Category: Resources

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

Peer Producer Success Story: How to stay “authentic” even when you start to make money

A problem we all wish we had, right?

annoying-orang-screen-capby David Bloom

Amid all the deal maker swagger and pubescent screams at [the recent] giant Vidcon gathering in Anaheim, CA, one nagging question kept presenting itself: how do YouTube creators stay “authentic” to their demanding and devoted fans even as cheaper/better tech, vaulting creative ambition and the desire to make a living keep pushing into the equation. It’s a complicated question for this fast-evolving new media platform.

Most of the YouTube creators now boasting millions of followers started out with modest production values, technology and creative capabilities. Now, as those swooning Vidcon attendees can attest, the creators have fans, who have Expectations, which they share publicly and loudly. It’s a bit like the indie rock band that finally signs to a major label. Fans who thought they “discovered” and “owned” the band start screaming “sell-out.” read article

Peggy Bechko: Your Ugly What? – The Art And Craft of Writing (not to mention editing)

i.chzbgrby Peggy Bechko

“Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.” Mark Twain

“It’s hard to take someone seriously when they leave you a note saying, ‘Your ugly.’ My ugly what?” Cara Lynn Shultz

Yep, they’ve noticed too! Seriously. I read. A lot. Have you been reading what’s out there? I admit I’m not perfect and mistakes slip past me too, but really…. read article

The Grim Realities of Reality TV

First, let’s get something straight. What’s being talked about in the following article – working conditions for writers and others in reality TV – definitely sucks.

But guess what? It’s the same in fiction TV…but the salaries – at least for writers – are better.

There. We said it. And so has Gawker’s Hamilton Nolan: read article

The WGA W is taking women’s issues seriously

…So if you’re a member here’s a forum you just might want to attend:

treatment of women in film and tv

Peggy Bechko: Writers, are You Writing?

focus

by Peggy Bechko

No, really, are you writing the projects you want to and need to complete? Are you getting those ideas down on paper? Writing stories? Writing articles?

Or do you feel like you’re not getting any writing done despite the fact that you sit in front of a computer for hours, fingers flying? Do you feel like you’re accomplishing little to nothing, that you’re procrastinating, not getting to the writing you need to do?

Of course you’re writing. I’ll bet you’re sending emails to friends and business associates, probably texting like crazy, posting to Facebook, maybe writing promo blurbs. How much writing does all that add up to? Have you added it up? How many words did you write with all that? read article