Nate Federman
@natefederman.bsky.social
TV writer currently on Big City Greens / Second normal thing / Jamband apologist
Make other’s lives easier means stepping up and finding helpful ways to shoulder the burden. The best advice I’ve ever received was, “Don’t look at problems as problems; consider them opportunities.” If you make your boss’s life easier, you’ll work as long as they work. Seriously.
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November 8, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Make other’s lives easier means stepping up and finding helpful ways to shoulder the burden. The best advice I’ve ever received was, “Don’t look at problems as problems; consider them opportunities.” If you make your boss’s life easier, you’ll work as long as they work. Seriously.
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Be fun means making the best of a bad situation. You might be stuck in the trenches together, but if you can make folks laugh and enjoy themselves, it’s so much easier to endure. A killer room bit or a funny story is the fuel of happy room. Writing is supposed to be fun-don’t forget that.
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November 8, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Be fun means making the best of a bad situation. You might be stuck in the trenches together, but if you can make folks laugh and enjoy themselves, it’s so much easier to endure. A killer room bit or a funny story is the fuel of happy room. Writing is supposed to be fun-don’t forget that.
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Be positive means being an encouraging, optimistic, kind voice. You don’t have to be over the top positive; just don’t give into cynicism or pessimism. When everyone has a defeatist attitude, you’re all but guaranteed to fail. Helping to instill belief makes a huge difference!
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November 8, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Be positive means being an encouraging, optimistic, kind voice. You don’t have to be over the top positive; just don’t give into cynicism or pessimism. When everyone has a defeatist attitude, you’re all but guaranteed to fail. Helping to instill belief makes a huge difference!
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If you find yourself in a struggling room, you will endear yourself to everyone if you do these three things:
1. Be positive.
2. Be fun.
3. Make others live’s easier.
I’ll step them out one at a time…
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1. Be positive.
2. Be fun.
3. Make others live’s easier.
I’ll step them out one at a time…
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November 8, 2025 at 4:07 PM
If you find yourself in a struggling room, you will endear yourself to everyone if you do these three things:
1. Be positive.
2. Be fun.
3. Make others live’s easier.
I’ll step them out one at a time…
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1. Be positive.
2. Be fun.
3. Make others live’s easier.
I’ll step them out one at a time…
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I have far more experience with struggling rooms. First season shows usually struggle, especially if your boss is a first time showrunner. It’s usually not about meanness. It’s about the person in charge being overwhelmed with stress (and rightfully so). And oftentimes, the shit rolls downhill.
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November 8, 2025 at 4:07 PM
I have far more experience with struggling rooms. First season shows usually struggle, especially if your boss is a first time showrunner. It’s usually not about meanness. It’s about the person in charge being overwhelmed with stress (and rightfully so). And oftentimes, the shit rolls downhill.
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If you find yourself the target in a mean room, another thing you can do is talk to an upper-level writer (who seems to be in everyone’s good graces) and ask them what you can do to fit in with the room better. They may give you strategies or make you aware of something you’re doing wrong.
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November 8, 2025 at 4:06 PM
If you find yourself the target in a mean room, another thing you can do is talk to an upper-level writer (who seems to be in everyone’s good graces) and ask them what you can do to fit in with the room better. They may give you strategies or make you aware of something you’re doing wrong.
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The more defensive you get, the worse you look. Stick to the substance of your ideas. Be strong but magnanimous.
A lot of cattiness stems from insecurity. A writer is worried about their place, so they make someone look worse. I’m a credit-giver. It sets a positive tone and lifts others up.
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A lot of cattiness stems from insecurity. A writer is worried about their place, so they make someone look worse. I’m a credit-giver. It sets a positive tone and lifts others up.
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November 8, 2025 at 4:05 PM
The more defensive you get, the worse you look. Stick to the substance of your ideas. Be strong but magnanimous.
A lot of cattiness stems from insecurity. A writer is worried about their place, so they make someone look worse. I’m a credit-giver. It sets a positive tone and lifts others up.
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A lot of cattiness stems from insecurity. A writer is worried about their place, so they make someone look worse. I’m a credit-giver. It sets a positive tone and lifts others up.
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But sometimes people are mean to each other’s faces. Undercutting someone’s pitches in a way that’s clearly personal.
You can generally avoid factions by being fair and neutral, but what if you’re the target? It’s hard, but when pitches are a proxy fight, try to avoid getting defensive.
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You can generally avoid factions by being fair and neutral, but what if you’re the target? It’s hard, but when pitches are a proxy fight, try to avoid getting defensive.
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November 8, 2025 at 4:05 PM
But sometimes people are mean to each other’s faces. Undercutting someone’s pitches in a way that’s clearly personal.
You can generally avoid factions by being fair and neutral, but what if you’re the target? It’s hard, but when pitches are a proxy fight, try to avoid getting defensive.
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You can generally avoid factions by being fair and neutral, but what if you’re the target? It’s hard, but when pitches are a proxy fight, try to avoid getting defensive.
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If my door was open, people were welcome to come in and discuss script/story problems with me, but by keeping the door open, no one talked shit in my office because they were afraid of being overheard. And I largely avoided that unnecessary drama and avoided the forming factions.
