Thanks Suw. I no nothing about this industry but I enjoyed your post's focus on agency as I feel it applies across different types of self-employment. Of course, levels of agency can partly depend on personal circumstances, particularly in terms of paying the bills but it's an apt reminder to look for things we can control, rather than purely submitting to "how things usually work".
Yes, you're right, this does apply across a number of industries and areas, and I agree that it does partly depend on personal circumstances. But I also think that, largely speaking, we have more agency in general than we think we do.
Thank you for this post, I love it. I heard (from a reliable source) about someone who submitted her script to the BBC competition and it got made--but without her... even the legit places are sometimes grifters in this industry. Not to say that we should never submit to competitions, but the American Dream of just work hard and eventually it'll happen for you has always been a story.
Sometimes, ideas are so obvious that someone else has the same one as you, so I'd never assume theft unless there's something very, very specific that points to it. However, it's also impossible to say that it wasn't nicked.
What is incontrovertible in my mind is the fact that the American Dream is bollocks.
Thank you for this post. As someone who has done a little (read very little) writing for the TV industry, I can't offer much in the way of disagreement with you. It is as fickle as you say, I fear. The agency you write about is excellent advice for any profession I would think. You have the power to say no, or to modify your goals and perceptions in anything you do, but especially when you are the only one advocating for your work, it's more important than ever. Honestly, the only way I've gotten any work as a creative is by building relationships and pounding the pavement.
Totally. And I think, with the way that the industry is going, the "easiest" way to get anything out into the world is to make it yourself. And if you can't make it as, say, a TV show, then make it a short film or a podcast or a book or a comic or literally anything you can do yourself.
Taking the decision to make my eco-sitcom Fieldwork as a podcast was the best decision I've made in ages, because it means I'm working towards something concrete, not just sitting here hoping someone one day will like it.
Agreed. One of the better things to come out of the disparate media outlets and the proliferation of media such as twitch, youtube, substack, podcasts, is the ability to DIY. It requires more on your part to make it happen but that’s agency as well. Thanks for letting me know about your podcast; new to your newsletter so I will have to check it out!
Excellent, thanks for the link. And very true, just as hard to find an audience! But at least the bar for trying is lower. And you get practice. Repetition does wonders for getting the feel of almost anything.
Thanks Suw. I no nothing about this industry but I enjoyed your post's focus on agency as I feel it applies across different types of self-employment. Of course, levels of agency can partly depend on personal circumstances, particularly in terms of paying the bills but it's an apt reminder to look for things we can control, rather than purely submitting to "how things usually work".
Yes, you're right, this does apply across a number of industries and areas, and I agree that it does partly depend on personal circumstances. But I also think that, largely speaking, we have more agency in general than we think we do.
I think this piece applies across many domains in our lives. Well done!
Thank you! And yes, it absolutely does!
Love this! Thank you for writing it.
Thanks, Autumn! So glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for this post, I love it. I heard (from a reliable source) about someone who submitted her script to the BBC competition and it got made--but without her... even the legit places are sometimes grifters in this industry. Not to say that we should never submit to competitions, but the American Dream of just work hard and eventually it'll happen for you has always been a story.
Sometimes, ideas are so obvious that someone else has the same one as you, so I'd never assume theft unless there's something very, very specific that points to it. However, it's also impossible to say that it wasn't nicked.
What is incontrovertible in my mind is the fact that the American Dream is bollocks.
Thank you for this post. As someone who has done a little (read very little) writing for the TV industry, I can't offer much in the way of disagreement with you. It is as fickle as you say, I fear. The agency you write about is excellent advice for any profession I would think. You have the power to say no, or to modify your goals and perceptions in anything you do, but especially when you are the only one advocating for your work, it's more important than ever. Honestly, the only way I've gotten any work as a creative is by building relationships and pounding the pavement.
Totally. And I think, with the way that the industry is going, the "easiest" way to get anything out into the world is to make it yourself. And if you can't make it as, say, a TV show, then make it a short film or a podcast or a book or a comic or literally anything you can do yourself.
Taking the decision to make my eco-sitcom Fieldwork as a podcast was the best decision I've made in ages, because it means I'm working towards something concrete, not just sitting here hoping someone one day will like it.
Agreed. One of the better things to come out of the disparate media outlets and the proliferation of media such as twitch, youtube, substack, podcasts, is the ability to DIY. It requires more on your part to make it happen but that’s agency as well. Thanks for letting me know about your podcast; new to your newsletter so I will have to check it out!
The podcast is still gestating, but you can find out about the project itself here:
https://wordcounting.substack.com/s/fieldwork
And yes, it is a lot easier to DIY it these days, though just as challenging as it ever was to get it out there in front of an audience!
Excellent, thanks for the link. And very true, just as hard to find an audience! But at least the bar for trying is lower. And you get practice. Repetition does wonders for getting the feel of almost anything.