Not onl…