Howdy! I'm returning to PAX Unplugged in a little over a month with 4 game designs ready to pitch. One is a co-design with my buddy Gabe Godoi. We became design buddies last year, and we are excited to unleash our latest concoction on Philadelphia. Gabe and I are both signed with Skybound with as-yet-unannounced … Continue reading Heading to PAXU ’23
Blog
Words With Friends
I'm not done with writing. A bold claim, coming from the guy who hasn't touched his new novel in over five months. On the contrary, my writing partner Aaron and I are still puttering away on our TV show. Someday we will shoot the pilot. Three other WIPs sit in my Drive, festering. Words are … Continue reading Words With Friends
Planting a PRETTY FLOWER
I am now querying my sci-fi comedy, PRETTY FLOWER. It's taken two years to reach this point. My last manuscript was 'done' in half a year. Why has this project taken so long? Was it worth it?I've heard before that the second book is always harder. I gave myself a big challenge here, stylistically, and … Continue reading Planting a PRETTY FLOWER
Karen Myna Cantor’s THE GARDEN AT THE END OF THE WORLD
Dear Agent, If you’re reading this in 2021, chances are you Googled ‘Karen Myna Cantor author’. If you’re seeing this post after 2021, then you’re probably kicking yourself for not repping Karen’s book. Last week, Karen and I wrapped our critique partner swap. She’s fun to work with, professional in her communication, and full of … Continue reading Karen Myna Cantor’s THE GARDEN AT THE END OF THE WORLD
In Memoriam
An unexpected axiom about performing improv is that the more you do it, the less you remember. People in the audience would ask me the following day about specific scenes from a show, and all I’d have to offer is vibes and questions. Like, ‘yeah, that was cool’, and, ‘remind me what happened?’ It could … Continue reading In Memoriam
Movies For Writers – 20XX Edition
I am a slow reader. While most writers learn their craft by constantly devouring books, I plod along. Fortunately, I can watch movies as fast as anyone. While my reading habits have taken a hit at different times in my life, movie watching is a near constant. Movies have been one of the most influential … Continue reading Movies For Writers – 20XX Edition
Dealbreakers
It is tempting as a fledgling artist without an audience, representation, or a publisher to hide my politics from the public. An inoffensive facade works for many young artists who want to build a following in our polarized world. On the other hand, I've never shied from tackling sensitive politics in improv performances, and I … Continue reading Dealbreakers
Mental Health Toolbox for Fiction Characters
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in this post I'm going to unpack some beats/themes that can help writers portray mental illness authentically in their stories. I am not a medical professional, or an expert reader in this area—I don't seek out books that tackle mental illness, and this post isn't meant as a … Continue reading Mental Health Toolbox for Fiction Characters
On The Benefits of a Lack of Explanation
Last night I finally watched It Comes At Night, an apocalyptic horror about the lengths a family will go to survive together. The story is hyper-focused on that premise. For example, the cause of the apocalypse remains mysterious—an inexplicable illness that we perceive through symptoms and the characters’ fearful behavior, never through an origin, or … Continue reading On The Benefits of a Lack of Explanation
Book Inspirations! #2 Do The White Thing
Part One: The Chosen Spot Upstate, NY is odd. As a community, we're more Southern than many parts of the modern South. Conservative, outdoorsy, and prone to regretful displays of the Confederate flag. On the other hand, we are brittle from icy winters; we are viciously passive-aggressive. Our small towns are largely White and WASPy. … Continue reading Book Inspirations! #2 Do The White Thing
Phil Gross, Author 