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Top 5 Networking Mistakes Writers Make

Networking Mistakes You’ve been counting down for months, excited about the upcoming event you’re going to.  The plan is to network with agents, publishers and fellow writers.  In your head you’re fabulous at networking … Or are you?? In order to survive a networking event without disastrous consequences avoid making the following mistakes as though your life depends on it.  First impressions last a lifetime! Here’s what NOT to do when networking, plus what you should do instead. 1) You Ignore Others You’ve arrived. You’re milling through the crowds of people and spot someone your desperate to talk to.   However,… Read More »Top 5 Networking Mistakes Writers Make

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In The Spotlight: Shonda Rhimes’ Top 10 Writing Rules

Learn From Shonda Rhimes! So, B2W is the first to say there are no writing rules … But there ARE things we can learn from the best writers working today. TV writing goddess Shonda Rhimes is obviously one of them! So whether you call them ‘rules’, ‘best practices’, ‘guidelines’ or something else, she has plenty of great writing advice for us. B2W’s new intern Alice has rounded up some classic Shonda for us to consider in honing our craft and getting our own writing off the ground. Enjoy! All About Shonda Rhimes Shonda Rhimes is one of the most successful… Read More »In The Spotlight: Shonda Rhimes’ Top 10 Writing Rules

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5 Cool Things About John August’s Highland 2.5 Screenwriting Software

All About Highland 2.5 Last week in Los Angeles, about 100 screenwriters gathered in a Hollywood penthouse bar to celebrate the latest update to screenwriting software Highland. The Mac-based app was created by BIG FISH, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, and ALADDIN screenwriter John August. Highland counts Hollywood heavyweights among its fans, including Michael Chabon who said: “It is truly such a beautiful app. I have more genuine affection for it than almost any other: the way you love a favorite hand tool or kitchen knife.” So, what makes this app so intriguing? A few things … 1) It was created… Read More »5 Cool Things About John August’s Highland 2.5 Screenwriting Software

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No Writers, You’re Not Being ‘Excluded’

On Being Excluded Feeling excluded from the industry? You’re not alone. It seems a lot of writers feel this way. If you’re part of the B2W Facebook group, you may have seen several mini-spats in there this week. These things always seem to jump up at the same time, because feelings run high and writers have A LOT of feelz. The purpose of this post is to address why writers might feel excluded, but also why this is not necessarily the issue they think. Ready? Let’s go. The BBC Drama Writers’ Scheme The first one revolved around the new BBC TV… Read More »No Writers, You’re Not Being ‘Excluded’

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How To Be A Successful Writer – Tips From Joanna Penn

Be A Successful Writer – meet Joanna Penn! B2W always says it’s worth asking those who DO the job you want … So I cracked open my little black book and contacted successful ‘authorpreneur’, Joanna Penn. Joanna is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers under ‘J.F.Penn’, she also writes non-fiction for authors. She’s also a podcaster and an award-winning creative entrepreneur. Her site, TheCreativePenn.com has been voted in the Top 101 sites for writers by Writer’s Digest. What I love about Joanna’s advice here is it’s just as applicable for screenwriters as it is… Read More »How To Be A Successful Writer – Tips From Joanna Penn

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Why FRIENDS Has An Awesome Pilot (And What It Can Teach Writers)

Rise of the Spec TV Pilot Every screenwriter alive wants to write a great pilot episode of their own, if the spec pile is anything go by. When I started B2W back in the day, I hardly ever saw spec TV pilot episodes of any kind. Fast-forward fifteen years and I would venture I read more spec TV pilot episodes than anything else! It also means THE most popular article on this entire site is How To Write TV Series Bibles – over 130K+ unique hits now. Wow! That said, spec TV pilot episodes are notoriously difficult to write. Whilst… Read More »Why FRIENDS Has An Awesome Pilot (And What It Can Teach Writers)

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7 Things I Learned As A Writer From Reality TV

This Is Reality? Reality TV gets a bad rap. You don’t have to go far to discover people denigrating it, both online and in real life. It’s considered the opiate of the masses, sometimes exploitative and/or generally not very stimulating in any meaningful way. In fact, this is such a popular opinion that comedian Bill Hicks’ infamous Executive 11110 (‘You are free, to do as we tell you‘) skit could replace ‘American Gladiators’ with, ‘Here’s reality TV! Here’s 56 channels of it!’ some twenty five years on, easily. (Though in real terms I suspect there there would probably be more than… Read More »7 Things I Learned As A Writer From Reality TV

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How to Make Money Writing

A Real Job? Writing can often feel like a lonely and frustrating way to make money. You sit at your desk for hours, writing words that may never see the light of day, hoping that soon, your work will mean something to someone. You only realise that you’ve not spoken to another human being for several hours when the phone rings and you answer it sounding remarkably like Marge Simpson. To make matters worse, writing can sometimes feel like the worst paid job in the world too. If you’re lucky, you get the odd copywriting gig or small editing role.… Read More »How to Make Money Writing

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We Need To Talk About Lionel Shriver

Shriver Roars Again Is Lionel Shriver okay? The reason I feel I have to ask is because she’s been making waves AGAIN about diversity in the arts. So much so, it would seem she’s got herself booted off the judging panel of the Myslexia short story contest, as you may have seen on social media yesterday: (Being so against the concept of diversity I’m only surprised Shriver ever wanted to be part of a judging panel that ‘favours’ female writers when they ‘should’ be picked SOLELY ON THEIR MERIT, but moving swiftly onwards). But Who Is Lionel Shriver? But okay,… Read More »We Need To Talk About Lionel Shriver

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5 Things I Learned About Going Viral on Twitter

B2W likes to offer perspectives from writers on the ‘X Things I Learned’ series, not just about writing or careers, but also some of the weirder things our lives may include from time to time … Cue children’s author Maz Evans, who went SUPER viral on Twitter recently! If you’re on there, you may have seen this play out in real-time, like me. Here’s what Maz learnt during a crazy 72 hours and I’m sure it’ll pop up in her writing at some point. It’s all material! Over to you Maz … It was no big deal. I was awaiting… Read More »5 Things I Learned About Going Viral on Twitter

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15 Questions To Help You Network Like A Professional

NEWSFLASH: You Need To Network As we all know, if writers want to create those all-important relationships, we MUST network. But how do we network like a pro WITHOUT seeming too try-hard or weird? But preparation is good practice when it comes to networking, so thinking ahead about how you’re going to ‘work the room’ in advance can really play dividends. This is why I love these questions from Nicole that can really help break the ice. Ready? Let’s go! Over to you, Nicole … How To Network Like A Pro Networking is the cornerstone of any corporate and entrepreneurial… Read More »15 Questions To Help You Network Like A Professional

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An Epic Rant On Why You NEED Writing Craft

Rules, Schmules Writing craft gets a bad rap. After all, it’s  just ‘rules’ right?? And rules are made to be broken! NO. A million times, multiplied by infinity crossed with eternity into Dante’s 7 circles of Hell — NO!! Writing craft is NOT about rules. Hell, writing craft is not even about guidelines. These things are non-negotiables and frankly, THE VERY LEAST YOU CAN DO. But do YOU know which parts of craft you’re missing, under-utilising or plain misunderstanding in terms of your writing craft? Do you know what to do about it? Do you understand how thee craft elements… Read More »An Epic Rant On Why You NEED Writing Craft

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