Three Pieces of Advice from Lisa Taddeo on Balancing Truth and Art

In ScreenCraft’s new interview with author and showrunner Lisa Taddeo, we dive into the art of adaptation and screenwriting. The writer recently brought her acclaimed book Three Women to the screen, and she has quite a few things to teach us about her process.
The Starz series features Shailene Woodley, Betty Gilpin, DeWanda Wise, and Gabrielle Creevy, and it’s based on Taddeo's bestselling exploration of desire, intimacy, and vulnerability. In the show, an author (Woodley) tells the complex stories of three women as they navigate the highs and lows of love and life.
It’s nonfiction—a true depiction of these women’s relationships and (at times, shocking) sex lives.
In our conversation, Taddeo shares her insights on screenwriting—from balancing the “rules” of fiction and nonfiction to the challenges of adapting a written work for a episodic series. Known for her unfiltered approach, she opens up about the importance of writing with honesty and how she tackles the process of bringing deeply personal narratives to life on screen.
Are you a writer aiming to bring your raw, authentic voice to the world? Taddeo’s advice can help you make impactful storytelling choices.