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Writer's pictureAnton Schettini

Why I Wrote 'Breaking Into TV Writing'

Updated: Oct 16



I have a book that came out on September 3rd, 2024, which, if you've clicked on this post from Google, should be rearing its ugly head as a pop-up any second now.


Are you back? Don't hate me. We all must promote.


The experience of coming out with a book is surreal, especially one that touches so close to home. I mean, I have a whole chapter about the past 12 years of my life in entertainment.


I feel vulnerable and proud. Scared and excited. All the things.


But I wanted to put into words why exactly I wrote this book...


The Origins of 'Breaking Into TV Writing'


It was June of 2020. Remember that time? It was shitty. Like, "everything you touch and everyone you meet might kill you" shitty.


And all work had stopped. There was nothing filming and I had just been laid off a couple months before as the pandemic took hold.


So, I decided I wanted to get down everything I loved and hated about the industry. I thought maybe this would make for an interesting read.


Well... it didn't.


BUT then I rewrote it.


And instead of an angry diatribe, it turned into something actually useful.


Why I Felt Like I Had To Write This Book


I had been sick of hearing time and time again that "it's all about the writing." That's a really nice sentiment.


But just because my writing is good doesn't mean anybody is paying any attention to it.


So, I restructured my book and rewrote it into something that I would have LOVED to have 12 years ago when I drove my shitty minivan across the country to Los Angeles.


What I COULD FIND at that time was tons of information about writing a script. What I COULD NOT FIND was any information about making TV writing a career.


How do you actually get into the writers' room?


What does a writers' assistant actually do?


How much do you get paid as an assistant?


How much do you get paid as a writer?


Where can I find job postings?


This is all stuff I learned that was never taught and never existed anywhere.


And THAT, I felt, was worth putting into writing.


Your TV writing career will be 50% your writing ability. It will be 50% how you network, meet people, establish yourself and grow within the industry (in other words, treating TV writing like a business).


This book was written to make it easier for you to treat TV writing as a business and grow within it.

Hello!

I'm Anton, a TV writer and author of Breaking Into TV Writing, a career guide to TV writing.

You can order Breaking Into TV Writing now anywhere books are sold:

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