Transcribed

John and Craig reflect on the traits they’ve noticed in successful writing careers. Should you write everyday? Do you have to be good in a room? Is it more important to be original or flexible?

We also follow up on genres, typos and address a listener question on harassment.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss our preferences in books from paper to bindings to jackets. No shock: we have opinions.

Links:

* [Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana Book](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/562708/dungeons-and-dragons-art-and-arcana-by-michael-witwer-kyle-newman-jon-peterson-and-sam-witwer-foreword-by-joe-manganiello-official-dungeons-and-dragons-licensed/)
* [Heartbreaker](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1465487/) and [The Breaker Upperers](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6728096/)
* [Noah Evslin’s pitch for Guild Awards](https://twitter.com/nevslin/status/1391143482010390529)
* [Ira Glass on Taste](https://jamesclear.com/ira-glass-failure)
* Women in Film helpline for sexual harassment and misconduct in the entertainment industry:(855)WIF-LINE (855-943-5463) or reach out [online here](https://womeninfilm.org/)
* [Hometown Takeover](https://www.hgtv.com/shows/home-town-takeover)
* [Standard Ebooks](https://standardebooks.org/ebooks)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Brian Ramos ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by [Megana Rao](https://twitter.com/MeganaRao) and edited by [Matthew Chilelli](https://twitter.com/machelli).

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/501standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 5-23-21** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-501-patterns-of-success-transcript).

John and Craig celebrate the 500th episode of Scriptnotes by welcoming back former Scriptnotes producers Stuart Friedel (Clifford the Big Red Dog, Vampirina), Godwin Jabangwe (Tunga), Megan McDonnell (WandaVision), and longtime editor Matthew Chilelli (Escape the Dark). The guys ask the producers questions about development, feedback, and writers rooms, uncovering Scriptnotes secrets along the way.

We also share a special announcement! Then we invite two superfans to play a game of trivia–do you know which guest was asked never to return?

Finally in our bonus segment for premium members, the producers flip the script and ask John and Craig questions about the past 500+ hours of Scriptnotes.

Links:

* Find out more information about the [The Scriptnotes Book](https://www.scriptnotes.net)
* Review the past 500 episodes at [The Scriptnotes Index](https://johnaugust.com/scriptnotes-index)
* [Stuart Friedel](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2069640/) on [the web](http://stustustu.com/)
* [Godwin Jabangwe](https://twitter.com/godwinitai) on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/godwinitai)
* [Megan McDonnell](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6876585/) on [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6876585/)
* [Matthew Chilelli](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7072990/) on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/machelli?lang=en), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/machellic/), [Soundcloud](https://soundcloud.com/matthew-chilelli), and [the web](https://www.matthewchilelli.com/)
* [Megana Rao](https://twitter.com/meganarao) on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/meganarao)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) (and [intro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros)!) by Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/500standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 5-20-21** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-500-the-quincenterary-transcript).

John and Craig offer a tasting menu this week starting with comedy/rejection, followed by a meaty discussion on copyright and topped with a sampling of listener questions.

We get an update from Oops — our conversation on workplace crushes evolves into a broader discussion on the patriarchy and how to savor first experiences.

Finally in our bonus segment for premium members, we compare remakes versus reboots.

Links:

* [Bring Back Tony Stark Billboard](https://twitter.com/culturecrave/status/1385306093799165953?s=21)
* [Vin Diesel in Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Movie](https://deadline.com/2021/04/vin-diesel-rock-em-sock-em-robots-movie-mattel-universal-1234739487/)
* [Scriptnotes, Episode 77: We’d Like to Make an Offer](https://johnaugust.com/2013/wed-like-to-make-an-offer)
* [Hanlon’s Razor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon%27s_razor)
* [Real-Life ‘Terminator’: Major Studios Face Sweeping Loss of Iconic ‘80s Film Franchise Rights](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/real-life-terminator-major-studios-face-sweeping-loss-iconic-80s-film-franchise-rights-1244737) by Eriq Gardner for THR
* [Lawyer Mark Jaffe on Twitter](https://twitter.com/markjkings/status/1384521865641685000?s=21)
* [Cornell Law](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/203)
* [Friday the 13th Copyright](https://ecf.ctd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2016cv1442-73)
* [Trader Joe’s Bake at Home Croissants](https://twitter.com/johnaugust/status/1383458980450627600?s=20)
* [Covid Vaccine Mobile Clinics](https://www.mlk-chf.org/mobile-clinics)
* [John on Galaxy Brains Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mighty-ducks-game-changers-a-roast-of-reboots/id1562785021?i=1000518173979)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Nora Beyer ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/498standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 5-3-21** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-498-small-plates-transcript).