Producer Mona Garcea's Tips for Breaking into TV Writing
April 3, 2025
Film and television can have a big influence on so many people, especially for creatives. A TV show, movie, song, painting or other artwork can spark a passion that leads to a lifelong career pursuit.
For Head of Development and Production at After January Productions (Night Court) Mona Garcea, it was television that impacted her life, and not just when it came to choosing her career. Garcea moved to the U.S. from Romania when she was eleven and learned English by watching sitcoms.
“I remember watching I Love Lucy and Carol Burnett when I was in Romania. My dad and I would laugh and we didn’t speak English, so we didn’t understand the dialogue, but the comedy was so strong that it translated all the language barriers.”
These shows inspired her to pursue a career in entertainment, but she wasn’t sure in what direction. With a theater degree, she came to LA for acting. After quickly landing a guest starring role, she found it hard to lock down her next role. This took Garcea to work as a PA and other assistant work. When she landed a job as assistant to famed TV creator Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory), she was quickly promoted to coordinating producer. That is where she created her own path, and home, in entertainment.
With years of working with TV writers as a non-writing producer, Garcea shared her experiences and advice for how writers can grow and shine in this industry.
Discovering New Writers
It’s a hustle to find new voices. Garcea gets a lot of assistance from agents and managers. She explained:
“They’re amazing and they kind of know my sensibility. When I don’t have a show on the air, I literally reach out. I have a monthly reach out like, okay, who do you have now? Who do you want me to meet? I’ve been doing that for years now and I think it’s important to do that.”
Garcea reads hundreds of writers. Those scripts that catch her attention get their writers put on a list of those to watch. There are different lists depending on where the writer is at in their career and development.
“One level is people that have fresh new voices or a point of view that I haven’t seen or heard.”
These writers tend to not yet have a lot of experience. They take chances when it comes to their writing, and that’s what grabs Garcea’s attention. With the way the marketplace is, she wouldn’t be able to sell a newer writer’s project, but she does keep tabs and see where a writer goes.
“Then the staffing/development list, that’s different. It’s people that I want to work with.”
The staffing list blends with Garcea’s development approach of having favorite writers she keeps eyes on and a philosophy that if she runs into some IP or a script from an unseasoned writer, she could potentially marry that less experienced writer with a veteran.
Read More: 5 Ways To Get Your Screenplay Read
Have Patience
The road for writers isn’t necessarily a quick one. You can have an amazing meeting with a producer or exec, but the timing might not be right. They don’t have a project that fits your style or genre, or the position they have is for a different level writer. Garcea detailed:
“Most of the time it doesn’t happen right away. It’s kind of like casting too, I discovered with my actor friends. They get so upset when they don’t get a role. I’m like, don’t worry about it. That casting director will remember you. I promise you in a couple of years or a couple of months or tomorrow. You just don’t know. We always remember good quality work.”
Something else for writers to keep in mind is that although it may take a while at times for your script to get read, this can be to your benefit. If she’s in a rush and buried in a project, Garcea will set scripts aside for a time when she has a clearer head and can focus on what she’s reading.
The First Ten Pages
The first ten pages are immensely important when getting read. Garcea stressed:
“The first 10 pages matter, because if you have me engaged, I’ll either be like, okay, I’m sold. But even if I’m not sold, I want to read more. There’s my little notes on the side for each writer. I remember the other day I looked at one because I got a submission for her and I looked and I said, great writer, wanted to keep reading. It means I didn’t have time to finish reading, but I wanted to, which in my head I’m like, sold.”
What makes these first pages stand out?
“Anything that gives that world color. Anything that describes the world in such a beautiful, vivid way that you can’t take your eye off the page. And sometimes it’s just like dialogue is really important. One of the things that I learned from Chuck Lorre is you show, you don’t tell. So the dialogue, if in the first page, there’s a lot of stuff that’s happening, instead of talking about it, describe the character. Do something that really shows who that character is. That is everything. It’s undeniable.”
How can you make sure your first ten pages pop? Garcea recommended:
“Go back to those first 10 pages. If you haven’t read it in a couple of months, go back over it or give it to a friend and just say, ‘Will you just read the first 10?’ Most people don’t want to read your script, but if you just ask for the first 10 they’ll do it.”
How To Nail General Meetings
When it comes to generals, Garcea often sees nerves in writers and writers who get closed off. This creates a distance in getting to know who you are not just as a writer, but as a person. Being open to sharing about yourself is essential to making a personal connection. Garcea conveyed:
“I think maybe we’re trained to not do that, like I’m not gonna talk about me. I’m gonna talk about my writing and everything serious, and it’s just like say, I’m really tired and I had to make dinner before this call and I burned it. That just makes you a real person.”
She added:
“Personal stories always excite me and I try to get it out of them because I’ll be like, hey, what’s in the background? Or if there’s a cat or someone walking in the back, I’m like, who’s that? And then they come to life.”
Part of building success whether in meetings or with collaboration is being yourself. It can be hard because the stakes seem so high. Garcea noted:
“You have to realize that stakes are really never that high, if you’re meant to be somewhere, if you’re meant to write something, they’re gonna see it right away.”
Execs are on your side, they want you to succeed. Garcea reminded:
“Leave the fear off that Zoom, you can return to the fear later. But once you’re on that Zoom or in that meeting, leave it out and just be yourself. Don’t be afraid to be real and have good life stories and live life and bring those to the table. And then when it comes to writing, bring your life to that writing.”
She further elaborated:
“Bring all of you to the table and do that in meetings too and you’re going to be memorable.”
Read More: Oscar Nominated Screenwriter Allison Schroeder on Mining Your Life Experiences
The Ever-Evolving Industry
The entertainment industry is always changing. What’s in demand at one point can easily shift to something else. As a development executive, where does Garcea see the industry heading:
“I think we have to get used to a new way of operating which is a lot leaner and meaner where I think the writing will take first place. The writing and the acting has to be so great, because none of the fancy stuff, you know, the helicopters on Succession. No one’s gonna afford all those helicopters.”
What grabs Garcea’s interest moving forward?
“I’m always looking at content that can be shot on a leaner side which is character-based and simple sets, kind of going back to the basics. I think the biggest mistake we can make is to think that the old times are gonna come back. That’s why I always encourage writers, and especially producers, let’s try to think outside the box.”
Follow Your Passion
There’s a common saying to write what you know. Garcea advised:
“Write what you’re passionate about, from your heart, from your experience, from real life. Live life and write about it. And then things will happen. In the beginning stages, give yourself room to grow and take chances and be fun, because that’s gonna come across and when someone reads you, they will remember you.”
Ultimately, keep working toward your goals as a writer.
“If it feels like this is part of your journey, it’s on the blueprint of your life, don’t give up.”
Read More: Writing Motivation: Tips From Pro Screenwriters
