This newsletter spent 2024 asking novelists, filmmakers, and comic book creators from around the globe to weigh in about how they create and navigate their industries - now it's my turn to answer!
Thank you for sharing this all with us. It was every bit as relevant and interesting as the other answers. Maybe even more so because it adds so much context to your substack and past articles. You note that you've been able to pay the bills by being prolific, and I have thought that so many times with your writing here - but not just because of the amount of material you give us to read, but that it's all high-value stuff. I've said it before - because it's true - yours is the only substack on which I try to read everything posted. Always an excellent read. Cheers.
I continue to appreciate the idea that anything I do here is so valued, Aaron - thank you. I love writing. I do it like I breathe now. In fact, I wrote that in my first attempt at a novel: "I'm a shark like that; swim or die, write or die."
Love reading stuff like this right now, as I am actively grappling with some of these questions and how to (re)organize my life around them right now. It's so comforting to know that it's hard for everyone, and to get others' perspectives on how to make it survivable and what makes it worth it. And ESPECIALLY to be constantly reminded that success is never a straight line, which I think is a delusion a lot of us operate under in our earlier careers and then have to recalibrate around later. Thank you for your insights; I look forward to the next part!
I'm glad anything I wrote here resonates with you or might even help you. Writing/creating is a mad way to make money. I wish you nothing but the best on your own journey, Tania!
I love that Art has the “power to… challenge minds and change hearts.” Thank you for sharing so much of your own processes and struggles. I think I look at Art, and movies and TV in particular, with a different eye since I started reading your posts.
I really appreciate reading that, Sally, especially this week. Everything is fine here, but we've been forced by circumstances to move several months earlier than we expected to and everything feels a bit too much at the moment. I needed a pick me up, thank you.
Once again you have given me a lot to think about art and my place as an artist. Thank you for that.
I did have a question pop up recently. You've written a lot of things on here that have been edifying, but I realized I don't know that I've seen any of the movies/tv shows you've worked on. So my question is: which movies/tv shows are you most proud of working on?
It's worth pointing out that I include this in the bio I share with artists I don't know when I want them to join me for one of my conversations:
"Cole has sold far more film and television projects than most people he knows, but he’s had far fewer projects produced than most people he knows. It’s a mystery of the business, but, hey, he pays his bills and he loves what he does. He created the TV series 'Dracula' (2013), his debut novel Psalms for the End of the World was published in 2022 by Headline Books; and Dark Horse Entertainment and others have published his graphic novels."
The reality is, I've only had my TV series and a few episodes of TV produced -- which is primarily because I've only really worked in the original ideas space for a long time now and IP has dominated the market for a long time. I'm not proud of much about my TV series, which you've probably read about here. What I am proud of is the relationships I've made along the way because those tend to be based on respect for me as a writer and my work. I'm also proud of the novel all this led to. Most recently, my friend actor Thomas Jane chose to direct my episode of a TV series he was starring in "Troppo"; it was the one that spoke the most to him, and that was incredibly satisfying given how strong the other writers involved were. I had a blast working on that with him.
So much to take from this, Cole, thank you. It's so refreshing to read such personal articles that simply share your personal processes and experiences, rather than seeming to tell people how they should do it. I find your approach so much more inspiring and thought-provoking. And soulful.
When I was younger, I bought a dozen how-to screenwriting books. I learned the basic structure from them and, often, a lot of bad ideas that hurt my development as a writer instead of helped me. If you tell someone they have to do X, they'll do X over and over to the detriment of their own voice and better instincts. It kills innovation and almost any chance of anything truly exciting happening. I'm glad my weird anecdotes help in any way!
Thank you for sharing this all with us. It was every bit as relevant and interesting as the other answers. Maybe even more so because it adds so much context to your substack and past articles. You note that you've been able to pay the bills by being prolific, and I have thought that so many times with your writing here - but not just because of the amount of material you give us to read, but that it's all high-value stuff. I've said it before - because it's true - yours is the only substack on which I try to read everything posted. Always an excellent read. Cheers.
I continue to appreciate the idea that anything I do here is so valued, Aaron - thank you. I love writing. I do it like I breathe now. In fact, I wrote that in my first attempt at a novel: "I'm a shark like that; swim or die, write or die."
Love reading stuff like this right now, as I am actively grappling with some of these questions and how to (re)organize my life around them right now. It's so comforting to know that it's hard for everyone, and to get others' perspectives on how to make it survivable and what makes it worth it. And ESPECIALLY to be constantly reminded that success is never a straight line, which I think is a delusion a lot of us operate under in our earlier careers and then have to recalibrate around later. Thank you for your insights; I look forward to the next part!
I'm glad anything I wrote here resonates with you or might even help you. Writing/creating is a mad way to make money. I wish you nothing but the best on your own journey, Tania!
Great read thanks for sharing this w
And thanks for reading, Vince.
I love that Art has the “power to… challenge minds and change hearts.” Thank you for sharing so much of your own processes and struggles. I think I look at Art, and movies and TV in particular, with a different eye since I started reading your posts.
I really appreciate reading that, Sally, especially this week. Everything is fine here, but we've been forced by circumstances to move several months earlier than we expected to and everything feels a bit too much at the moment. I needed a pick me up, thank you.
I hope it all works out and gets easier for you and your family.
Thank you!
Once again you have given me a lot to think about art and my place as an artist. Thank you for that.
I did have a question pop up recently. You've written a lot of things on here that have been edifying, but I realized I don't know that I've seen any of the movies/tv shows you've worked on. So my question is: which movies/tv shows are you most proud of working on?
It's worth pointing out that I include this in the bio I share with artists I don't know when I want them to join me for one of my conversations:
"Cole has sold far more film and television projects than most people he knows, but he’s had far fewer projects produced than most people he knows. It’s a mystery of the business, but, hey, he pays his bills and he loves what he does. He created the TV series 'Dracula' (2013), his debut novel Psalms for the End of the World was published in 2022 by Headline Books; and Dark Horse Entertainment and others have published his graphic novels."
The reality is, I've only had my TV series and a few episodes of TV produced -- which is primarily because I've only really worked in the original ideas space for a long time now and IP has dominated the market for a long time. I'm not proud of much about my TV series, which you've probably read about here. What I am proud of is the relationships I've made along the way because those tend to be based on respect for me as a writer and my work. I'm also proud of the novel all this led to. Most recently, my friend actor Thomas Jane chose to direct my episode of a TV series he was starring in "Troppo"; it was the one that spoke the most to him, and that was incredibly satisfying given how strong the other writers involved were. I had a blast working on that with him.
Thank you so much for the thoughtful reply! I can definitely appreciate the focus on relationships over products.
So much to take from this, Cole, thank you. It's so refreshing to read such personal articles that simply share your personal processes and experiences, rather than seeming to tell people how they should do it. I find your approach so much more inspiring and thought-provoking. And soulful.
I'm really looking forward to reading part 2.
When I was younger, I bought a dozen how-to screenwriting books. I learned the basic structure from them and, often, a lot of bad ideas that hurt my development as a writer instead of helped me. If you tell someone they have to do X, they'll do X over and over to the detriment of their own voice and better instincts. It kills innovation and almost any chance of anything truly exciting happening. I'm glad my weird anecdotes help in any way!