I’ve been at my TV writing job at Covert Affairs for a little over a month and the job continues to surprise me. I’m learning so much. One of the main things I’m learning aboutiscollaboration.

We’re in a room all day working on stories for episodes of the show – and I’m discovering new things about how to get along with people and create at the same time. Here are five things I’ve learned about collaboration.

One: Check your ego at the door.

Collaboration isn’t about proving that you’re the smartest person in the room. Collaboration is about acknowledging that you’re one of the smart people in the room. And that means silence is sometimes as useful as ... Read more

The first two weeks of my new staff writer job for Covert Affairs have gone by swiftly. In a matter of days, I’ve moved through a crash course in what it means to collaborate with professional writers on the creation of a TV show. I’m learning so many things: mainly about the benefits of watching and listening – intensely observing the process.

On the first day we were asked to bring in story ideas for the show. I had three pages of well thought out paragraphs: mixing real life Ideas (from a variety of online sources) with the world of the show. Still, I was nervous about presenting my thoughts to a room full of pros on my very first day. When it came time ... Read more

Last week, shortly after I wrote my newsletter, I got a life-changing call: I’ve been selected as a staff writer on the cable TV series Covert Affairs. I’ve been doing a happy dance ever since!

I moved to Los Angeles almost two years ago in search of TV writing work – and I’m thrilled to get the opportunity. I love the show and the creators are really nice guys. Already I’m in prep mode – doing a ton of research and brainstorming show ideas. I’m also employing all my creative techniques: scheduling, taking breaks, taking deep breaths, asking for help. The writers room kicks in on November 7th – and I’m sure it will be a delightful, challenging adventure.

I’m excited, also, to bring you every creative ... Read more

As I write this, I’m on the set of a commercial I’m acting in. The crew is coming from another location and is making their way over to where I am. The other actors and I have been asked to “take lunch” and (essentially) wait an hour for the rest of the people to arrive. I’ve pulled out my laptop and I’m working!

I’ve written before about the importance of having something else to do (on set and in life). As I see it, it’s all part of being prepared and creating a plan. It’s natural for me to have something else to do – my father set the example when I was growing up. He never left the house ... Read more

If you were on the Creative Strategy Call this past week, you got to participate in our virtual discussion around How To Teach Anything – a five step process to develop a curriculum for any kind of class, workshop or information product. As always, I took questions from those who signed up – and I saw a theme in some of them. One person asked about needing to be an expert before teaching. Someone else wanted to know how to choose the best subject. Someone else was wondering how to order the material. The subtext to many of the questions was: “How can I do this in the best way possible? How can I do this flawlessly?”

Sound familiar? It does to me. I’m a long ... Read more

I was driving through Los Angeles this weekend and I saw a mural with the caption: This is Not A Test. The corresponding visual was of a man with his mouth wide open, as if surprised by the notion that he’s in the midst of real life.

These days I’m engaged in in-the-moment living, working on goals that are important and, frankly, scary. I’m taking better care of myself – focused more intently on the things that I want in life. I’m willing to take actions and willing to let go.

Two weeks ago, I took one of the most difficult actions I’d ever taken: I took a video producer to court over payment for ... Read more

I got an email recently from someone on my mailing list asking when my next coaching call would be. At the time I was completing a coaching series and working on my new home study course (more about that in the coming weeks) but I didn’t have anything scheduled. But I heard the need – and I’m responding.

Starting NEXT WEEK, I’m doing a FREE coaching call each month on some topic that you can use in your creative life. This Creative Strategy Call will take place second Wednesday of the Month at 9:15am Pacific time/12:15pm Eastern and will focus on one area, tool, trick or habit that you can make use of right away.

The first call is

WEDNESDAY: August 10^th, 2011

9:15am – 10:15am Pacific Time

The First Topic: ... Read more

I lived in New York on 9/11. It’s a long story that I won’t go into here, but essentially I was heading downtown on a crowded bus (to work) when the second tower fell. It took me 6 hours to get back uptown to my apartment when I realized my workplace was closed. Buses were packed. Subways weren’t running. Pay phones were out of commission: lines were busy or phones were broken. I didn’t have a cell at the time.

What does this have to do with email? Email was the only thing that worked reliably during that crisis and the days and weeks that followed. And the common subject line to New Yorkers was “Are You Ok?”

I bring ... Read more

As the Rolling Stones said: “You can’t always get what you want.” That’s what I’ve been negotiating in my creative life these days. After months of continuing my search for TV writing work, I’ve not yet gotten a job. I’m still in the game, no question, but it’s been frustrating and difficult. And it’s gotten me thinking about the challenge (familiar for all creative folks) of being far from the opportunities we covet.

Early on in my writing career, I wrote several “actor plays” – about theatrical types who were on the hunt for a big break. These plays were full of humor (and heartache) and inevitably were decried as “whiny” and “self-involved” by audience members who had no tolerance for ... Read more

I’ve been having so much fun working with Samantha Bennett (of The Organized Artist Company) and cheering people on as they get their projects out into the world, that we decided to do a FREE call. Here’s the recording (bottom of the page).

To listen or download the Free Call, click here.

Steve