Episodes

Alex and Nick answer your questions about writing routine, episode formats, and international writing education. Plus, we give our thoughts on the latest TV writing news, including The Good Place's final season and the UTA/Paradigm rumors. Content Records, shout-outs and reviews (00:28) Audience Questions: international writers, music routine, formats, experience (07:39) TV Writing News: The Good Place and UTA/Paradigm (25:09) Links Should You Pay for TV Writing Education? (PT19) TV Writi...

Alex and Nick share the TV writing resources they use for the screenwriting craft, from books, websites, and podcasts, to apps, tools, and hardware. We go over some of our personal recommendations for television writer resources that we've discussed over the years, and why they matter to us. Content 1 - Books (00:30) 2 - Finding Scripts (11:05) 3 - Apps/Software (14:19) 4 - Hardware/Tools (19:08) 5 - Websites (25:46) 6 - Podcasts (34:55) 7 - Miscellaneous (39:06) Links "The Cheeky Mon...

Alex and Nick advance in their Paper Team Mentorship with winner Paul Chang, and his comedy pilot MID-DEATH CRISIS. Step three: an outline of the pilot episode, with every act broken down scene-by-scene. We answer some feedback and discuss our thoughts on the outline live. Content Updates and listeners' thoughts on the second mentorship episode (00:37) Discussion of the "Mid-Death Crisis" outline (07:24) Links "Mid-Death Crisis" outline Paper Team Mentorship I – "Mid-Death Crisis" Overvie...

Alex and Nick look at the Fox Writers Lab with Moira Griffin, who oversees the program. We discuss everything, from the latest update about the program and its application process, to what they look for in scripts, loglines, and what comes after.

Alex and Nick answer audience questions about similar premises, quality of dialogue, and cultural experiences. Plus, we catch up on some of the TV writing news from the past few weeks, including a discussion on staffing opportunities, Netflix and Disney. Content Shout-outs (00:24) Audience Questions: Similar ideas, quality of dialogue, cultural experience, animation (02:46) TV Writing News: Staffing opportunities, Netflix and Disney (20:29) Links "To Live & Dialogue in LA" podcast Inspira...

Alex and Nick invite Ning Zhou, story editor on Ozark, to discuss how she worked her way up through the assistant ranks and into the fabled writers' room. What is the process of writing for Ozark? How do you transition into the writers' room? How can you nail that assistant interview? What are ways of being a valuable showrunner's assistant and writers' assistant? Why is it important for the support staff to make their career goals clear? Why is communication so important in television? The Pa...

Alex and Nick continue the Paper Team Mentorship with winner Paul Chang, and his comedy pilot MID-DEATH CRISIS. Step two: a beat sheet of the pilot episode, including general acts and story arcs. We hear about the pilot episode, and discuss our thoughts.

Alex and Nick dig into the Warner Bros. Television Writers' Workshop with its director, Rebecca Windsor. Everything is covered, from what they want in the application and selection process, to how they adapt the workshop to fit the evolving industry.

Alex and Nick discover everything about the NBC Writers on the Verge Program from its director, Karen Horne. All there is to know is discussed, from what they look for in specs and essay questions, to how the program has evolved over the years.

Alex and Nick learn all about the CBS Writers Mentoring Program from the person who supervises it, Jeanne Mau. We go over it all, including the importance of scripts and the letter of interest, the interview process, and how the program helps its writers.

Alex and Nick look at the Disney ABC Writing Program with the person who oversees it, Kristi Shuton. We discuss all the ins-and-outs, from the application content and selection process, to the program itself and what comes after.

Alex and Nick host an insightful panel about comics and television writing. Panelists include Marc Bernardin (Castle Rock), Julie & Shawna Benson (The 100), Christopher Monfette (12 Monkeys), J. Holtham (Cloak & Dagger), Samantha Levenshus (Neon Future).

Alex and Nick begin the Paper Team Mentorship with winner Paul Chang, and his new comedy pilot MID-DEATH CRISIS. Step one: a basic series overview with premise, characters, themes and arcs. We hear the pitch for the first time and give our thoughts live.

