Category: Resources

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

An Overview of TV’s 2013 Drama Development

…So that you’ll all know exactly what’s hot and what’s not, what to pitch and what to not pitch, what you’ve been writing that’s a solidly good usage of your time and what…oh, we’re so sorry…not:

platform_developmentDevelopment Season 2013: Fewer Dramas, Bigger (And Overblown) Commitments,
Early Orders, Spinoffs, Adaptations & Remakes
by Nellie Andreeva

Network drama has been on a roll with a string of strong premieres the last two seasons — Revolution, The Following and Arrow last season and The Blacklist, Sleepy Hollow and Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Originals this fall.

But the genre will have to rely heavily on the quality vs. quantity principal if its wants to continue its hot streak as the volume is definitely not there for nprimetime-panic-2ext season. The drama buying got off to a very sluggish start in the summer and never found a higher gear. Drama pitches were down across the board. read article

Angelo J. Bell: Three Must-Have Screenplays for 2014

pages-from-kiss-of-the-black-forest-2013-contest-version-2by Angelo J. Bell

So much is changing and evolving in the world of spec screenplays that it’s hard to keep up with what to do and what not to do. However, throughout my research and monitoring of the industry I’ve found there are basically three types of screenplays you should have in your arsenal, polished and ready to go. With these three screenplays it’s likely that you’ll have something “in the ballpark” of what a producer, studio or director is looking for.

No guarantees. But as they say, “Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.”

Commercial Screenplay (aka Studio screenplay or marketable/saleable screenplay)  – the headline and logline for this screenplay should read like a news article in Deadline.com, a listing in the Hollywood Reporter or Variety Magazine. Leading roles should be characters any of the top ten actors in Hollywood would want to play (adjusting for age, of course). There should also be a role for a strong up-and-coming twentysomething actress and/or a strong character actress. This screenplay can be in any genre but arthouse. Write without any budgetary constraints. If you think the  finished film requires $1M a day, write it! read article

Why We All Should Read Nathan Bransford’s New Book

Found on Create Space, which turns out to be quite a helpful place even if it is owned by Amazon.Com:

How to Write a Novel
47 Rules for Writing a Stupendously Awesome Novel That You Will Love Forever
by Nathan Bransford

howtowriteanovel (1)The most important thing to know about writing a novel is this: You can do it. And if you’ve already written one, you can write an even better one. Author and former literary agent Nathan Bransford shares his secrets for creating killer plots, fleshing out your first ideas, crafting compelling characters, and staying sane in the process.

Read the guide that New York Times bestselling author Ransom Riggs called “The best how-to-write-a-novel book I’ve read.” read article

Peggy Bechko: Writers And Artists Nurture Your Creativity

Nurture-Creativity1

by Peggy Bechko

We’re coming up on the holidays… So, I thought I’d spend a little time musing about creativity and what it takes to keep that part of us pumped up, nurtured and ready to go. Some suggestions, as it were, to help the blocked, confused and wandering – also the steady writers and artists out there who might need to take a breather or find a new path.

Hopefully some of these ideas will perk you up, give you a new slant or just assure you you’re not alone.

If you’re stuck on a story or whatever you’re attempting to create – and I know you’ve all heard this, but you probably need to hear it again – for heaven’s sakes take a break. Do something mindless or that will force your conscious brain to focus elsewhere and give your subconscious a chance to free range a bit. Take a walk, shovel the drive (in winter), mow the lawn (in summer), do the ironing or maybe cook dinner. Surprise your spouse with that dinner, he or she is no doubt so used to you being so immersed in your creative work that they rarely see a decent meal. Seriously, give yourself a break, give everyone a break, unclench. read article

BREAKING BAD Creator Vince Gilligan on the Stuff That’s Important

Breaking-Bad-Wallpaper

…Especially to writers. Yep, it’s 90 minutes long. But well worth our time and attention.