The Bitter Script Reader tells us the 2 most important things every writer – regardless of the medium she or he is working in – must know. (Especially if you want to get paid!)
by The Bitter Script Reader
Back in July, I attended San Diego Comic-Con and was lucky enough to attend a panel with a murderer’s row of TV writers. Speakers included Ashley Edward Miller (who was kind enough to praise my puppet videos when I introduced myself to him,) Jose Molina, Sarah Watson, Christine Boyan, and a number of other writers whom I regret I cannot recall at this moment. As these gatherings often do, the subject turned to the topic of breaking into TV writing and working on staff. Unsurprisingly, many people had varying stories, though just about all of them agreed it wasn’t easy.
One point stressed again and again was the need to be the kind of person whom other people want to spend 12 hours a day with. You’re spending five days a week in a writers’ room with maybe a dozen other people. No matter how good a writer you are, if you make that an unpleasant experience, you won’t last long. For a number of showrunners, a key question they ask themselves when considering a new hire is “Can I stand being with this person constantly?”