My Best Articles
• 3 Essential Steps to Writing a Killer Logline
• How to Create Great TV Bibles & Treatments
• My Number #1 Tip For Writers: Self-Compassion
• 6 Ways to Turn Your ‘General Meeting’ into a Job Opportunity
• How To Give Good Meeting... And Get the Job, Part One
• How To Give Good Meeting Part Two: Four Key Strategies
• How to Write a One-Pager that Gets Traction
• What is a “Leave-Behind” & When Do You Need One?
• Get your Sh*t Together! 10 Ways to Organize Your Creative Life
All Articles & Blog Posts
4 Ways to Start a Script that a Reader Can’t Put Down
It’s heartbreaking, but it’s true: many decision makers (agents, producers, and executives) will decide if a writer is good or a project is compelling after reading only the first ten pages of a script. And in TV, it could be as little as the first threepages. This is why the beginning of your script is so important: its life or death often depends on its first few pages.
What Does True Success Look Like?
As a writer, your days can fill up quickly. As you spend your time not just writing, but prepping for meetings, navigating notes calls and hustling to get ahead, the bigger picture can become smaller and smaller until you forget what you were looking at in the first place. It’s important to take a moment away from the everyday business of writing to remember why you started, where you’d like to go, and what true success looks like to you.
It's Hollywood! What Could Go Wrong?
Execs that love your project leave their jobs. Companies get bought and dismantled. Your showrunner gets fired. YOU get fired. The network gets a new President with entirely different taste. A project just like yours gets sold or picked up first. This is why you need a Hollywood Game Plan.
4 Ways to Break Through Dreaded "Writers Block"
Many screenwriters will tell you that being “in the flow” is one of the greatest – and most elusive – feelings. But what do you do when you just can’t get there?
How to Receive Feedback: The DOs and DONTs
So you’ve just sold a TV pilot idea. Congratulations! Don’t ruin all that hard work by not knowing how to properly receive feedback during the development process.
How to Make Sure Your First TV Series Staffing Job Won't Be Your Last
You’ve finally landed your first staff writing gig, congratulations! Here’s how to make sure it won’t be your last.
5 Smart Ways to Market Yourself as a Writer – Even If You Don’t Want To
There are countless digital platforms to make use of today, which means countless platforms to market yourself as a writer.
Secrets to Balancing Your Screenwriting with Your Day Job
In the real world we all have to work, and until writing becomes your work, it’s a balancing act of making the two happen simultaneously - without feeling guilty or frustrated all the time.
3 Ways to Stay on Track with Your Writing Goals
If you’re an aspiring screenwriter, sometimes the hardest part about living your passion is sitting down and actually writing. Here are some tips on some writing goals you can set that’ll get you into the right/write mindset for tackling your next screenplay.
The Top 6 Screenwriting Competitions to Spend Your Time and Money On
There’s a lot of controversy out there on whether or not screenwriting competitions are effective in breaking in to the screenwriting world. There are hundreds to choose from, and 99% of the time they cost money, so which ones – if any - are worth your blood, sweat, and hard earned cash?
3 Essential Steps to Writing a Killer Logline
How do you make a logline, and better yet, how do you make one that’s good? I have boiled down the infamous logline into three simple (and essential) steps that can be the difference between a pitch and a sale.
There’s No Crying in Show Business… Unless You're on Screen.
Crying on cue in front of the cameras is an impressive talent. On the other hand, crying in the midst of a tantrum, always complaining or just plain being difficult, can put you on the dreaded LITS list.
Six Things Your TV Spec Script Needs to Stand Out
I had the recent pleasure of joining Pilar Alessandra as her guest for her On The Page podcast: "Sex, Death and Other TV Tips..."
Signs You Have Blazing Hot Material
To succeed as a writer in Hollywood, I believe you need to master these four areas...
What is a “Leave-Behind” & When Do You Need One?
You’ve done it! You’ve prepped. You’ve practiced. You’ve pitched. The hard part’s over. There’s energy in the air. They like your idea. You can breathe again.Now you just need to leave the pitch meeting on a high note.
3 Reasons Why Your Spec Script Might Not Make it to the Final Round
You’ve sent off your episodic spec sample to the latest screenwriting competition/festival/writing program feeling pretty good about your chances. Then, a few weeks later, you receive the dreaded letter/email informing you all your hard work and effort didn’t make it past the first round.
3 Things Never to Say in a Meeting... and What to Say Instead
When I was starting out, I had a meeting with a high level exec at ABC. I was trying to impress her by gossiping about another high level exec at a different network. Thought I was doing great until she told me that woman was her best friend.
Why Feeling Bad is Good
It’s that time of year again. When many film festivals, screenplay competitions, and writing programs announce who’s made it to the next level or even to the final level.
10 Things Never To Do in a Pitch
Recently I was in Australia with Glen Mazarra, Jen Gristanti, Ellen Sandler and Steve Kaplan speaking at the 2013 TV Writers Studio.