LB’S NOTE: TVWriter™’s all-time favorite artist/philosopher, Grant Snider, handles what may well be the biggest problem of our time, whether we’re writers or other creatives or accountants or, well, you name it’s. Thank you, dear Mr. Snider, for being so – dare I say it – fucking wise?
See more of Grant Snider’s extraordinary perception of human creativity at Incidental Comics, HERE
LB’S NOTE: TV viewing habits are in flux, for all practical purposes (notice that I didn’t say “literally” although this probably would be sentence in which that word would apply) changing every moment.
This of course has a huge effect on creatives, as in, “WTF? Who’s our audience? What does it want? What should we create?” and possibly an even bigger effect on the gatekeepers of the world. This interview with Tim Davie, new director general at the BBC explains.
When Tim Davie used his first speech as the director general of the BBC to announce he wanted to have “more impact by making less”, staff immediately began sending round a clip from the sitcom W1A in which clueless BBC management attempt to implement a “more of less” programme.
LB’S NOTE: Speaking of most comedy writing needing to be shorter and funnier, here’s Ricky Gervais proving himself a true master of both.
More “creation stories” can be found at Fast Compajny’s YouTube Channel
LB’S NOTE: As a producer, story editor, teacher, contest judge, you-name-it, the most common note I’ve given writers is, hands down, this:
Could be shorter. Could be funnier.
Here’s comedy writer Cheri Steinkellner with further details on the “funnier” part. Oh, and notice that as TED TALKS go, this is pretty darn short, y’hear what I’m saying?
LB’s NOTE: Jane Friedman’s powerful writing blog brings us this excellent analysis of how to do business during the COVID-19 age. Big thanks to her and interviewer Sangeeta Mehta!
Like everyone in the book industry, writers have experienced considerable change over the last few months. Although they might be used to working from home, being forced to do so has impaired creativity and made it nearly impossible for some writers to focus. For others, being under lockdown has provided just the right push for them to finally finish their book project and research agents and publishers.