by Susie Lacey, Associate Editor, Ladies Who Launch

I always thought of screenwriting as a career fraught with favoritism, effort without payoff, and grueling hours locked in the writer’s room. TV sitcom writer Ali Rushfield tells me this isn’t true. Talent talks, apparently, as does the determination not to give up.

Gifted from the get-go, Ali had a particular flair for writing witty dialogue that was noticed when she was only in high school by Mel Brooks. Kudos from this king of comedy was just the beginning. Today Ali’s sitcom credits include “What I Like About You” starring Amanda Bynes, “Pool Guys,” and most recently “Help Me Help You” starring Ted Danson. Here’s her advice on getting started in this industry …

Q: How did you get your foot in the door?

A: “I went to the American Film Institute and my writing partner, Jenni Konner, worked at Tribeca Films in New York. We pitched a script idea to a friend of hers at William Morris. He offered to represent us if we wrote it. We did, and he did. Part of it was good timing, but part of it was that we really did have a good idea.”

Q: For someone without an inside connection, what’s the first step?

A: “The first step, after coming up with a great piece of material, is getting an agent to represent you. It’s very difficult to get work without an agent. And it’s almost impossible to pitch to a TV network without one.”

Q: Do you need any credentials?

A: “No, other than general enthusiasm and determination. Sometimes it’s a good idea to get a job outside the film business and spend time working on your own stuff. Being a film production assistant when you want to be a writer isn’t a particularly helpful career step. Writing a lot and working on developing your own voice is what will help you the most.”

Q: How would someone who didn’t already know an agent get one?

A: “Approach agents with ideas you think are great and not what you think other people want from you. There is no reason to try to figure out what the current trends are in TV. The best thing to do is to create a show that you would watch. Being truthful and authentic is the way to go.”

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