writingIn the last two weeks I’ve had a blast speaking to students about writing. Last week I was guest lecturing at USC about storytelling. This week I spoke on a panel to Drexel University students in L.A. about creating a web series.

One of the students this week asked about how to keep up with technological trends.  She wanted to know whether it’s worth worrying about how quickly things are changing in the industry. In other words, if TV and film are “old” forms and web series and digital video is “new”, should we, as writers, be concerned that some even newer form (like Vine) will come along and leave us all in the dust? How do you keep up? How do you stay relevant?

To me, it’s not about the chase, it’s about the craft. TV, film and digital media are all powered by the same thing: good storytelling. If you focus on becoming a better writer, I believe your skills will benefit you no matter what the technology is. Good writing never goes out of style.

With that in mind, the only real question is: What are you working on?

Need help getting to the script stage? Click here for a way to solve that challenge.
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A TV Writer Reveals: “What I’m learning on the job…”

I’ve been asking my TV writer peeps about the discoveries they’re making at work these days. There are so many lessons to take in as you create story in the high pressure environment of a writers’ room day after day, week after week. I’m planning to bring you some of these observations in upcoming e-blasts.

My friend Kari Drake is currently a co-producer on the new CBS show Limitless (based on the movie). She was previously a writer on SyFy’s Defiance. Kari’s  learning to “Stay flexible. Pitch ideas you’re passionate about but don’t get married to them. Your job is to synthesize what the show runner needs and wants out of your story.”

​The world of TV is a space where the job is to co-create “made-to-order” writing. Yes, you can bring your vision to that world, but ultimately, you’re helping the show creator put out more material in the mode of the pilot. It’s essentially a skill that borders on mimicry – you need to match the voice of the original writer. And sometimes that’s not easy.

Kari adds one other excellent piece of advice. “Have fun. If you don’t, no one else will.”

[Limitless premiers on CBS on Tuesday, September 22nd.]