What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of “My Favorite Narcissist” and “Single Girl’s Guide To Narcissist”?

After freeing myself from the damaging influence of narcissistic individuals, I began to rediscover my self-worth and the talents I had suppressed for so long due to their lies and devaluation. I reignited my passion for writing, which I had neglected. In 2015, I wrote a screenplay, but a friend dismissed my aspirations without even reading my work, claiming that her friends agreed with her. This kind of manipulation, known as triangulation, was a common tactic for her. Removing these toxic relationships from my life brought me a newfound sense of freedom and fearlessness, opening up new opportunities for me. I am grateful and excited for my newfound peace, and I hope to use my writing to help others recognize and protect themselves from narcissists.

What message or theme were you aiming to convey?

I believe it’s important to recognize the damaging and destructive nature of narcissistic abuse. By understanding their tactics, we can protect ourselves from their influence and work to eliminate any narcissistic tendencies within ourselves. I strive not to emulate their behavior. Often times, the targets of narcissists are silenced through smear campaigns so they can be discredited and no one will believe them. No one can silence my voice when I write.  While the screenplays I submitted to this contest, “My Favorite Narcissist” and “Single Girl’s Guide to Narcissists,” have a lighthearted tone, my other screenplays go a lot deeper and have more thought-provoking themes. The subject of narcissism is not mentioned as it is in these titles, but every antagonist in the screenplays I write are narcissistic.

Which scriptwriter’s work do you admire the most, and why?

I admire Clint Eastwood as a filmmaker because his work explores themes that resonate with my own, such as the strength of human resilience, the warrior mentality over victimhood, and the hero archetype. I appreciate his commitment to honoring and respecting the creative vision of his fellow artists, as he does not alter the original intent of the writer, setting him apart in the industry. It’s unfortunate that in many cases, the final film deviates significantly from the writer’s original vision. I also hold Frank Capra and Steven Spielberg in high regard for similar reasons. Their work ignites a fire within their audiences, and that’s exactly what I aspire to do with my own work.

Which books or films had the biggest impact on you growing up?

Oh, wow. I LOVED books growing up. At the age of 8, I was already immersed in reading chapter books, with Roald Dahl as my favorite author. I devoured every one of his books, and my passion for reading was further fueled by my third grade teacher, Mrs. Ash. She would sit on a stool in front of the class and read to us, and I hung on her every word. One day, I expressed my dissatisfaction with the characters of the aunts in “James and the Giant Peach” to her. In response, she encouraged me to write my own stories however I wanted. This sparked my journey into writing, and as a hobby, I began hand-writing pages and pages of stories where every character was kind. This therapeutic exercise ultimately led me to writing screenplays. I am grateful to Mrs. Ash for adding such value to my life, and I wish I could thank her for the impact she had on me.

Tell us about your writing journey.

I wrote my first “screenplay,” if I can even call it that, when I was 9 years old. My only friend willing to read it was my sweet classmate Mia. I often wonder if she remembers that. Inspired by Mrs. Ash’s encouragement to write my own stories, I found solace in my imagination when facing life’s challenges, a practice that continues to this day. As an adult, I loved studying the screenplays of my favorite movies. I gained insight into archetypes from Joseph Campbell’s book, “A Hero with a Thousand Faces,” and Bill Moyer’s  PBS series “The Power of Myth” way back when. 1990? In 2015, I had the joy of collaborating with screenwriter Michael Miceli to create the screenplay “A Thousand Sunsets,” drawing from an experience shared by a gay friend. The only person who supported me during this time was my husband. It was made obvious to me that the connections I had with people in my life were not genuine ones. Surrounded by toxic relationships that offered no encouragement, I had a revelation about the recurring behavior patterns of these people and was determined to understand it. This led me to learn about Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), which explained the traits I had unwittingly attracted in the past, such as a lack of empathy, projection, devaluation, triangulation, and splitting. Once I freed myself from their toxic influence and shed any inadvertent traits I had picked up, I was able to fully immerse myself in writing. So, yeah. Here I am.

What do you think is the most important aspect of scriptwriting?

The most important aspect of screenwriting is to communicate with audiences from your soul. Writing has the power to serve as a powerful weapon against injustices, as well as to entertain, inspire, and encourage people. It has the ability to motivate individuals to live their best lives and contribute to making the world a better place. It truly is an amazing vehicle for expression.

What is your process for coming up with new and innovative storylines?

Many of my ideas are drawn from real-life experiences. “My Favorite Narcissist” was inspired by interactions on my TikTok account, where I post about narcissism. After being contacted by people facing narcissistic issues at work, they shared their experiences, which were both humorous and insightful. I needed an idea for a TV pilot as I was asked to pitch one, and that’s how “My Favorite Narcissist” came to be. Another screenplay of mine, “Shadows In the Park,” also stemmed from my experiences on TikTok. I was being harassed by a group of “flying monkeys,” so I created a thriller based on the themes in that group. As I mentioned earlier, writing serves as a therapeutic outlet for me, and I rely on it during to help me during low periods or when I feel attacked.

If you could write for any character or franchise, who would it be?

Well now, I have to be careful about revealing that because I have not copyrighted those stories yet. But it definitely would be along the lines of the empowerment of female and marginalized groups.

What are some unexpected joys you’ve found in your script writing journey?

Wow! That other people appreciate my work  as a creative writer! I have a voice! No one can silence me anymore! It’s liberating, validating, and inspiring. Now I want to inspire others to live their dreams. 

What advice would you give to someone starting in this field?

It’s normal for not everything you write to be a success. I shared a quote by Nelson Mandela on TikTok: “I never lose. I either win or learn.” I love this quote because it reflects the warrior mentality of learning from mistakes to avoid repeating them. The best athletes watch and study their losing games to identify and learn from their errors. That’s why it’s important to acknowledge that your writing isn’t always perfect and to take constructive feedback from professionals seriously. One way to grow as a writer is to revise your work continually, always striving to evolve and become a better writer and a better version of yourself. I appreciate these wonderful questions; this has been my favorite interview ever!