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November 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
If my door was open, people were welcome to come in and discuss script/story problems with me, but by keeping the door open, no one talked shit in my office because they were afraid of being overheard. And I largely avoided that unnecessary drama and avoided the forming factions.
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I’ve only been in a couple mean writers’ rooms. Ones where people were cruel or factions arose. It’s some middle school BS.
On one show, writers were constantly talking shit behind the backs of each other. So I started an open-door policy. As in, the door to my office remained open at all times.
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On one show, writers were constantly talking shit behind the backs of each other. So I started an open-door policy. As in, the door to my office remained open at all times.
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November 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I’ve only been in a couple mean writers’ rooms. Ones where people were cruel or factions arose. It’s some middle school BS.
On one show, writers were constantly talking shit behind the backs of each other. So I started an open-door policy. As in, the door to my office remained open at all times.
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On one show, writers were constantly talking shit behind the backs of each other. So I started an open-door policy. As in, the door to my office remained open at all times.
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A toxic room is different. I’m talking about rooms that are highly stressful because of bad management, mean people, exec overreach, unreasonable deadlines, and/or a struggling show desperate to stay afloat.
But there are two general distinctions:
1. Mean rooms.
2. Struggling rooms.
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But there are two general distinctions:
1. Mean rooms.
2. Struggling rooms.
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November 8, 2025 at 4:03 PM
A toxic room is different. I’m talking about rooms that are highly stressful because of bad management, mean people, exec overreach, unreasonable deadlines, and/or a struggling show desperate to stay afloat.
But there are two general distinctions:
1. Mean rooms.
2. Struggling rooms.
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But there are two general distinctions:
1. Mean rooms.
2. Struggling rooms.
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First, there’s a difference between a toxic room and working with a monster. Monsters are rarer in our business these days, but they still exist. If a co-worker or boss is sexually or physically harassing you, or bullying you, that’s grounds to go to HR. No job is worth that kind of abuse!
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November 8, 2025 at 4:03 PM
First, there’s a difference between a toxic room and working with a monster. Monsters are rarer in our business these days, but they still exist. If a co-worker or boss is sexually or physically harassing you, or bullying you, that’s grounds to go to HR. No job is worth that kind of abuse!
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I saw SML for the first time earlier this year and it was one of the best shows I’ve seen in a while. A real sum of the whole is greater than its parts band (although Anna Butterss instantly became one of my favorite bassists).
November 7, 2025 at 2:31 PM
I saw SML for the first time earlier this year and it was one of the best shows I’ve seen in a while. A real sum of the whole is greater than its parts band (although Anna Butterss instantly became one of my favorite bassists).
Didn’t realize Bloomberg was still alive. I seem to recall Elizabeth Warren murdering him on the debate stage a few years back.
November 4, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Didn’t realize Bloomberg was still alive. I seem to recall Elizabeth Warren murdering him on the debate stage a few years back.
Sling is also an option. It’s not great, but it’s an option.
November 4, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Sling is also an option. It’s not great, but it’s an option.
I dealt with a notice this year. What a colossal pain in the ass (for what turned out to be a mistake on the IRS’ part). I found it impossible to get ahold of a human to clear it up. Sorry you’re having to deal with this stress.
November 3, 2025 at 4:08 PM
I dealt with a notice this year. What a colossal pain in the ass (for what turned out to be a mistake on the IRS’ part). I found it impossible to get ahold of a human to clear it up. Sorry you’re having to deal with this stress.
When I took my kids trick-or-treating, every block had a house projecting the Dodgers game outside while they handed out candy. White, black, brown, Asian - everyone was rocking Dodger blue and friendly as can be.
You don’t get that with the Rams or Lakers.
The Dodgers are special.
You don’t get that with the Rams or Lakers.
The Dodgers are special.
November 2, 2025 at 5:03 AM
When I took my kids trick-or-treating, every block had a house projecting the Dodgers game outside while they handed out candy. White, black, brown, Asian - everyone was rocking Dodger blue and friendly as can be.
You don’t get that with the Rams or Lakers.
The Dodgers are special.
You don’t get that with the Rams or Lakers.
The Dodgers are special.
I do these #Scriptsky #Screenwriting #WritingCommunity threads once a week. If you think they’re helpful, feel free to repost so others might benefit from them.
Also, if you have questions, I’ll do my best to answer them.
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Also, if you have questions, I’ll do my best to answer them.
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November 1, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I do these #Scriptsky #Screenwriting #WritingCommunity threads once a week. If you think they’re helpful, feel free to repost so others might benefit from them.
Also, if you have questions, I’ll do my best to answer them.
13/13
Also, if you have questions, I’ll do my best to answer them.
13/13
If you’re an aspiring writer, read STC! But also read other books. Watch TV/Movies and chart the structure. Think about why things are compelling and why others are frustrating. Assemble a toolbelt full of tools. Try different systems to figure out what works for you. Cuz you gotta write it!
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November 1, 2025 at 3:12 PM
If you’re an aspiring writer, read STC! But also read other books. Watch TV/Movies and chart the structure. Think about why things are compelling and why others are frustrating. Assemble a toolbelt full of tools. Try different systems to figure out what works for you. Cuz you gotta write it!
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