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Posts tagged as “Books”

The TV Writer’s Mindset: Dealing With Procrastination, Blank Page, and the Muse (PT17)

The TV Writer’s Mindset: Dealing With Procrastination, Blank Page, and the Muse (PT17)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:30 — 30.0MB)

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Alex and Nick tackle how to get into a TV writing mindset and actually finish that script.
We talk about the psychological side of writing and practical ways of dealing with procrastination, deadlines, and the muse.

How do you beat the blank page? How do you deal with procrastination? How do you stay accountable with your work?

The Paper Team starts the clock…

SHOWNOTES

Content

1 – Approaching writing or the myth of “the muse” (00:38)
2 – Time-management and procrastination (06:45)
3 – External and introspective factors (21:36)
Takeaways and Resources (28:46)

Links

Parkinson’s Law
Pomodoro technique
Crave Cafe (Studio City)
Republic of Pies
Sublime Text
Highland
Fade In
Habitica
Ig Nobel Prize
The Art of Procrastination – John Perry
Pavlok
The Most Dangerous Writing App
Nathan For You – “Dating Website/Party Planner” (2×07)
Pumping Iron

Resources

Time Timer MOD
Rainy Mood
The War of Art – Steven Pressfield

Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn for helping us edit this episode.

If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :)

You can find Paper Team on Twitter:
Alex – @TVCalling
Nick – @_njwatson
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Spec v. Pilot: What You Should Be Writing Next (PT04)

Spec v. Pilot: What You Should Be Writing Next (PT04)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:02 — 30.3MB)

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Alex and Nick discuss the differences and implications between writing a television spec episode and a television spec pilot. Which script should you choose to write as your next sample? Whether it’s your first teleplay, you want to apply to the fellowships, or you’re trying to build a portfolio to get representation, the Paper Team has got you covered.

SHOWNOTES

Content

1 – Defining what “spec script” and “spec pilot” mean (00:28)
2 – The goals of writing a TV spec script or a spec pilot (02:33)
3 – Why and how spec scripts and pilots are read (10:13)
4 – Deciding what your next writing sample should be (17:13)
Takeaways and Resources (29:40)

Links

What is the difference between a “spec script” and a “spec pilot”?
Star Trek: Terran
Stargate SG-1 – “The Other Guys”

Resources

Writing the TV Drama Series – Pamela Douglas
The TV Writer’s Workbook – Ellen Sandler

TV Calling’s TV Spec Course mentioned in the episode is almost ready.
Be prepared by taking our free PDF Spec Test!

If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please leave us an iTunes review and/or rating at paperteam.co/itunes! :)

You can find Paper Team on Twitter:
Alex – @TVCalling
Nick – @_njwatson
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Moving to Los Angeles (and Things We Wish We Knew) (PT01)

Moving to Los Angeles (and Things We Wish We Knew) (PT01)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:11 — 32.3MB)

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NEW: Get the episode cheat sheet on our Patreon!

In the inaugural episode of Paper Team, Alex and Nick discuss the very first step to becoming a TV writer: moving to Los Angeles.

This is not only about knowing why you need to be here, by also why you want to be here. Why did we both literally cross oceans and continents to live in LA? What can you do to prepare your nascent TV writing career before you step on a plane? And why do you need to know the town (and get a car)?

Let’s dig in…

SHOWNOTES

Content

1 – About Paper Team (00:17)
2 – Why television? (03:40)
3 – Why are we in Los Angeles? (07:23)
4 – What you need to do before stepping on a plane (14:27)
5 – Getting set up once you arrive in LA (24:32)
Takeaways and Resources (31:53)

Links

Paris – Six-Part Mini-Series From France
NCIS: LA showrunner Shane Brennan to reboot Australian TV
La Fémis Launches New TV Centered Training Program
Jeffrey Lieber’s Twitter
Academy Nicholl Fellowships
Austin Film Festival
SNL‘s The Californians

Resources

Small Screen, Big Picture – Chad Gervich
This Business of Television – Howard Blumenthal
The Hollywood Assistants Handbook – Peter Nowalk & Hillary Stamm

If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please leave us an iTunes review and/or rating at paperteam.co/itunes! :)

What is Paper Team all about?

This is a podcast about television writing and becoming a TV writer.
It is for people like us–working their way into the business from the ground up–who aspire to be TV writers (whether drama or comedy).
It is also for everyone interested in the television industry and everything around it.

We’ll be alternating every episode between two threads vital to being a successful TV writer: the business side, and the writing side.
On the industry end, we’ll be discussing things like meeting people, networking, finding work, being an assistant, and the television business itself.

On the writing front, we’ll be tackling anything related to our craft. Writing TV pilots, TV specs, taking notes, structure, theme, working in a writers’ room, in a writing team, and so much more.

Our first few episodes aim to give you a basic step-by-step guide to getting yourself established in LA, armed with a basic understanding of TV writing, and giving you the tools needed to start your journey to the writers’ room.

You can find Paper Team on Twitter:
Alex – @TVCalling
Nick – @_njwatson
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]