Not another tragic story of an aspiring TV Writer
A story of a storyteller who’s unafraid to pivot
“Be so good they can’t ignore you.” — Steve Martin
How could one be a writer when s/he is not fond of reading?
The majority, if not all, of the successful writers and even business magnates profess their love of reading: for example, Stephen King, JK Rowling, Shonda Rhimes, Tina Fey, Oprah Winfrey, Cher Wang, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos.
From elementary up to college, I did not enjoy reading. I did, however, love hearing and telling stories. Whenever someone recommends a great book, I ask, “Is there a movie version of that?” Shameful. Indeed.
Later, I realized that most, if not all, books, when adapted into films, are much better in print form. My youngest child can attest to this, telling me she loves Harry Potter books better than the movie version. Touché.
So, how could I pursue a career as a writer if I don’t like to read?
Let’s get into why I fell in love with reading without further ado.
When my eldest son was born, he nearly died and had developmental delays. Before he turned three, his diagnosis was Intellectual Disability (formerly called Mental Retardation). I took this news hard. I pleaded to my wife for a second opinion. So, we secured one from a Pediatric Specialist at Stanford Children’s Hospital, and along with her colleagues, they diagnosed him with “Autism Spectrum Disorder.”
Because of my son’s health issue, I forced myself to read articles, books, and stories (personal anecdotes) about his condition. It was all business and not pleasure. Nevertheless, I noticed that I would break down and sob whenever I read a story that resonated with me. I often wondered, “What the heck is wrong with me? Why am I so emotional?”
I sought the advice of my eldest son’s physician, who suggested that I write a journal to express my feelings. I communicated to her that I was not fond of that idea. She suggested fictionalizing my feelings if I don’t like to write them in a diary format.
I vividly remember having dinner with my wife’s siblings and their significant others. I shared a story about a Canadian couple who proudly advertised “Olive Garden” as the best Italian restaurant EVER. Yep! This much is true. But hold on, the story’s not over. My wife’s youngest sister wasn’t laughing; instead, she said, “Hey, Kuya Dex, that’s my story! You just told everyone my story.” She then re-told the story according to how she remembered it, but it did not garner the same reaction. She pouted and said, “It’s not fair. It’s my story, but you laughed more at his story.” Everyone laughed out loud. We hugged it out, and then my sister-in-law suggested I probably do well as a writer since I’m good at making up stories.
And that’s what I did; I wrote fiction as therapy because I’m good at storytelling.
I was inclined to get an MFA at USC or UCLA, but it wasn’t feasible (financially and logistically). So, I did the next best thing: I taught myself how to write a screenplay. I read a lot of books about the craft. I watched a lot of movies. I read a lot of screenplays and even invested my savings into screenwriting competitions. And, yes, it never panned out.
So, I downsized my dream of writing for the big screen and ventured into the gold rush of TV writing.
I read many books and articles (online) about being a TV writer. Once again, I learned the tricks of the trade without a mentor.
My favorite books with regards to learning the craft are:
- Jen Grisanti — “TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write A Script That Sells”
- Ellen Sandler’s — “The TV Writer’s Workbook”
- Pamela Douglas’ “Writing the TV Drama Series”
I then realized I needed a mentor to guide me on my path to becoming a TV writer, so I sought guidance and secured Jen Grisanti’s services. Jen guided me through the process of being accepted for TV Writing Fellowships. Though I was not selected as a fellow, I forever appreciate Jen’s support and guidance. She instilled the confidence I needed to prove I am a good storyteller.
But I didn’t want to give up. So, I started following Jeffrey Lieber (credited for writing the Pilot for the TV series “Lost”) on Twitter.
I also got lucky once when I asked Jeff Eastin, the creator of “White Collar” and “Graceland,” if he could read my TV pilot. He agreed and connected me with Chris Masi.
I sent my TV pilot to Chris, who opened my eyes to the truth that networking in Los Angeles will increase my chances of being hired as a TV writer. He also advised me that it would be challenging since I am “Married…with Children”. Chris suggested that since I don’t live in La-La-land, the probability of breaking into the business increases if I write a book.
I heeded his advice and ventured into writing fiction novels. But you know, it’s not easy to write a book.
The sting of failure to be a screenwriter or TV writer was pretty good. It felt paralyzing at first, but it didn’t kill my hope. After all, my passion for storytelling goes beyond the glitter of Hollywood.
The truth is, I don’t have to be in Hollywood to fulfill my dream of being a TV writer.
While writing a Young Adult novelette series called “Sadé’s Origin Story,” I discovered my talent for writing and producing digital music. I chronicled my journey to traversing the path of creating music.
UPDATE: (Sadé’s Origin Story will be a fiction-based musical).
Fiction writing has always been my main squeeze. And songwriting is my soulmate. But there’s a reason why “starving artist” is a thing.
So, I decided to pivot to UX writing because I can share my passion for narrative writing with companies that need me the most. More importantly, it is my true calling.
I earnestly desire to share my storytelling and problem-solving skills to help companies (startups & well-established brands) improve user journeys.
Check out my portfolio below ⬇️
Thank you for reading!
