How the Film & TV Industry Prepared Me for Entrepreneurship

The Real First Step in a Writing Career

When I first started writing, it felt like working in a vacuum. I was pouring hours into short stories, the first one-third of scripts, and ideas no one else had seen. I decided anything I shared with people had to be perfect first. Therefore, I didn’t share my writing with anyone.

The real first step in a writing career isn’t finishing a draft—it’s letting someone else read it. That’s when you learn what’s working, what isn’t, and how to refine your storytelling in a way that connects. It’s also the moment when many writers hesitate, unsure if their work is “ready.” But if I learned anything from the film and TV industry, it’s that no script—or business—is ever perfect before it’s put out into the world. You refine as you go, and you really have no clue what you made until you share it.

Doing the Work Before the Reward Exists

One of the biggest lessons from the entertainment industry is that you often have to work without immediate validation or financial reward. Writers spend years on spec scripts that may never sell (and by writers I mean ME), directors attach themselves to projects that never get made, and actors will study a scene relentlessly to audition for a role they won’t book.

Launching a business required the same mindset. Even though I’d made pitch decks for writers for years, I didn’t consider myself a business person. “I am a creative,” I thought. “Leave the business stuff for numbers-people!”

This idea is beautifully captured in The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest:

"Start quantifying your days by how many healthy, positive things you accomplished, and you will see how quickly you begin to make progress."

I have that quote on a stickie note on my desktop. And every day I’m reminded that focusing on daily progress rather than immediate success is what moves the needle. So maybe I wasn’t a businessperson the day I had that thought, but action by action I built something until I was. This is as true about business as it is about writing.

Tenacity: The Unspoken Superpower

I once asked a writer who had been in the business for 30 years his best writing advice. Without humor, he said: “Just stick with it until most of your competition quits or dies.” It was dark but kind of true (more so about the quitting thing).

I made a joke when writing blog post that I have dozens of personal stories of either rejection or misadventure in my writing career. It may seem like I’m the exception but I’m the rule. And even though I have almost quit multiple times, I realized there’s really nothing else I’d want to do. Maybe that makes me a masochist.

The industry teaches you that persistence is everything—most people don’t fail because they lack talent, they fail because they stop trying.

Building a business was no different.

Thinking Outside the Box: Creativity Beyond the Page

In Hollywood, creativity doesn’t just apply to writing—it applies to selling your work. A great idea isn’t enough. You need the right presentation, the right materials, and the ability to make people see the potential in your project. That’s exactly what I help writers do.

Most screenwriters struggle not because their ideas aren’t good, but because they don’t know how to package them in a way that gets attention.

That’s where my business comes in. I specialize in industry-standard pitch decks that make your project impossible to ignore. My templates and services help writers take their scripts from a raw idea to a polished, professional presentation that speaks the language of the industry.

If you want to stop spinning your wheels and start making real progress, I can help. Whether you need a ready-to-use pitch deck template or a fully customized deck tailored to your project, I offer the tools you need to stand out in a competitive market.

Visit The Pitch Deck Store to learn more!

Why This Matters for Writers

Many talented writers get stuck because they don’t know how to position their work effectively.

It’s not just about having a great script—it’s about making sure people see its potential. That’s where I come in. My business helps writers take their projects from "good" to "industry-ready," giving them the best shot at getting their stories in front of the right people.

If there’s one thing the film and TV industry taught me, it’s that talent alone isn’t enough—you need strategy, persistence, and a willingness to put yourself out there. And that’s exactly what I help writers do.

The Business of Storytelling

Whether you’re writing a screenplay or building a business, the same principles apply: resilience, creativity, and the courage to put your work into the world.

Because success doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it happens when you share your story, refine it, and keep moving forward.