Category: Resources

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

You Don’t Gotta Have Hart

Mark Evanier, one of TVWriter™s favorite creative forces, is the possessor of a talent this particular TVWriter™ minion wishes with all her heart she had: The ability to see through Hollywood B.S. and say so.

The most recent case in point:

Oscar and Kevin Hart, image via theringer

by Mark Evanier

Okay…so Kevin Hart is out as Oscar Host because he might offend people and Ricky Gervais is trying to place himself in the running. But of course, the whole point of picking Ricky Gervais would be to get more people to tune in because he would be offending people. I don’t think so and it all begs the question of just what the job requirements today are to host the Academy Awards. I’m not sure anyone is clear on this. I’m not sure there really are any. read article

Why The More Successful Writers Fail The Most

Now this is a truly interesting – insightful even – article. Read this one closely, kids. It’s your futures that are on the line:

by Lucy V Hay

Successful Writers

Sometimes, we meet/discover a writer who is super successful.  We think they must have been super lucky, too. Right place, right time and all that. If only we were so lucky! read article

Things Labeled ‘American’ in Other Countries

“American” words aren’t necessarily American, and vice versa. How do we know? Because Etymologist Extraordinaire Arika Okrent knows, and she isn’t afraid to share:

More about Arika, YouTube’s Patron Saint of Wordsmiths

How David Fincher Hijacks Your Eyes

This TVWriter™ dweeb minion hates to admit it, but sometimes directors really do add to what writers write. For example:

This wouldn’t exist if Nerdwriter hadn’t created it. Check out the Nerdwriter site!

John Ostrander: Writing 101 — Contradicting Your Characters

by John Ostrander

The most oft repeated dictum about writing that I’ve heard is: Write What You Know. The question is – what do you know? To take a literal meaning to the question suggests that you can only write within your own experiences which is awfully limiting. I’m a white middle class male and yet I created Amanda Waller who is black, female, and from the projects. What did I know that allowed me to do that? And yet, Amanda is one of the best, most realized, characters I’ve ever created.

My view of Write What You Know is – what do you KNOW as opposed to what you were TAUGHT. What has your own experience taught you to be true? An unquestioned belief, in my opinion, is not worth having. Only by testing that belief – by doubting, questioning – does a belief become your own even if you come to the same belief that you started with. Now it’s your own.

What do you know of life? Not what you were told or taught but what have you experienced? What do you know that is true? That should be in your writing.  read article