Putting yourself out there can be one of the most daunting things for us writers. We are accustomed to writing, and some of us excel at discussing our work. But figuring out how to connect with the reps, producers, and executives is something completely different. That's why I love ISA Writer's Profile. It gives you a place to market yourself and your projects that industry professionals are actively using. (I have used this free service for years.) If you're ready to put yourself out there, give it a try and meet me tomorrow for Feedback Friday to make sure your script is ready. Check the Calendar for upcoming events: StoryTellers Calendar

Over the last month, Screenwriting Staffing has posted several jobs specifically for vertical screenwriters. Most of these are listed under their premium services at $25 a month. If you are looking for a way to get into verticals, this is a good path. If you're not ready to sign up, join their free newsletter. They send out a list of jobs several times a week. Some don't require you to sign up for the premium service. RECENT JOB POSTINGS PAID VERTICAL DRAMA WRITER WANTED. An experienced writer is needed for a male-oriented fantasy vertical series featuring hidden identity, supernatural powers, and an underdog’s rise. The concept, full synopsis, and initial episode outlines are provided. The writer will complete the remaining outlines and full screenplay within 2–3 weeks, ideally by August 24. Vertical drama or short-form experience is required. ​VERTICAL SERIES WRITER WANTED. Seeking a screenwriter to help develop two vertical series about four Black adults in their twenties who meet through a support group. They share a difficult truth: their parents deny or minimize the painful experiences they remember from childhood.

Kpop just proved that short verticals work.

StoryTellers, every studio right now wants the next "Backrooms."Creepy liminal spaces. Analog horror. Unexplained cosmic dread. The spec market is hungry for it. So here's the uncomfortable question: Should you chase the trend and write what's hot? PRO: A timely spec can open doors. If you land a trend at the right moment, buyers are actively looking. Your script becomes a solution to their problem. CON: By the time you finish, the moment may have passed. Trends have a shelf life. What's "hot" in development today was decided 18 months ago. You might be writing yesterday's obsession. PRO: Writing within a trend forces you to study what's working — structure, tone, audience psychology. You learn by imitation, even if the project doesn't sell. CON: If your heart isn't in it, the work shows. Audiences can smell a cash grab. And more importantly, you have to live with this script for months. Misalignment kills momentum. So, StoryTellers, have you ever written to a trend? Did it work? Did it drain you? Or do you believe the old rule still holds: write what you love, and let the market catch up?

It's not your story. Not really. You think you're selling a plot. A character. A world. But what you're actually selling is what the audience gets from spending time with it. A feeling. An escape. A mirror. A question they can't stop turning over. If you can't articulate that, if you can only describe what happens, not why someone should care, you don't know your product. And if you don't know your product, you can't pitch it. Can't sell it. Can't get it made. So start here: What first drew you to this project? Not the logline. The gut feeling. The thing that made you choose this idea over the hundred others you could've written. That's your anchor. Everything else builds from there. Drop what first drew you to this project in the comments.