We were lucky to catch up with Laura Woodworth recently and have shared our conversation below.

Laura, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I’m a big proponent of honing your craft. As creatives, we can never stop learning, never stop growing. I’ll never forget reading a script from a fellow writer who had asked me to offer input. It was clear that at some point in his career, he had stopped growing as a writer. Don’t let that be you! I’m always looking for new insights, new growth opportunities to elevate my writing. I’ll add that it’s my conviction for learning my craft that inspires me as a public speaker and teacher. It’s a joy to inspire and help others elevate their skills.

Laura, 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?

An award-winning writer-producer-director and author, I’m also a development executive for Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles, producer of the Phil Cooke and Influence Women podcasts and script consultant for Stage 32, the largest online platform for screenwriters with over one million members. I hold a B.A. in Ministerial Studies, completed UCLA’s graduate Professional Program in Producing and I’m currently pursuing my MFA in screenwriting.

Most recent awards include “In Tune” (writer-director-coproducer), which won Most Inspirational Short Film (ICFF), and the Telly award-winning documentary “Asia: The Great Wall and Beyond” (co-writer) produced for TBN. One of my favorite projects is a VR project written for a 360° environment for the Bible Society UK (co-writer).

Through my books, teaching workshops, coaching and consultations, I’ve helped hundreds of writers elevate their writing, publish books, produce scripts and win awards. I’ve spoken at ministry and media events including the ICVM Storyteller’s Conference, Stage 32 Writer’s Room, and the National Religious Broadcasters Convention (NRB). My articles have been carried by FamilyChristian.com, iDisciple, Pure Flix Insider, Charisma Magazine, Outreach Magazine and Creative Screenwriting Magazine, and as a YouVersion Partner, my devotionals on their free Bible app have 250,000 subscribers.

My book “Through the Valley—Move Your Life Forward in God” offers a compassionate hand up or friendly nudge into your good future in God, and my newest, “Write Above the Noise – Key Concepts to Develop Your Best Writing” is endorsed by Hollywood media executives and ministry leaders.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I come from a missions and ministry background, and over the years, I’ve learned that you must be prepared for the “fight of faith” to accomplish any sort of success in this industry. Many people say that their passion is to create films or write books, but if that’s your driving force, it can easily be snuffed out in the roller coaster ride of this creative journey.

For me, my passion is first and foremost to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. My writing and creative work stems from my relationship with God. He is my Source, and without him, I am nothing. With him, however, the wellspring of creativity and inspiration is open to me as a never-ending supply.

I’ll add that it’s amazing to see the doors that have opened for me simply because I come in with an attitude of serving. How can I help the project succeed? How can I help others succeed? God honors that kind of attitude.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Scripture tells us that the wisdom from above is “willing to yield” and full of good fruit. You have to be flexible in this industry, willing to yield, willing to re-evaluate and adjust as necessary.

As William Goldman is so famously quoted, “Nobody knows anything.” You have to keep up with the trades, and for those who believe in God, keep in step with His Spirit. That may mean taking a feature film script and rewriting it for television or, reverse engineering it into a novel so you have established IP to build upon. This requires skill and talent, and a desire to learn new ways, new techniques, new platforms and mediums. I’ve done this with several of my projects and over the years learned that you can’t hold anything too closely; you must be willing to yield.

A few years ago I had several film projects that I was pitching. It can take years to see a film developed, financed and finally produced, coupled with a great amount of focus. A wise friend encouraged me to branch out and work on smaller, quickly-produced projects in the interim. At her suggestion, I started writing a blog, contributed articles to larger online platforms, developed devotional plans, spoke at various ministry, media and film events, and wrote two books.

My words are encouraging, educating and inspiring people in multiple ways while my larger film projects are still percolating. Plus, I’ve gained an audience that will benefit the larger projects once they are realized – an audience I would never have gained if I had not yielded to my friend’s advice and been flexible.

Proverbs 18:15 says, “Intelligent people are always open to new ideas. In fact, they look for them.” That’s my greatest advice to fellow creatives. Be open and look for new ways to get your message out there. More than anything, share light and hope with a world that desperately needs good news.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://laurawoodworth.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurawoodworthwriter/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraWoodworthOfficial
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurakwoodworth/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurawoodworth
• Other: IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2961897/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 “Through the Valley – Move Your Life Forward in God” https://a.co/d/bLJKNjG “Write Above the Noise – Key Concepts to Develop Your Best Writing” https://a.co/d/bUvOefh

Image Credits
Conroe Brooks (for behind the scenes stills “In Tune”)