11 TV Show Characters That Secretly Inspired Your Writing Career 👀

Since the very first television show that broadcasted in 1928, it's safe to say that fictional TV characters have been highly influential in shaping our real lives, impacting everything from the way we dress to the cities we live in, to maybe even the careers we choose. So in this video, I'm going to cover some of TV's most iconic fictional characters that just may have inspired your career as a writer. Stay tuned. Hey posse, what's up? It's Alex. If you're new to the crew, welcome. Right here on my channel you'll find tons of in depth tutorials, copy critiques, practical tips and exercises that you can use to ignite your online business. And of course, I love to do some just for fun videos like this one for good measure. So if you haven't already, be sure to hit that subscribe button below. And don't forget to tap that bell to be notified when my next video goes live. Now, I am very excited about this video because a TV character really did inspire my career as a writer and I didn't even know it. Well, not until much, much later in my life, that is. So if you want to find out where my personal career inspo came from, then you'll have to stick around to the end of this video because of course, I saved the best one for last. And if you have a guess as to who it might be, then go ahead and leave a comment below. Now, the thing about our favorite characters, whether they're from TV shows, movies or books, is that they tend to leave a lasting impression on us on subconscious level. In fact, psychologists have actually studied this phenomenon and have discovered that while reading a book or watching a story, people are prone to subconsciously adopt the behavior, thoughts, beliefs and internal responses to that of fictional characters as if they were their own. Kind of crazy, right? When we're enthralled with a character and their life, we're able to see glimpses of a career, a lifestyle, or even personality traits that we admire and want to model. So. So even fictional TV characters can expand our horizons, show us what's possible, and most importantly, provide us with an outlet to dream, imagine and plan what we want our own lives to look like. Now, before we get into the list, I want to pay honorable mention to two iconic TV characters that didn't quite make the list because, well, most people don't even actually know that their characters were writers, but they are so iconic that I just couldn't not mention them here. So here they are. The first is Chandler Bing from Friends, probably my Favorite Friends character and Elaine from Seinfeld. Yes, they were both copywriters at one point during these sitcom shows. Seriously, how cool is that? Alright, now, with that out of the way, let's count down 11 iconic characters that just might have inspired your love for writing. 11. Ken Cosgrove from Mad Men. So a show that probably every copywriter has seen or at least is familiar with. Mad Men. Now, of course, one could argue that this entire show really sparked a generation of creators who who became interested in writing ads and selling products, but we really should highlight one character in particular, and that is Ken Cosgrove. Ken stands out from the other characters on the show because he loves writing so much that he's an ad account exec by day and a sci fi writer by night. So when his bosses in the advertising firm object to this late night habit, he starts writing under the pseudonyms Ben Hargrove and Dave Algonquin. Now that is a man who loves to write. What would your pen name pseudonym be if you were an author? Comment below and let me know. Now number 10 on the list is Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote. Well, before true crime podcast captured the attention of history buffs and armchair detectives, there was Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote, a substitute English teacher turned bestselling murder mystery novelist and amateur detective after retirement. Yeah, she gave all of us wannabe novelists hope that you're never too old to pursue your dreams and live a tantalizing life of mystery. And number nine, Rory Gilmore from the Gilmore Girls. So all my millennial writers who grew up in the early 2000s probably looked up to this character at one point or another. Rory Gilmore was the perfect grade getting, book obsessed, copy loving journalist who could take an assignment about the repaving of a school parking lot and turn it into a bittersweet piece on how everybody and everything eventually becomes obsolete in the words of her teacher on the show. So she gave all of us word nerds hope that being nerdy and loving words was actually a thing that not everyone thought was a meaningless career choice. Yay. Number eight on my list is Hannah Horvath from Girls. Hannah Horvath was one of those TV characters that you just couldn't help but love. And even though we could never really be sure if she was actually any good at her writing career, her relentless love and pursuit of writing definitely showed us that if you're passionate about something and if you keep practicing and if you never really give up, then you can find success in both big and small ways. Number seven on the list Liz Lemon from 30 Rock. Alright, so here's one that most hard working writers could definitely identify with. Liz Lemon from 30 Rock was a head writer of a TV show who definitely, definitely did not over glamorize the life of a writer. In fact, some might argue that she perfectly represented how most overworked corporate writers feel, think and behave. She was sassy, bold and anything but cliche. Number six is Lois Lane from Lois and the New Adventures of Superman. I mean, who did not look up to and secretly idolize this award winning reporter for a major metropolitan newspaper who just happened to be married to Superman? Lois Lane was a woman working in a man's world. She was dedicated to uncovering the truth, discovering new things, and most importantly, telling a Damn good story. 5. Jane Gloriana Villanueva from Jane the Virgin. So setting the ridiculous title and outlandish plot aside, the Jane the Virgin was actually a very inspiring and motivating TV show for anyone with dreams of one day becoming a writer. Jane had dreams of becoming a successful writer and throughout the series you really watch her struggle with those feelings of self doubt and fear of failure which are feelings that all writers are all too familiar with. But in the end, of course you watch as she makes her dreams come true, even publishing her own novel. Number four is Rob Petrie from the Dick Van Dyke Show. I mean, come on, how many comedic writers did the Dick Van Dyke show inspire? Dick Van Dyke played the main character, Rob Petrie, who was the head writer for a successful TV comedy show. But like all writers, what he really wanted to do was, you guessed it, write a novel. Number three is Khadijah James from Living Single. So who remembers this 90s show? Khadijah James was a young writer trying to make it in the big world. And I mean, she had like the best job ever. She was owner and editor in chief of a magazine, meeting celebrities and attending fancy events. What young writer doesn't dream of a life like that? She was an icon to us wannabe writers because she showed us that hustle and dedication really pay off. Number two on my list is Peggy Olson from Mad Men. You know, I wasn't going to talk about Mad Men without mentioning the iconic Peggy Olsen, secretary turned copywriter turned copy chief. In a time when men dominated the industry and women had to fight for recognition, Peggy really showed us what talent, hard work and speaking your truth can do. And lastly, number one on my list, the character who single handedly inspired my own love of writing and planted that idea in my brain that I could actually work from home on and get paid for it. Did you guess it? It's number one. Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. Alright now I admit when I look back on this series, I see it for what it was. A totally unrealistic portrayal of a journalist's life in the Big Apple. I mean, come on, living in that apartment, buying those shoes and having that closet with a once a week sex column? Probably not very realistic. But hey, that's why they call it fiction. And before I knew better, watching Carrie live her lavish lifestyle in NYC was the stuff my dreams were made of. And I am sure I am not the only one. Now it goes without saying that there were and are still tons of TV characters who inspire me and have influenced generations of writers. So I'm curious to know who was your biggest TV inspiration. Let me know in the comments below and I will see you next week with a brand new tutorial. Until then, I'm Alex. Ciao for now. Alright guys, if you enjoyed that video, make sure to check out the next one from me right here. And you can click right here to get a free gift. Wait, can you actually become a better writer just by binge watching your favorite Netflix shows? Yep. Here's how.