Category: Resources

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

Hollywood Assistants Reveal the Mistakes They’ve Made

uglybetty2by Amanda

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I was working on my first show, where the writers drank a lot of coffee. I did my best to make sure there was always coffee on the burner, but occasionally one of the writers would go to get some coffee and discover that we were out. I’d apologize profusely, but still get chewed out, and I spent much of my time on that show in constant fear of an empty coffee pot. When I worked on my next show, I was more confident and set expectations differently. If we ran out of coffee after the morning rush, I’d wait to brew more until someone asked for coffee (usually in the afternoon). Rather than apologizing, I’d say, “Sure, I’ll have a freshly-brewed cup for you in a few minutes.” Because I was positive rather than apologizing, people were happy rather than mad. After all, isn’t a fresh cup of coffee is way better than one that’s been sitting on the burner all day?

From a producer assistant: 
Once I sent the DVD of a movie in post by Fedex with only $500 insurance. Thankfully, it didn’t get lost, but my boss said, “You sent a $15m movie with $500 insurance??” I guess I should have used our overnight courier? What my boss should have done is flown one of us with it, since it was going overseas.

Assistants often lie about their fuckups. I’m really effing good at it. Some things you have to own up to, but some things you should just lie about – like if you don’t get your boss when it’s an important call, you just have to lie and say the person called when he was on the phone with someone else really important read article

Peggy Bechko: Tips for Editing What You Write

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by Peggy Bechko

You’re a writer and let’s face it, editing probably isn’t your favorite thing to do. No surprise there. But there are some guidelines I keep I mind that make it easier for me and might for you as well.

First I keep in mind that there’s a time for writing and there’s a time for editing. There’s no doing both at once, it just won’t work. I have to turn the crazy writer lose to get that story written and out there.

If I try to edit at the same time and keep second-guessing myself it’s far too easy to become overly critical about what I just wrote. So take my advice, tell your inner critic to shut up until the story is actually on paper. Time to edit later. read article

TV’s Top Showrunners Talk Deleted Scenes, Network Censorship, More

Just the kind of discussion new (and old) TV writers are looking for, courtesy of the intrepid reporters of the Hollywood Reporter.

meriwether_harmon_sorkin_a_lby Lacey Rose & Stacy Wilson

How I Met Your Mother‘s Carter Bays is still mourning the loss of Goodwin Games. New Girl’s Liz Meriwether is coming clean about the do’s and don’ts of “vagina” talk. And Community‘s reinstalled showrunner Dan Harmon is simply relieved security let him back on the lot.

Below, 13 top showrunners from this year’s Power List offer candid responses about scrapped plans, debates in their writers room and the thing they wish they knew before becoming a showrunner. read article

Peggy Bechko: “Anyone With an Internet Connection Isn’t Writing Good Fiction?” Wha–?

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by Peggy Bechko

“It’s doubtful that anyone with an Internet connection at his workplace is writing good fiction.” ~ Jonathan Franzen http://vult.re/16dESat

I ran across this quote the other day and all but burst out laughing. When did he say this? Why? What sparked it?

Really? What century is he living in? I don’t know any writer who isn’t connected to the Internet and probably planning on publishing to Kindle and/or other electronic outlets. read article

BOURNE Writer Tony Gilroy on How to Write a H’wood Blockbuster

The BBC loves us. For reals.

This article has caused all of Team TVWriter™ to come down with the warm fuzzies. Who could ask for more?

tony-gilroy read article