We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lisa Lee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I think about a version of this question at least a couple of times a year. Not what it would be like to have a regular job, since I’ve nannied for most of my adult life, but what it would be like to be satisfied having a regular job. Don’t get me wrong, being part of a child’s life and, hopefully, some of their favorite memories is extremely rewarding. It’s something I took for granted when I was younger, yet now, some of the best parts of my life are those moments. That said, no matter how much I’ve grown to appreciate it, I’ve always felt this inescapable tug toward writing.
I do think it would be easier if my desire to build a creative career wasn’t so strong—if writing was only a hobby and simply finishing projects left me satisfied. It’s a hard career to break into, and there’s no guarantee it’ll last if you do break in. But I can’t shake it. Trust me, I’ve tried.

Lisa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hey, everyone! I’m Lisa. I’m a screenwriter and author. While it wasn’t something I thought about as a child—I was just doing the things I liked—I was always drawn to creative careers. I would constantly write. Anything I read or watched, I would create something similar. I had a notebook filled with clothing designs (trust me, if that notebook were still around, those early ’90s designs would not have aged well). In middle school, my grandmother gave me a screenwriting book, and I wrote my first screenplay. As I got older, I fell in love with singing and acting. I was in my high school choir and took theater as an elective. I had this book of monologues that I would recite over and over just for practice. Though acting wasn’t something my parents wanted me to pursue, I would look at the open auditions in the classifieds, and they seemed so magical to me—that you could answer an ad and be in a movie.
For a while, I just cycled through these different creative outlets, picking each of them up randomly and focusing on them for a while. It wasn’t until around the time Spider-Man was being promoted that I realized how badly I wanted to be a screenwriter. Everything about it captivated me—from the behind-the-scenes stuff to the soundtrack. I remember making lists of bands/musicians I wanted in my films. (Was it filled with pop-punk bands like Blink-182 and Sum 41? Yep. Would I still kill to have those guys on my soundtracks? Heck yes.) The idea that you could create a world that people would want to be a part of, either by viewing it or helping bring it to life, still amazes me.
Right now, my portfolio mostly consists of short film scripts. I’m working on a few features, but they aren’t polished yet. I just finished my first children’s book, Art Adventurers: Stupendous Screen Screw-Up, and I’m so excited for the launch. Most of my energy’s been focused there lately, but when I’m not busy with that I’m adapting my zombie short script into a webtoon and learning the ropes of production management.
I’m not sure if this sets me apart from others, but I’ve had to wear many hats. Part of it is out of necessity—when your network is small and you’re not raking in the big bucks, you’ve got to do everything yourself. But, if I’m being honest, I think I secretly love the torture of having to learn how to do everything myself. I’ve designed websites (including my current one), played manager for a local band, acted as a modeling agent, screen-printed t-shirts for both my clothing company and the aforementioned band, and the list goes on.
As for what I’m most proud of, that one is tricky. I have a lot of imposter syndrome, so it’s hard for me to decide that something I’ve done is worth being proud of. I guess I’m most proud of the fact that I’m still trucking along. I could have—and maybe should have (only time will tell)—given up a long time ago.
What are the things I want potential fans to know about me? Well, that just makes me think about those old Q&As/fun facts bands would put on their websites back in the day. I like cold coffee drinks. I rarely listen to new music—not because I don’t like it, but because I’m still obsessed with my old favorites. My office is filled with TV and film memorabilia—everything from a Winter Soldier poster to a Jurassic Park paperweight to a miniature model of Little Shop of Horrors’ Audrey II.
On the business side of things, I’m just getting started on my social media journey, so bear with me. I’ve also semi-recently started interviewing up-and-coming creatives. At first, I did it because I didn’t know what to blog about, and letting other people talk about themselves is a lot easier than having to talk about myself. But I actually really love getting to know people’s stories and giving them an outlet to share them—especially if they’re just starting out and haven’t really had that opportunity before.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Every time I go to the movies and the lights go down, I get this feeling of excitement. There is something special about gathering together with people who are all excited for the same thing. I liken it to going to a concert. Everyone is there for the same reason. I want to give that feeling to people. I also think entertainment is multifaceted in how it affects us. Sure, it can influence change, but sometimes, it simply helps us escape. There are times when we need to forget how bad things are, when we need something to distract us from our fear and anxiety. I’ve used that kind of escape many times, and I’d like to offer that to other people, too.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I’ve had to unlearn is to stop trying so hard to connect the dots. I’ve spent my whole life overanalyzing the importance of each task I’ve done. It took me a long time to accept that most things I do won’t directly lead to a big break. Not every conversation is a career opportunity. Not every contest entry is a stepping stone to box office success. But that doesn’t mean those things aren’t worthwhile. When you view everything only as a means to an end, it’s easy to feel like you’re failing. And when something doesn’t work out, you start wondering if it was even worth trying. Not only is that a terrible mindset, but it makes it harder to try again next time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://writelisawrite.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesefairytales
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writelisawrite
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/writelisawrite
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/writelisawrite

Image Credits
Catherine Pena from Photographybycatherine