How many of us struggle to get consistent writing done because life just keeps getting in the way? Two of us are parents to young children, one has a puppy (which is definitely the same thing), not to mention that we still need to make actual money too. We're not saying we've solved it (late nights and early mornings aren't easy!), but we have all found ways to mostly make it work, alongside money jobs and having families.

So this episode is all about breaking down how we schedule in that all important writing time and how we fit the practise around everything else life throws at us. From writing at 2am, to finding flow between errands and meltdowns, this one's all about exploring the emotional and logistical hurdles of being a writer with responsibilities. It’s a vulnerable one, touching on generational expectations, unsupportive family members, and the guilt of trying to carve out creative time. But it's also a love letter to perseverance, community, and the power of chasing your dream — even if it means writing pantsless.

And of course, it's totally different for everyone, so please do reach out and let us know how you make it work for you - you're not alone!

📬 Get In Touch:

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: @theemergingpod

Ben is @bmlrobins

Martin is @bananabreadfilm

Tray is @ByTrayepps

🧰 Resources & Mentions:

• Curtis Brown Creative
• BBC Writersroom Open Call
• Scrivener
• Jim Carrey’s Commencement Speech (Maharishi University)
• Emerging with Beatty Smith – Part 1

✨ Support the Show:

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting an agent or manager is one of the biggest milestones for an emerging screenwriter, but how do you actually make it happen? Do you need representation to break into the industry? And what’s the difference between an agent and a manager anyway? Part 2 of our chat with fantastic writer and friend of the podcast Beatty Smith once again goes deep.

Beatty's repped in the US by Circle, and breaks down every step that led to her getting management, how reps can help your career (but also the bits she did herself), and the best ways to get on their radar (as well as why she said no before saying yes). We’ll also talk about those all important differences between the UK and the US when it comes to agents and managers, the unglamorous realities of unpaid development, why restraint matters when someone shows interest, and the art of holding your nerve when everything starts to move fast.

As always with Beatty, it's a very detailed and practical chat and we couldn't be more grateful for her insight! We also end with a lightning round of questions inspired by Inside the Actors Studio — expect Buffy, Vampire Diaries, and some hilariously dark childhood writing confessions.

If you want to follow Beatty's career, she's @beattysmith on Instagram.

📬 Get In Touch

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: @theemergingpod

Ben is @bmlrobins

Martin is @bananabreadfilm

Tray is @ByTrayepps

✨ Support the Show

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). You're not alone!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many times have you been told you have to move to LA to "make it" as a screenwriter? Well, brilliant writer and friend of the podcast Beatty Smith did just that, and lived to tell the tale. Join us for Part 1 of a very deep and informative chat following the ups and downs of Beatty's long and windy journey from Lancashire to Hollywood, to London (and back again).

Beatty gives us all sorts of practical insights into everything from making the decision to move, to how she paid her rent, whose couch she slept on and how her American VISA worked, as well as what good networking looks like and what point she finally started calling herself a writer. It's a vital chat for anyone even remotely considering life in LA (and it's just full of generally brilliant wisdom from a very exciting working writer too!)

💬 In This Episode:

• Beatty’s chaotic and brave move from the UK to LA
• Being a secret writer while climbing the assistant ladder
• The difference between British and American creative cultures
• How to write on nights and weekends without burning out
• When to stop networking and start writing
• Planning a two-month “break-in” trip to LA — with no job waiting
• Getting represented in the US (and why she didn't chase it)
• Notre Dame, neuroscience, and saying no to safety

🧰 Resources & Mentions:

• USC Peter Stark Producing Program
• A3 Artists Agency (archived)
• 42 Management & Production
• The New Writers Collective – TV Foundation
• PMA Job Board (UK production and literary assistant roles)

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: @TheEmergingPod

Ben is @bmlrobins

Martin is @bananabreadfilm

Tray is @ByTrayepps

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who's plotting their next big leap.

Hosts: Tray Epps, Martin F Wong, Ben Robins

Editor: Ben Robins

Music by: Adrian Leung

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you have an empty Instagram you don't know how to fill? Are you still grinding away on Twitter/X pretending it can still be saved? Social media isn't exactly the easiest thing to navigate as a writer, but luckily for us, co-host Ben is a bit of an expert.

