But I Just Started...

My very cool WGAE card came in the mail a few weeks ago, followed four days later by a strike authorization form. So just when the golden doors of promise had miraculously swung open for me, I will be spending my time marching in a little circle in the midst of a November cold snap, waving a placard on behalf of a guild I've officially belonged to for less than a month.

This really wasn't how it was supposed to go.

At a time when other, more experienced writers are debating the finer points of residual arrangements or cannily using "IMDB" as a verb, I'm still struggling to understand some of the most basic elements of this strange new world: Why are writers in TV so much more powerful than writers on movies? Which part of the MBA covers what I do? What does "story by" even mean and does it really matter?

But will I strike? You bet I will.

I'll strike because as a new writer (but hardly a young one) I understand that the best way to insure the viability of this exciting profession over the long haul is to insure that revenue streams continue to trickle even in times of drought. I'll strike because as someone who already watches most of my television as streaming video, I don't think it's fair that the internet shouldn't count, I'll strike because I don't find it unreasonable to demand four more cents on the sale of a 20 dollar DVD, and I'll strike because from what I've seen so far, the AMPTP's antics feel like a bad episode of Greedy Capitalist Girls Gone Wild and who, besides Alex P. Keaton (thank you, Gary David Goldberg) would be turned on by that?

From everything I've seen so far, ours is a cool little fraternity -- filled with clever people who have a great way with words, and it's already clear to me that writing for television has the potential to be a fun life and a great profession. But it's up to all of us to insure that it's viable -- as a genuine life choice for the brand new members like me, but far more importantly for the writers of the future -- the people who stand where I did less than a year ago: outside, looking in at the magnificent party that can be a life as a guild writer.

Read more thoughts about the strike on Huffington Post's writers' strike opinion page.

Comments

[wadenelson1]

>...as a new writer (but hardly a young one) I understand that the best way to insure the viability

that would be ENsure, no INsure....

[kellygrrrl]

David, if this is your freshman initiation into the Guild, then I believe you should count yourself as lucky.
I know it doesn't feel that way right now, but you will forge a unique bond and learn to truly appreciate who you are and the path you have chosen.
Stay tough.
Learn from your mentors.
Hopefully, it will be worth it sooner rather than later. But it will be worth it!
We support you, just as we support teachers and scientists who are equally disregarded economically.

Good luck!

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Great post! Even though I live in Indiana I am with you every step of the way. I've walked that line before so here are a few words of advice: dress in layers (don't forget your gloves), take an umbrella [and a rain coat or a big trash bag], pack snacks & water (flask optional), wear comfortable shoes, WALK TALL, HOLD YOUR PLACARD HIGH, and SPEAK LOUD!

In Solidarity

[HLM]

As someone who went through the same experience in 1988, take heart, you'll survive. In moments of fear and doubt - and I suspect there may be many to come for all of us - I think back to WGAE strike meetings I attended where I, a nonentity of a budding writer, sat in the same room with Ring Lardner Jr. and other writers who went to prison in America for their beliefs. They're no longer with us, but their spirits are, and so is the Guild they helped create. Treasure it.

[CoolerHeads]

Thanks for your post. It's important to consider what a strike does to all writers. One of the reasons writers can make a lot of money is because the business is so risky. Careers are short. Everybody is insecure. I actually think you might be in one of the better positions. Your career is just starting. Think of the established writers who are finally making enough money to save some. They've asked their family to stand by them while they tried this risky venture, and now when the nest egg money should be coming in, it's all shut down. I can't agree with you more on the reasons to strike, though. We get pension and health because brave writers put their butts on the line before. Now it's our turn.