Anton Schettini

Follow me if you're looking to break into TV writing.

For a more in-depth view of the TV writing world, check out my book.

Or download the free cheat sheet in my bio - 7 ways to get your first TV job

- What assistant jobs are good/not good for
- Routes to break in
- What it's like being in a writers' room
- Actual sites to find jobs and get your foot in the door

I learned a lot during my rise through the TV writing world and I've shared it all - the good and the bad - in my book.

It's just one of many different tools I would use to push my career forward.

In my book, BREAKING INTO TV WRITING, I wanted to only give the most helpful, practical information to up-and-coming TV writers, like...

I began my #TVwriting career as a production assistant on a comedy on CBS.

Two years ago, I was the EP of a drama miniseries on AMC Networks.

I rose through assistant jobs:
- Writers' PA
- Writers' Assistant
- Script Coordinator
And finally, writer.

This is NOT the path I would take today...

If you want to get into a TV writers’ room, give me a follow.

I worked in 14 different writers’ rooms as a writers’ assistant, script coordinator and writer.

In my book, I teach people the known points of entry to the TV writing world so you know the lay of the land and can carve your own path.

5. A time of opportunity for up-and-comers. Unfortunately, many have called it quits in the last few years, but that has made space for those coming in.

For anyone looking to write for TV, my book, BREAKING INTO TV WRITING, is available now.

4. More major, big-budget tentpole TV shows and more acquisitions of independently produced productions (like Netflix did with Tires). Not much in the middle.

2. Lots of exec turnover. Three streamers we pitched to had just replaced their development execs, or they were fired within a month of us pitching to them. This is setting the stage for...

3. Mergers. During times of scarcity, the major studios, networks and streamers start to buy each other up.

I pitched a show to all the major streamers with Sony TV last year.

Based on my experience, I believe the following will be in the cards for the TV industry in 2025:

1. IP will still be king...

#screenwriting
#writingcommunity

As a first time author, it is so gratifying when people send me pictures of my book out in the wild.

This came from a friend of my Mom’s from Powell’s Books in Portland.

What makes it extra surreal is it’s a book away from my college professor’s book, Writing Television Sitcoms.

This list was made by The Atlantic, who found movies and TV episodes were scraped from a subtitle transcription website.

The legality of this seems murky at best.

What do you think should be done about the intellectual property being used without permission to train AI?

A TV show I wrote for is being used to train AI...

I found episodes of the CBS sitcom "Superior Donuts" on the list of 139,000 TV shows and movies used to train AI platforms.

#screenwriting
#ai

I was turned down by 35 literary agents. The 36th said yes.

My book was turned down by 20 publishers. The 21st said yes.

In my screenwriting career and my publishing career, I've learned to see rejection as a necessary step rather than a roadblock.

You only need one yes.

#writers
#screenwriters

If you want to be a TV writer, give me a follow.

I’ve worked in 14 TV writers’ rooms as a writers’ assistant on up to Executive Producer.

My book, BREAKING INTO TV WRITING, is the first career guidebook to TV writing.

I post daily writing advice and job hunting tips.

📺 #tvwriting #screenwriting

My book is NUMBER 1 on Amazon! ... in the ultra-niche category of "New Release Television Screenwriting" books.

Hey, I'll take it.

BREAKING INTO TV WRITING is my first book and I'm enjoying how ridiculously gamified Amazon makes book sales.

#tvwriting
#screenwriting

I wrote my book, Breaking into TV Writing, to show anybody can break in and that writing ability has far less to do with it than you think.

Don't avoid your dream because you think you don't have "it." There is no "it."

There is trial and error and perseverance.

Take professional writers off the pedestal.

Most screenwriters with credits and published authors are not innately better writers than you are.

But they are better at committing to it and treating it like a career.

‘It’s a very tough time in Hollywood’: inside the shrinking world of the TV writers’ room Between the impact of last year’s strikes, a reduction in scripted content and a racial reckoning, the life of a screenwriter has shifted

I was interviewed by @theguardian.com for an article about the state of #TVwriting…

Smaller writers’ rooms…

Shorter employment…

Here’s what to be prepared for…

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

My publisher and the company the book was sold to ended up hiring the voice of animated Superman as the narrator. His gravitas matched with my rambling sarcasm is a perfect combo!

#booksky

The traditional publishing game is one I'm still learning.

I just published my first book a month ago and I learned that often audio rights are sold before the book is published.

What it means is that I had no idea who the voice of my book would be until it came out.

A scary thought. BUT...