So join us for a deep dive into all things social, the platforms that are worth being on (and the ones that really aren't), what and how often it's worth posting (if at all), and when it might be time to finally call it a day. We'll also look at professional websites and whether or not they're actually helpful for emerging writers, and the best ways to make yourself open and present for networking online.

💬 In This Episode:

• Do writers need to be on social media?
• The myth of followers vs. actual engagement
• What producers are really looking for online
• Private vs. public Instagrams (and the identity crisis that comes with it)
• How comparison culture and “online wins” can derail your confidence
• Benedict Wong and Martin’s one-sided best friendship
• Why we keep showing up — even on bad writing weeks

🧰 Resources & Mentions:

• Golden Egg Academy
• MilkTea Films
• BBC Writersroom
• The New Writers Collective – TV Foundation
• No Hard Feelings (Jennifer Lawrence film)
• Freddy Got Fingered

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: @TheEmergingPod

Ben is @bmlrobins

Martin is @bananabreadfilm

Tray is @ByTrayepps

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow writer struggling with their socials (or just tired of seeing everyone’s highlight reel).

Hosts: Tray Epps, Martin F Wong, Ben Robins

Editor: Ben Robins

Music by: Adrian Leung

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you sick of staring at yet another screenwriting competition or scheme, wondering if it’s actually worth the entry fee (or the endless application questions)? Well join the club, buddy.

Do these programs really help emerging writers break into the industry, or are they just a giant lottery?

Join Tray, Martin and Ben as we share our blunt, honest thoughts on competitions, fellowships, schemes and retreats. We’ll chat about which ones actually seem to make a difference, whether they’re the best use of your time, and how to improve your chances if you do decide to apply. We'll also talk about our red flags, when to know you're looking at a scam, and whether anyone can ever *really* teach you how to write a screenplay.

If you’re unsure whether to throw your script into the ring or focus your energy elsewhere, this one’s for you.

• Our first scripts and how we actually started writing
• Why film school wasn’t an option — and why that might’ve been a good thing
• The Shortflix scheme, Lincoln Center drama training, and Golden Egg Academy
• Breaking down BBC Writersroom, Channel 4, BAFTA Rocliffe, and more
• What a “seal of approval” really means in this industry
• Are paid workshops and script gurus worth it?
• Why most schemes don’t change your life — but a few just might
• What we learned from rejection (and each other)
• Bonus: Old man balls and the trauma of directing your first short film

• TV Foundation / New Writers Collective
• Shortflix
• BBC Writersroom
• Channel 4 Screenwriting Course
• BAFTA Rocliffe
• Save the Cat
• Golden Egg Academy
• Sweetpea on Sky

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: @TheEmergingPod

Ben is @bmlrobins

Martin is @bananabreadfilm

Tray is @ByTrayepps

Laughed? Cried? Questioned your life choices along with us? Rate, review, and share the pod with a fellow emerging writer — we’re all in this together. Sort of.

Hosts: Tray Epps, Martin F Wong, Ben Robins

Editor: Ben Robins

Music by: Adrian Leung

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A big hello/what's up/how's it going from Martin F. Wong, Tray Epps and Ben Robins, three emerging writers based in the UK, unpacking the uncensored realities of "making it" as a screenwriter in film and TV.

In our first episode, we're not only exploring who we are, but what it means to be "emerging" as a writer, and that immortal question of how we break in to a very closed-door industry. The everyday hustle of reaching out to agents and TV producers, entering competitions and schemes, and when we actually find time to write around our 9-5 "money jobs".

This is very much a safe space for writers and creators of all levels, to share, listen, learn (and often just complain) about our journeys as creatives in film and TV, so please do join us and send any thoughts, feelings or questions to theemergingpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com (maybe one day we'll have a Discord or something too, when there are enough of you...)

• Why we started Emerging
• Our experience with the New Writers Collective
• How we feel about agents (and getting one)
• Rejections, applications, and the hard truths of being a writer
• How Martin wrote a BBC Comedy Collective personal statement in 3 minutes
• Our weekly goals and creative accountability
• The importance of finding your community

• New Writers Collective – TV Foundation
• All3Media
• BBC Comedy Collective

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: @TheEmergingPod

Ben is @bmlrobins

Martin is @bananabreadfilm

Tray is @ByTrayepps

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.