Hart Hanson On Screenwriting Vs. Novel Writing ‹ CrimeReads

For me, the difference between writing for TV and writing books comes down to the difference between me and my father. Not in a Freudian sense - which applies to every writer in every discipline - but in the pursuit of my writing-as-sports-analogy as applicable to my early writing career when I had to choose between putting the bulk of my writing efforts into scripts or books.

My natural inclination (long distance swimmer) suggested books, but ... my wife, Brigitte, and I had a baby on the way and, in theory, script writing promised to generate income faster. So, I asked Dad what internal judo move he'd utilized on his team-player mentality that allowed him to triumph in a string of solo efforts to heroically win State.

Dad said, "Ah, it's all athletics. Just throw your body at it as hard as you can."