The Executive Chair: A Writer’s Guide to TV Series Development

This book should be required reading for anyone who wants a career in Hollywood. Every page has wisdom and I've highlighted paragraph after paragraph. Kelly shares so much information about getting in the door, mistakes to avoid in the industry and how you can set yourself apart from the competition in order to succeed.It's also really positive, which I appreciate. She's like that professor who actually makes classes fun and interactive. She's not talking at you, she's talking with you on every single page. I was reading it on a long airplane flight and the style is so breezy and conversational that I felt as if Kelly was sitting right next to me casually sharing her infinite wisdom.If you know of anyone in film school, a high school student interested in writing movies or television, or if you're curious and want to better understand the entertainment industry, this book is a MUST READ.

For so many creators in the entertainment industry, the executive realm is a baffling blindspot- omniscient, elusive & elite. The Executive Chair is the resource we've been longing for, illuminating that world in a candid, concise & accessible way.Drawing from her eclectic and extensive experience in the business, Kelly takes the reader step by step through the TV Development process, outlining the pathway, protocols & pitfalls. When/how do you follow up after a meeting? Why does your series lead need an attention-grabbing entrance? Everything from identifying redundant points of view in your series to the pilot pitching ladder- from network mandates to deal types and more... it's all in here. What a gift to tomorrow's tv programming to educate, prepare and set expectations for writers on the rise!Thank you for knowing this book needed to exist, Kelly! Reading it felt like "real talk over coffee" and I highly recommend it to any creator aiming to thrive in television!

Approachable and highly informative, the book offers invaluable insights from how to network to how to develop work and get it made. Decades of learning consolidated into one easily readable book. I highly recommend.

A lot of knowledge that aspiring writers need to know

From crafting your voice to navigating the production landscape, Kelly Edwards has written a compulsively readable book that takes us behind the scenes of TV series development. She seems to have worked every job in development, and shares secrets everyone trying to break in and get heard should know. The Executive Mindset and Let's Do Lunch chapters are especially helpful, telling you who to approach, when, and how. A must for anyone developing a long form story that begs to get made.

Kelly Edwards' THE EXECUTIVE CHAIR is written toward writers in the entertainment industry, but it's core information if invaluable to anyone interested in working in Hollywood. With her years of experience in the industry as a development executive and as the creator of HBO's emerging artists programs, Edwards discusses every aspect of television including network, streaming, and cable, and provides concise, solid advice in developing oneself as a writer, including development, pitching, deciphering notes, the importance of communication skills and utilizing your unique voice. A must have for anyone interested in a writing career in Hollywood, particularly in television.

The Executive Chair is a guide that is not limited to writers but that everyone in the industry can learn from. Kelly includes many career tips, many of which I wish I knew about sooner. She looks back on her own experience from her start to how the industry has changed. Her unique perspective gives writers insight as to what executives are looking for and how to get there.Enjoyed reading this book, especially the personal anecdotes sprinkled in. Will be recommending to all my industry friends!

This is not an outsiders view of the TV business with obvious points and definitions of slang you can find anywhere. Kelly is a former TV executive and gives first-hand accounts of how TV shows are pitch, sold, and developed. Plus a lot of helpful tips on how to interact with industry contacts once you've made them. This should be required reading for any TV writer!