Why Social Media is Your New Agent (and Why You're Probably Doing It Wrong)

Advice from a TV writer/showrunner

Alright, let's talk about something a lot of you are probably scrolling through right now instead of writing:

social media.

For years, the traditional path to Hollywood involved getting an agent, getting reads, maybe winning a contest. And while those things still exist, the landscape has fundamentally changed.

Your phone, that little rectangle of distraction in your hand, can be your most powerful career tool if you stop using it just to watch cat videos and start thinking like a professional.

Social media is your new agent

Not literally, of course. You still need actual representation eventually. But it's your new way to get seen, to build a following, and to demonstrate that you actually have something to say, and can say it in a compelling way.

The problem is, most writers on social media are doing it wrong. They're either constantly pitching their script to anyone with a blue checkmark, or they're just posting generic "writing tips" they found somewhere else. That's not building a brand. That's just noise.

What Hollywood cares about, what anyone cares about, is value. What value are you providing? Are you entertaining people? Are you educating them? Are you making them think?

I started dipping my toe into social media a few years ago, mainly to share insights from my decades in the business. Not because I was trying to become an "influencer," but because I branching out from screenwriter to author/performer.

This was my way of letting the world know who I was, and frankly, a way to remind the industry that I'm still here, still working, and still have something to offer.

Did it work? My book, A Paper Orchestra, was named “Vulture’s Best Comedy Books of 2024” and an instant bestseller. And I’ll tell you who bought it.

You!

My followers on social media. I guarantee I would’ve only sold 100 copies without social media. All of them would’ve been to my mother.

I now tour with it as a solo show. I just performed 5 completely sold out shows at the Hollywood Fringe. I sign books after every performance and person after person says to me, “I follow you on social media. Thanks for what you do.”

I’m telling you, without social media I wouldn’t sell tickets.

I’m performing 7 shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August. I’ve already sold a ton of tickets, and I haven’t started advertising yet. These are people who found me on Instagram and TikTok!

Before social media, only people in Hollywood TV writing circles knew my name. Agents, executives, producers… those kinds of people.

But now I’m known in Scotland! It blows my mind.

You've got a miniature studio and distribution platform in your pocket. You can shoot a short, script a funny sketch, or just talk directly to an audience about your unique perspective. Not as a writer… but as an entertainer.

The barrier to entry to getting seen has never been lower. But that also means the quality bar for standing out is higher.

So, instead of just aimlessly scrolling or tweeting into the void, think: what's your voice? What's your niche? How can you genuinely engage with people who are interested in enjoying your work in the career you aspire to?

Don't be afraid to be authentic. Don't be afraid to show your work (when it's ready, of course – no half-baked nonsense)

The goal isn't to get a million followers overnight. The goal is to build a community, to show consistency, and to demonstrate that you're a serious writer who can connect with an audience. Because when you do that, the industry starts to notice. They're not looking for someone to "discover" anymore. They're looking for someone who's already putting in the work and proving they can attract eyeballs. So stop complaining about how hard it is to get noticed, and go use the tools you've got.

This should be empowering!

It means you don’t need an agent. You can stop begging people to make your career and make it yourself.

I know it’s hard. And I know it requires a lot of work. Believe me, I know. I put in the work every damn day.

But you can have excuses or you can have results.

You just can’t have both.