A Candid Glimpse of One Older Writer’s Career as Another Year Beckons

That writer is me. Here is a look as to what has passed, and what is ahead.

It’s been a minute since I shared professional updates. So, bumps in the road and all, this near-59-year-old writer will share the good, the bad, and the hideous.

Why am I doing this?

The intention is to give inspiration to those tempted to give up.

Prior to COVID I had several high-profile projects going at once, all covered in the trades. I set up “The Chronicles of Ara,” my book series with Steve Hillard, with Ovation Network. Following a commission of two scripts and formats to our show’s terrific writers — Jeff Phillips and Lauren Conn — the series went into turnaround when the network elected to not move forward. This we were told was due to financial issues to be clear, as our writers were lauded by all and honestly outstanding.

The late and very missed Anne Rice was a big and very vocal supporter of the “Ara” effort, an unexpected development in which I had taken great pride.

My pilot and bible for what was supposed to have been M. Night Shyamalan’s “Tales From the Crypt” reinvention was sold to TNT. That project too went into turnaround, though the money and credit I…