Working with Writers eBook

“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.” Winston Churchill

This Emotional Toolbox Publication is based on my experiences on the writing staff of The Black Donnellys, the NBC one-hour television drama series created by Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco, as well as working hundreds of hours in television writing rooms around the world as a script, story, and character consultant.

The Black Donnellys had three staff writers, two staff writer-producers an executive producer, a co-executive producer as well as executive producers Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco. Everyone on the writing staff was assigned a partner during the development of the series. Working as part of a writing team can be very satisfying and productive. My experience certainly was both.

In any writers room, you are expected to work well with others, give feedback, and receive notes on your own work. In any writing workshop or writers group, you must be collegial, provide effective analysis, and be able to use the critiques of others to improve your work. This eBook discusses ways to offer comments that are both useful and valuable, and how to apply the notes that others give you to your own work.