Thread by @yapplebee

This is kind of a thread. I’ve been working in TV writing since I graduated college, pretty much. All types of assistant. Ten years went by and I found myself really stuck in an assistant mentality. If you’ve been there, you know. Shoulders hunched.

I kind of stopped believing I’d ever get my break as a writer, but I didn’t feel like I could do anything else. Other people still believed in me. But I knew I needed to believe in myself. So around the end of 2018, I took an online class about my “inner warrior.”

I had enough experience to get picky about my next job - to try to put myself on the right path - but it was really scary to turn down interviews, or say no to opportunities that felt wrong for me. I decided to focus on fellowship apps, not interviews, for a few months.

I wrote two dramedy pilots. I submitted my work to @BreakthroughRS and got in twice. I did a bunch of things that I’d been scared to do before - dyed my hair blonde, took a stand-up class, went to open mics.

Finally, I got a job offer that seemed like a good fit, and I took it. I sat in the room taking notes, and also watching as fellowship notifications came and went. Year 8 of applying, not my year. Ah well.

Oh, and I forgot to say, the #WGAstaffingboost was key! I finally felt like I could maybe be seen without the barrier of being rep-less.

Anyway, right around my birthday, I got staffed on my show. It was so surreal. I became a writer without having any of the things I thought I needed - a fellowship, an agent, a manager. If it happened for me - after 11-ish years - it can happen for you.

It has taken me a bit to talk about it publicly, though, and I think it’s some combination of that strange assistant mentality rearing its head, or anxiety, or fear. But I really want to push that aside and enjoy this. And be like, hey everybody, don’t lose hope!

I always thought when I got staffed I would just like... I don’t know, skip off along the rainbow? But there’s so much that happens right away that you’re unprepared for. Like, do I need a lawyer? Am I eligible for the WGA? Will I ever get another writing job??

So um, build yourself a network of people who you can frantically text and call about these things. 🤗

Also, for years when @SamCherington would stress out about work I’d unhelpfully say, “At least you’re a writer.” Now when I’m fretting, I’m guessing you know what he deadpans back to me. I deserve it.