Category: Resources

40 years worth of TV writing experience and info, yours for the taking.

Posts TVWriter™ Wishes We’d Published Instead of Those Other Guys

This week’s collection of recent articles from other websites about TV, TV writing, etc., etc., etc. The plan here is for you to click on their headlines and visit the sites and read the posts in full…and is anybody asks, tell ’em TVWriter™ sentcha, okay?

Meet Noah Hawley: ‘Fargo’ Showrunner And FX’s Insanely Productive Power Producer
by Orianna Schwindt

noah-hawley-cristin-milioti-patrick-wilson

Noah Hawley is an unassuming sort of guy, the kind of middle-aged white dude you pass in the grocery store without a second glance. He has two little kids in tow, the eyes of someone sleep-deprived — who isn’t these days? — a shirt collar slightly torn (or maybe it’s supposed to look that way) and sometimes glasses.

To look at him, you might not guess he’s one of the most in-demand writers of the day. Books, TV series, movies — you name it, Hawley is doing it…. read article

Peggy Bechko’s World: Ideas – Cultivating the Twists and Turns

by Peggy Bechko

linear_chaos_symbol,_by_obonic on Deviant Art
Our favorite chaos symbol by Obonic

Ideas.

We all need ‘em, right? Writers are always open to and searching for ideas.

And they pop up everywhere – or at times, nowhere (the bane of a writer’s existence) read article

John Ostrander: Writing Rules

ostrander-close-wasteland-3-d

by John Ostrander

Recently on Facebook, a father asked me what advice I could give his 13-year old daughter who wanted to be a writer. I had to be succinct but I think my reply was moderately useful and I thought I’d repeat it here.

As I’ve done columns about writing before, some of this may be familiar but this time it will be the short form. read article

Peggy Bechko’s World: Writers Talk about…yep, Writing!

dictation-technology

by Peggy Bechko

I’m a writer, a creator, but who doesn’t like to get the viewpoint of others? To listen in, via quotations as to how the minds of others work. In this case, writers.

Also in this case how to begin. It’s amazing when confronting the blank page. All writers know the feeling. Those who write fiction, non-fiction, articles and even business reports. What to write first? What words to put on that blank screen or paper?

It’s special and at the same time nearly terrifying. Oh, the heck with ‘nearly’ it is terrifying. And, since putting words to screen (ie paper) is pretty much the same for every writer, I located some basic tips from writers I particularly like. read article

3 Script Development Truths Nobody Ever Reveals

Can you guess who the writers are here? Yeppers, thought so.
Can you guess who the writers are here? Yeppers, thought so.

by munchman

Gleaned by your fave munchamaniac from the mouths of experienced writer friends who actually pay attention to what works for them when trying to make a deal (and what doesn’t):

  1. Execs say they don’t care about our writing style but just want to read a “good” script. They’re lying – to themselves as well as to you and your agent
  2. True Hollywood definition of a “good script” – “One my boss will like”
  3. Alternate but equally true Hollywood definition of a “good script” – One that has a concept or storyline that will fill a gap in our development schedule and get me promoted”

Any other old pros out there with more to add? Yer friendly neighborhood munchman is eager to know!