The Writers Room Survival Guide: Don’t Screw Up the Lunch Order and Other Keys to a Happy Writers Room

by Niceole Levy

Writers' rooms can be a heaven or hell, depending on a few things. The best rooms foster inclusive and productive creative flow. The worst create a toxic stew of bad feelings and doubt. Both kinds and everything in between require basic knowledge of how the room works.

These fundamentals are best learned before you go in. The mystery box of the writers' room need not stay sealed shut forever. Consider this book your crowbar.

Genres: Nonfiction, Film, Audiobook, Writing

230 pages, Paperback

Published October 4, 2022

Reviews

[Lewistron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and inspiring. Makes me want to submit my scripts in and not give up. Only thing is I wish there was more info or at least a chapter dedicated to how you can get into the writing industry.

[Laura Hamlet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Info and wisdom for writers hoping to thrive in one of the most complicated, coveted occupations ever.

As a female, life-long writer, and aspiring dramedy writer, this book gave me a necessary dose of reality and a confidence boost that will help fuel my continued pursuit of TV writing.

As a professional writer who hasn’t yet ventured into a writers’ room, I get the impression that this book would also be useful for seasoned TV writers seeking to improve job satisfaction for everyone they collaborate with.

[Brandi P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t recommend this book highly enough! While there are a ton of books on the craft of TV writing, this is the only one I’ve found that walks you through what to expect once you’re finally in the room where it happens. There were gems on everything from how to study your showrunner’s voice to negotiating when asked to repeat a level, to navigating toxic rooms, and more. I especially loved the anonymous anecdotes shared at the end of each chapter that includes the writer’s gender, whether or not they are BIOOC and if they’re in a comedy or drama room as those details are important when considering one’s experience and how it may differ from your own. Don’t let the lunch order post-it on the cover fool you, this isn’t a book about being an assistant (as a few friends of mine thought and therefore avoided buying), it’s for anyone who wants to be a TV writer, and even for those who are already staffed but have only been in one camp so far. Add it to your must-read list of industry books and/or gift it to the aspiring TV writer in your life.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really wish I’d read this before I started my first job in a writers’ room two years ago! The author does an incredible job of laying out the basics of how a room operates. She also explores sensitive topics like room politics, ageism, and racism with grace and insight.

If you work in or near a TV room, I recommend this book wholeheartedly.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and great read. Insightful and inspiring for those cursed with TV writing running through their veins. Niceole has opened the door and given you a real, no sugar coated, look at an elusive room to those trying to break into it.

[Jessica Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a lot of information and I loved that that author injected plenty of personality and humor so it wasn't just a big, dry instruction manual. Very helpful and insightful for anyone thinking about venturing into the business.

[Anne Libera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of what the work of a TV writer's room looks like including the inside politics and unwritten rules, a great choice for someone starting out who wants to get the lay of the land.

[Abbie Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really insightful. Although it focuses on US TV rooms, it's still got really useful simplification of what's likely to be needed from its writers for other countries. So glad I read this.

[Alyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical and very useful, even if you're not based in the US.

[Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75. An absolute must for anyone looking to break into TV writing! Levy expertly breaks down the nuances of entering and growing within the television industry, offering seriously insightful knowledge. Each chapter is enriched with tips, tricks, stories, and warnings from fellow TV writers, making for a well-rounded and practical guide.

She also doesn’t shy away from tackling the realities of the evolving industry, offering advice on navigating writers' room politics, the financial aspects of television writing, workplace misconduct, and the persistent -isms that still plague the profession today.

The only reason this isn’t getting a perfect score from me is its niche appeal—it’s highly specific to a particular audience, which makes it tough to recommend universally. However, for those who do fall within that audience, this book is required reading. Honestly, it should be essential for all past, present, and future TV writers alike.

[DP · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF. i was just curious about writer's rooms and how they worked, and this delivered! i enjoyed learning more about it, but i just wasn't dying to pick it back up. i'd be interested to try again though!

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only wish I'd read this sooner.