Ep. 485: Chaos Vibes & The Joy Of Rehashing

Happier in Hollywood

Liz and Sarah explore the emotional balance of being writing partners in Hollywood, highlighting how one can uplift the other during tough time

Key takeaways

• Having a writing partner provides emotional balance—when one is down, the other can offer perspective and encouragement.
• Personal life stressors like school transitions and loss can amplify professional anxiety.

Main topics

• Emotional balance in creative partnerships
• Life stress impacting professional mood

Notable quotes

When one of us is down, the other one is up—this balance helps us move forward.

I am in the doldrums... I feel like everything is chaotic and miserable.

Conclusion

Liz and Sarah reaffirm that emotional support within creative partnerships is vital

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:02) When the world keeps shifting, we're there to help you act with confidence. At HSBC, we bring together the people, ideas, and capital that drive growth, backing your ambitions at every stage. So when you're preparing for the next generation, strengthening your portfolio, or you're entering new markets, we're there, bringing 160 years of experience to help you move forward. HSBC. Opening up a world of opportunity. Speaker 5 (0:36) You want to know what I'm doing this weekend, Liz? What? Nothing. Nothing. I am doing nothing. Speaker 6 (0:45) As much nothing as it's possible to do. And do that nothing on a soft surface. Speaker 5 (0:52) Yeah, exactly. Speaker 6 (0:53) On my Speaker 5 (0:54) back. Maybe napping. Maybe napping is the thing I'm doing. Yes. Speaker 6 (1:03) Hi, and welcome to Happier in Hollywood, the podcast about how to be happier, healthier, saner, more creative, more successful, and more productive in a backbiting, superficial, chaotic, unpredictable, fundamentally insane world. I'm Liz Craft, a TV writer and producer living in LA, and with me is my high school friend and writing partner, Sarah. That's me, Speaker 5 (1:24) Sarah Fane. On this podcast, we talk about being writers in Hollywood, how we balance a career and friendship, and how to survive the war of Speaker 6 (1:32) attrition that is life in Los Angeles. Today, we're going to talk about one of the biggest advantages of having a partner, in our case, a writing partner. Then we'll discuss our recent trip to KCON and the joy of rehashing. In the craft Speaker 5 (1:47) and feign, we'll reveal a great way to hone in on who your character really is. This week's Hollywood hack brings me joy in the kitchen. And finally, Liz has a TV recommendation. But first, we have a Speaker 6 (2:00) quick update. Sarah, we talked about how we're going to make Monday mornings about exercise. Starting a certain date, we're going to set aside Monday mornings for exercise. But you started that early. Speaker 5 (2:15) Yes, because my plan was always to make sure I started this on Violet's first day of school. Just so happened that was on a Wednesday, not a Monday, which really threw me off. So what I did instead, because I didn't have time for like a full hike, which is what I want to do. is I came home and I did 10 minutes on my Pilates reformer. It wasn't a lot. I did five minutes of legs, five minutes of arms. But I was just like, I really heard Gretchen when she was talking about how you have to just start on the first day, like you just have to launch in. Yeah. So I did. And I'm so glad I did, even though it wasn't a lot, because now I feel like it's begun. Yes. Officially. Speaker 6 (2:57) And 10 minutes is better than zero minutes. Absolutely. If I did 10 minutes, seven days a week, that's over an hour. Yes, exactly. Well, that is great. I'm very glad that you did that. And it is a good lesson. I should figure out what I want to do on Jack's first day of school and do it. Do you know what day of the week it is? I believe it's actually Speaker 5 (3:20) a Thursday. Oh, boy. That's even worse than Wednesday. Yes, Speaker 6 (3:24) I know. Speaker 6 (3:26) Okay, Sarah, let's dive into From the Treadmill Desk Sub, where we talk about what's most pressing in our work psyches. This week, it's the balance of having a partner. Speaker 5 (3:37) Yes, this is something we have found over and over again in our more than two decades of being writing partners now, which is how important it is. to have the sort of natural balance that happens when one of us is down and the other one is up. Speaker 6 (3:57) Yes. Many, many times one of us is ranting, raving, depressed, sad, worried, and the other one at that moment, miraculously, is like, oh no, things are fine. We'll be fine. It's okay. I'll listen, but then I'll tell you everything's going to be okay. And we're experiencing that right now. Speaker 5 (4:22) Yes, we are. I am in the doldrums, definitely in like that sort of down spot. I feel like everything is chaotic and miserable, and I'm just like in this miasma of yuck. And it's wonderful because you. Like, no, these are all the good things and this is what I'm excited about. And what about this? And what about that? And that could be annoying. It could be a problem because it could feel invalidating. But it doesn't because you do validate how I feel while also offering a different perspective. And there are times when we're both just, you know, after a big bad thing happens, a show gets not picked up. or if a pilot doesn't go and we're both just like, ugh. But in general, we have this ability to have one be up and the other be down and it helps us just move forward. And that it really is one of the biggest benefits, I think, of having a partner. Speaker 6 (5:26) It really is. I mean, I am thinking back, Sarah, to circa 2003. Speaker 6 (5:34) sobbing in my bed when we were on Angel saying I was moving back to New York. I couldn't do this. I should never have moved out here. And you just being like, no, it's good. Look at what's happened. Everything is good. We're doing it and talking me off that cliff. So Speaker 5 (5:57) yes, we have done a lot of talking of. each other off of various cliffs for sure. Speaker 6 (6:02) Yes. Yes. But it is funny because when you were saying that you felt that way, I was just like, oh, interesting. I don't feel that way. I'm feeling very good. I really love our new pitch and I'm enjoying every day and I'm excited about, you know, this path and that path. So it's funny. It's also. Sarah, you have a lot going on in your personal life, which I'm sure adds to the feeling of chaos in your professional life. Speaker 5 (6:34) Absolutely. And it does help to remember that. Like, I know that it's really like Violet is starting a new school for the first time since she was born. I don't have any full time help. Our dog died. I mean, it's a lot of life stuff happening that feels overwhelming and scary. and sad. So I know that, but it definitely then feeds over into how I feel about work stuff. And I don't like that. But I also, you know, the other thing I was thinking on the work front is that things are so slow now. Like we actually have two projects that are sold and moving forward, but everything is so slow that it doesn't feel. real or significant, whereas, I mean, Speaker 6 (7:21) it Speaker 5 (7:21) really is. Speaker 6 (7:22) I forget they exist. Me too. Because it's just, it moves so slowly that I'm like, oh, wait, is that thing happening? What's going on with that? Even though we know it is happening, it's just a glacial pace. And yes, in the past, It's everything has been very much on a schedule, like you have to have your this pitch by the end of September and then you have to have something written by the end of December and then you're going to get an answer and then you start the process again and then you staff and then and now none of that is the case. And even when things move forward, they move forward so slowly. So that does add to the overall, quote unquote, bad feeling. But maybe I'm adjusting more to that so I feel better. Like maybe I'm adjusting to what we're calling new Hollywood and so I feel calmer about it. And I think Speaker 5 (8:19) usually I have adjusted. Yeah. But when I'm in this place, it's harder to hang on to the good things because they're just kind of plodding along. Speaker 6 (8:31) Yeah. Well, one thing we know