Matt Witten - From writing poems to Playwright, Novelist and Television Writer

Matt Witten is a Playwright, Novelist, TV writer, and Teacher. He started writing plays, with The Deal winning a Clauder Playwriting Competition in 1989. He's written four novels starring amateur sleuth Jacob Berns, include Breakfast at Madeline's, Grand Delusion, Strange Bedfellows, and The Killing Bee. His next book, The Necklace is coming out next year with his book already optioned by a huge production company. He's written for a long list of Television shows, including Law & Order, House, Medium, Supernatural, Pretty Little Liars, CSI Miami, Women's Murder Club, JAG, and more. In this episode, we talk about: • How he got his first literary and TV agent, with substantive tips for unrepresented writers • A trick that helped him in his pitch meeting for Law & Order • How a writer's room works for a Television show and the importance of a RBI • Hierarchy of a writer's room • Whether actors inspire writers and whether writers write with an actor (or someone) in mind • How he went from tv show to tv show and what the hardest part of his tv career was • What he liked about writing for Pretty Little Liars and why it was different than writing for other shows • Some advice for actors, including what he looks for in casting the roles he writes for (what stands out) • His new book The Necklace coming out next year and what big production company has already optioned the movie rights Check out our Facebook page for more of Matt's episode! He answers the questions: 1. What are his thoughts on TV writing Fellowships and Festivals? 2. When writing a script, do you go with your gut or what you think people want to hear? 3. How do you approach writing for women? Resources: Website: https://mattwittenwriter.com/ Wikipedia for Matt Witten: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Witten Books: https://www.amazon.com/Matt-Witten/e/B00AG1DXKW%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0936976/ Recommendation: If you like this episode, check out Episode 1.18 with Executive Producer and TV Writer David Grae (Madam Secretary, Joan of Arcadia, Without a Trace, Gilmore Girls) Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle