FROM THE DESK OF
Amy Suto
Hello! 👋 I’m Amy Suto, a published author and freelance memoir ghostwriter. Subscribe to my newsletter & writing job board here!
How to Work with a Writing Partner (and not murder each other!)
So if you're starting in a television writers' room or are about to embark on writing a script with a writing partner, here are some things you should keep in mind so that you get along with other creatives and homicide stays on the page:
3 Tips for Getting Organized and Motivated after a Setback (Writing in Hollywood)
We can't control a lot of aspects of writing in television, but what we can control is our own mindset and how we approach our work. By investing in a sense of humor, a positive perspective, and some organizational habits, we can re-route ourselves and get back on track no matter the setback. So, here are six ways I reset myself and my goals after a setback:
Writers' Assistant, Showrunner's Assistant, and Writers' PA (What These Jobs Are and How to Get Them)
Learn the difference between writers' assistant, showrunner's assistant, and writers' PA -- as well as how to get these jobs in a television writers' room.
Writing the Half-Hour TV Drama
I hate the phrase "dramedy."Every half-hour TV show that isn't quite a comedy has been given that title. NURSE JACKIE? WEEDS? TRANSPARENT? GIRLS? Dramedies, despite the fact that the spine of these shows are unequivocally dramatic.
How To Get Your Life Together as a Graduating Writer (A 5-Step Guide With Photos)
The other day I was lucky enough to return to USC and speak on a panel at the film school about how to survive senior exit programs like First Pitch and the realities of the post-grad world.As someone who is just a year out of school and have found employment in the industry as still making time to write while at my agency job, I'm qualified to Pretend to Know What I'm Doing (TM).
How to Network Authentically in Hollywood
If I had to pinpoint what my catchphrase is this time in my career, it would probably be along the lines of "let's get drinks!" I've been enjoying meeting new people at various companies around Hollywood, and it's been the highlight of my time working at an agency -- and I didn't always see it as such.
Assistant Life: Surviving Vs. Thriving, Strategies to Keep Writing
I've been writing a lot recently about creatives in the industry and posting images of aesthetically pleasing and meticulously organized writing spaces (aka: my therapy) so this blog post is continuing the trend.At holiday parties this past month, I've been meeting other writers who are holding down jobs in the industry, from showrunner's assistants to writer's PA's to researchers.
Inside the USC Writing for Screen and Television BFA Program
Because I'm graduating soon, it's about time that the nostalgia hit full force. Tonight is my last USC class, ever, and it's all beginning to sink in.I've been doing a few panels for admitted screenwriters and have been answering a lot of questions about the program, so I thought I'd write about what it's been like going to school here for the Writing for Screen and Television program.
![INTJ: One of The Rarest, Loneliest Personality Types [Introverts and Writing]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60956f69f8fafe4b3e171dcd/1623678392423-4PVN8S618GYQ0FOY0Q8S/bigstock-Paper-cut-of-children-play-on-48270044.jpg)
INTJ: One of The Rarest, Loneliest Personality Types [Introverts and Writing]
I hadn't put much stock in personality types up until now, but when I started reading more about INTJs, I began to realize that the kind of isolation I sometimes felt (and felt unable to express) even when surrounded by people I cared about had roots in my personality type.
Antidote 15: Web Festivals, TV Interviews, & More
The past seven days have been a whirlwind of press and exciting events to celebrate Antidote 15's season two and all the amazing people who are the lifeblood of the show. On Friday, Antidote 15 screened in the Charlie Chaplin theater at Raleigh Studios, and I was able to talk on a panel about the inspiration for the show, and why ex-boyfriends, deadlines, and drinking things you're not supposed to be are common college struggles.
![How to Create a Web Series [Part Five: Marketing]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60956f69f8fafe4b3e171dcd/1623678469327-S34IPPW19AOMEDY5VP1S/howtocreateawebseries5-300x200.jpg)
How to Create a Web Series [Part Five: Marketing]
Here are some major points you need to think about when marketing your web series that I learned from marketing my thriller web series, Antidote 15.
![How to Create a Web Series: [Part Three: Production]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60956f69f8fafe4b3e171dcd/1623678488310-YDB76HZPHAGB5MV2VZ72/howtocreateawebseries3.jpg)
How to Create a Web Series: [Part Three: Production]
I am not saying I know everything there is about film production. As a screenwriter, my focus is on story and character, but I do have a handle on some of the basics like three point lighting, green screening, and wrangling erstwhile sound equipment.
6 Steps to Rewriting Your Work
In order to get your draft into shipshape, you need to do a lot of writing and rewriting. Here are my top six steps to rewriting your work!
A Writer’s Recipe For Great Characters
I'm a sassy writer who gets no sleep and cooks more often than your grandmother. So here's a recipe for creating great characters in six steps!
13 Ways to Be a Better Screenwriter in 2013
Hey guys! It's 2013, and now that the holidays are over, it's time to get to work on that screenplay you've been wanting to write. Today is a fresh start, where we can put procrastination and overcaffeination behind us, and become more productive, creative people who make up fictional relationships and events alone in front of a laptop (or typewriter, if you're classy like that.)
5 Things You Forgot About Rough Drafts
Working screenwriters tend to have several screenplays in the pipeline at once, all at different levels of completion. This way, they can bounce around between all the stages of the writing process without getting fatigued, and always have an answer for the dreaded question, 'what else do you got?' But balancing a pipeline of different projects -- and actually completing them -- takes time. When you start off, chances are you'll just focus on one screenplay at a time. And sometimes, it's easy to forget about the messiness that is the rough draft.
The 5 Basics of Creativity for Writers
Here are the five things writers should know about creativity.
