THE SCRIBBLERS TOOLBOX
"An ever-expanding collection of tips, tools, observations, and topical ephemera for my fellow scribblers to peruse, apply, disseminate, or disregard."
Jesse Alexander

Beginner’s Brain
Have you ever felt that rush of excitement when you find yourself in an unfamiliar place? That vibe is called the "Beginner's Brain" – a state where everything feels new and your creative instincts get a boost.

Dressing The Part
Clothing is more than fabric—it's a catalyst for creativity and a statement of personal and artistic identity.

The Complexity Curse strikes again!
Complexity theory, which studies how components within systems interact to create the whole, can offer relevant insights for scribblers in need of managing unwieldy narratives.

Project Planning
When planning a creative project, such as writing a screenplay, book, developing a game, or starting a business, first principles thinking can help ensure the viability of your endeavor.

Extraordinary Worlds of Ordinary Empathy
By reflecting the ordinary world through relatable characters and relationships, sci-fi, and fantasy scribblers can create narratives that resonate deeply.

Is toxic fandom inevitable?
Fandom is not inevitably toxic. But handling feedback, both positive and negative, from a large and vocal online fanbase is a nuanced challenge.

I am Nerd! Creator of worlds!
Whether you’re crafting a new show, game, or movie, the more thought you can apply to the consistency of your make-believe world, the better.

Opposing Emotions
Love versus hate, fear versus courage, and truth versus deceit are some of the emotional dichotomies scribblers use to craft compelling stories.

The Scribbler’s Snowflake
The Snowflake Method, developed by novelist and screenwriter Randy Ingermanson, offers a structured yet creative approach to streamline your process, from crafting a compelling one-sentence summary to expanding your story into a multi-page synopsis.

Scribbling Age
Change is inevitable. Consider your writing goals, deadlines, and lifestyle constraints when designing your ideal writing routine. Flexibility and adaptability are keys to successful writing at all stages of life.

Robert Mckee, screen story OG!
Back in the day, any aspiring screenwriter looking to craft work that would captivate audiences and sell for millions of dollars on the spec market needed to hear what Robert Mckee had to say about storytelling.

Two if by pen, one if by key.
The debate of longhand versus the keyboard is more than a choice between ink and digital; each method shapes our scribbling.

All aboard the ADHD hype train!
There's a set of personality traits that come with ADHD that I didn’t understand at the time, but in hindsight, supercharged my scribbling career.

My Hollywood Superpower
ADHD brains are wired to think outside the box, make unconventional connections, and thrive in fast-paced, dynamic environments—valuable qualities in the world of storytelling and creativity.

Difficult Conversations
Drama and conflict are the bread and butter of our trade, but today, on the toolbox, we’re looking at ways to limit both.

The Art of Grokking
To grok is to understand something so profoundly that it becomes a part of you. It's not just about grasping facts or details; it's about experiencing the subject matter on a visceral level.

Showrunner 101
Running a TV series doesn’t come naturally to most introverted scribblers. An excellent resource for me has been the work of Ryan Holiday. In his explorations of leadership, Ryan lays down principles applicable to the world of TV as much as any other field.

Media Training for Scribblers?
Since the days of Orson Welles promoting “Citizen Kane,” media training has been essential for anyone who finds themselves in the spotlight.

Scribblers Anonymous
The principles of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are designed to help people manage addiction, but its core tenets can be adapted to address other life-destroying challenges like — WRITERS BLOCK.

Panel, Proscenium, and Projector
Writing across different mediums like movie screenplays, theatrical plays, and graphic novels requires understanding the unique characteristics and constraints of each form.