Five years ago, when the world stopped making most things for a year, all there was to do for my wife and me was develop ideas for TV and film.
Just yesterday we learned that a pitch document we created for them is still used today.
It’s used as an example to other writers of how to do a pitch document.
I’m proud. We put in a lot of work on that document, and though the show was never brought to fruition, even creating a roadmap that was emotionally compelling and understandable, especially given the source material, is a win.
The book was very complicated to adapt to TV - it’s basically written like 24 (each chapter takes place in an hour), but in reverse. It was also a bestseller about a highly divisive topic. So, high bar.
Sometimes I find constrictions on a story as helpful, in that they narrow the focus. They create a puzzle of hoops and mazes to jump through that can only yield something creative and unexpected.