We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Margaret South a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Margaret, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.
I decided to launch my company a few winters ago. Why not? I’d had a successful career in the movie business, then left to raise my kids. I took care of aging parents, but they were gone now. I could have retired, but I still had an awful lot to say. I rented some space in a nearby church. I incorporated. I purchased insurance. A few customers rolled in. Success? No. The pandemic hit and the church closed its doors.
I was ready to quit, but my younger sister insisted (that’s what younger sisters do) that I offer my services online. Almost three years later, I am more productive than I have ever been. Writers are coming to me from all over the country, seeking my services.
Never give up!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have worked with writers for four decades. After co-founding All Girl Productions with Bette Midler and Bonnie Bruckheimer, I developed feature film projects for Disney, Fox and Tri-Star Studios, HBO, ABC, and NBC, including the beloved Beaches.
Together with Ms. Midler, I wrote the screenplay A View from a Broad for Disney Studios.
While raising my two children, I created the innovative Kids Talk Story curriculum, funded by the federal government and provided in public schools.
In this most recent chapter of my life, I provide coaching for writers of every experience level. Wherever you are on your writing journey, I can help you create meaning and craft a great story.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I enjoyed helping writers navigate through the cut-throat movie and television business, but now, I want to help writers tell the stories that mean the most to them. I can work in any genre. But I find that many many women like me have something to say about their life journey. I want to be the one to help them tell their life stories, even if they’ve never written anything before.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Life is just one pivot after another! 1975: Graduate from college and start working in New York.
1980 New York: Just as I was promoted to Associate Producer, the company was taken over. I lost my job.
1981 Los Angeles: I got a secretarial job for a producer.
1982: Producer promotes me to Creative Consultant on new show for HBO
1983-1992: Bette Midler hires me to “read scripts.” I suggest we form All Girl Productions
1992-2000: I decide to be a Stay-At-Home-Mom
2000: When my husband gets a producing job in Hawaii, we pack up the family and go!
2002: Husband’s show is canceled and we decide not to go back to L.A.
2002-2010: Kids are teenagers now. I teach screenwriting at the University of Hawaii. Give workshops at home.
2005: I create Kids Talk Story for public schools.
2010: Aging parents need us. We pack up and move back East.
2019: I start my newest venture.
What I’ve learned is that everything is temporary, whether good or bad. Life changes. The sooner you can adapt to your new circumstances, the happier you’ll be (and the more successful)!
Contact Info:
- Website: margaretsouth.com
- Facebook: Margaret South
- Twitter: @MargaretSouth23