Category: By Guests

Stephanie Bourbon: Rom-Com Characterization

LB’S NOTE: One of our fave TV writers-illustrators-screenwriters-vloggers, Stephanie Bourbon, talks about the kinds of characters who make a romantic comedy a hit and “hits” it right on the nose with these archetypes. (Not stereotypes, gang. That’s soo different.)

by Stephanie Bourbon

This week I’m talking about characters in comedy, specifically romantic comedies. What I am seeing in a lot of work that is coming in is the stereotypes of the snarky leading lady-who honestly, no one, not even our leading man, would like because she’s too awful, and the womanizer leading man-who again, why would anyone give him a chance? And then the other characters are throwaways. read article

Herbie J Pilato on the Many Lives of Irene Tsu

Veteran actor ‘s memoir reflects on her life in Hollywood.
by Herbie J Pilato

Actor/writer Irene Tsu has made her mark.

On television, the stage, and film, and behind-the-scenes, Tsu has stood firm on principle. With versatility and an upbeat perspective, she remains fearless in her life pursuits and experience of happiness.

Cultured, educated, and talented, she continues to revel in a remarkable life and career. And she’s chronicled it all in a compelling memoir: A Watercolor Dream: The Many Lives of Irene Tsu. read article

Don’t start a scene without these four essential elements

Nathan Bransford, TVWriter™’s favorite publishing know-it-all, gives us advice that most writers for all media and genres desperately need. This time around he talks about the importance of properly setting your scene

by Nathan Bransford

Writers often don’t pay quite enough attention to how they start their chapters. read article

Kathryn Graham: A Writer’s Manifesto

by Kathryn Graham

LB’S NOTE: Kathryn Graham is one of the bravest and most outspoken human beings we know, as well as a TVWriter™ Contributing Editor. It’s been way too long since we heard from her, but we’re certainly glad to see her here today. Find out more about Kate HERE

All our pictures of Kate seem to be taken in cars. No, we don’t know why. Yes, we’re afraid to ask.

If I ever finish a book, you’re gonna see a cast of mostly if not exclusively queer women.

I’m not going to let anyone convince me that’s not “realistic” and even if it isn’t, I don’t give a single solitary damn. read article

Stephanie Bourbon: Legally Blonde-the perfect romantic comedy

LB’S NOTE: One of our fave TV writers-illustrators-screenwriters-vloggers, Stephanie Bourbon, demonstrates her amazing perspicacity by writing about a script co-written by Karen McCullah & Kirsten Smith.

I use the word “Perspicacity” without hesitation because way back in the early 1990s, Karen was one of my original TV & Screenwriting Workshop members when I conducted them at The College of Santa Fe. She had that very special something that inspired me to recommend her to my late friend, producer-director  Paul Junger Witt, who hired her for her first professional TV writing gig in the mid-’90s.

OMG! I’m so old! read article