Alex and Nick give feedback on eight more teasers in the final Paper Tease session for a while. Plus, we finally reveal the winner of our upcoming Paper Team Mentorship. The Paper Team goes in... Content March Paper Tease Session (01:07) Paper Scraps: Quick word about the WGA/agency negotiations (53:21) Paper Tease Entries "Ash & Bone" by Dean Benamor "D.O.A." by Tom Andrade "Finding Satoshi" by Shruti Saran "Monsters Don't Kill" by Anthony Decimus "Two Timing" by Megan Kingsbury "Super" ...

Alex and Nick discuss ways of surviving your hiatus and staying productive during the off season. Why is being active all year long important? How do you look for a next job? How do you keep in touch during a hiatus? Why are hobbies and social interactions vital? How can you keep yourself healthy and financially stable? Plus, we make three major Paper Team announcements about what is coming up. The Paper Team doesn't wait... Content Announcements: WonderCon 2019, TV writing programs, final ...

Alex and Nick have a candid discussion about the emergence of TV writing incubators, and the current state of access in the television industry for up-and-coming writers. What are TV writing incubators? What do those programs mean for our industry? Is every facet of TV writing going to be turned into a competition? How have TV writing opportunities changed for new writers? What are ways of improving the situation? The Paper Team takes a chance... Links Imagine Impact Rideback TV Incubator Su...

Alex and Nick invite Gretchen Enders, writer on TV series (Queen America, Grace and Frankie, Take My Wife, Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street) and audio originals (Bedtime Stories for Cynics, This Sounds Serious), to discuss working and pitching shows across formats. How do you blend your voice within an established show? How do you find stability as a TV writer between seasons? What is good advice when taking a general meeting? How were the rooms of Queen America, Grace and Frankie, Take ...

Alex and Nick give feedback on five Paper Tease entries and take a look at some TV writing news, including Twitter threads on staffing and articles about the syndication of iconic shows. The Paper Team licenses itself... SHOWNOTES Content Paper Tease Session (00:24) Paper Scraps: Law & Order, The Simpsons, The Critic and Twitter threads (28:16) Paper Tease Entries "Motel Verse" by Dallas Rico "Inept" by Matty Mendez "Rogue Galaxy" by J.R. Curry "Diabolical" by Renier Murillo "Evangelist" ...

Alex and Nick invite Des Doyle, director of the Showrunners documentary, and behind several writing programs for Screen Skills Ireland, to discuss international TV writing and exporting the showrunner model to other markets. How does the American showrunner model differ from the way television is written internationally? How do you create that setup globally? How does auteur theory impact TV? Why is there a rising cost in television production? How do you move up the ladder of TV writing outsid...

Alex and Nick discuss cold contacting people. From formulating queries for your scripts to the proper etiquette when reaching out, learn how you should go about contacting people who don't know you. What are the best ways of contacting people cold? Do query letters work? What should you put in a query letter? How do people perceive you when you reach out? What is the proper etiquette to cold contacting people? Plus, we celebrate our new Patreon subscribers! The Paper Team formulates... SHOWN...

Alex and Nick invite Julia Yorks, writer on The Adventures of Puss in Boots, Skylanders Academy, and Trolls: The Beat Goes On, to discuss finding stability as a nascent TV writer and moving up the ladder. How do you navigate building a career as a new TV writer? How do you deal with the instability of the profession? How can you balance other jobs with writing? What is the process of transitioning to full-time staff writer? How was the writing process of Puss in Boots, Skylanders Academy and Tr...

Alex and Nick invite TV writers Liz Alper (The Rookie) & Kai Wu (Deception) to debate what samples are worth writing and how they get ready for staffing season. Are features better samples than TV pilots or specs? Should writers chase trends?

Alex and Nick invite Alethea Jones, director on Queen America, Wrecked and Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street, to discuss what goes behind directing TV comedies and half-hour shows. What is the role of a director in television? How can writers better convey action for directors? How does a director work with a TV writer on set? What are differences between directing children's television and comedies? How do directors handle crossboarding? What are the responsibilities of being a producing...

Alex and Nick discuss why TV formulas still matter and how to build a successful TV engine for your pilot and show. What is a TV engine? Why is a "formula" a necessary ingredient for a sustainable TV series? What are some ways serialized and character-based series use formulas to their advantage? How do you generate a sustainable and compelling engine for your show? How do you express that formula in a script? Plus, we launch our Patreon page and are hosting a mixer to celebrate! The Paper Te...