Writer’s Roundtable: Momentum, Storytelling and the Nonlinear Path

Alex George Pickering
May 30
2 min read

Updated: Jun 3

A reflection on my recent time as a panelist for the Writer’s Roundtable: Writing for Television and Film webinar for Georgetown University.

The panelists, from left to right: April Brassard, Alex George Pickering, Rasheed Newson and Alice O’Neil.

This past March, I was invited to participate as a panelist for the Writer’s Roundtable: Writing for Television and Film webinar through my undergraduate alma mater, Georgetown University, alongside fellow writers and industry professionals April Brassard, Rasheed Newson and Alice O’Neil. The event was organized by the Georgetown Alumni Association and Ava Koros.

The panel focused on a range of topics, including how we each found our path into the industry, navigating the nonlinear nature of creative careers, collaboration and the importance of continuing to create and build momentum through personal projects. We also discussed the current landscape of film and television and how writers can adapt in an evolving industry.

A Full Circle Moment

Returning to Georgetown in this capacity was especially meaningful. Like many creative careers, my path into writing wasn’t linear—it was built through curiosity, persistence and a genuine love of storytelling.

From making movies on a VHS camera as a kid, to experimenting creatively across campus, to building a professional career through collaboration and consistency, the throughline has always been simple: progress rarely happens all at once; it comes from showing up and doing the work.

When the Message Lands

One of the most meaningful parts of the experience came afterward. A viewer reached out and shared that something I said—“the inertia of making stuff causes more stuff to happen”—really stayed with her and reflected her own journey as a writer to her first published novel. It was incredibly moving to hear that something from the panel resonated in such a real and personal way.

"The inertia of making stuff causes more stuff to happen." - Alex George Pickering

As writers, we often work in isolation, unsure whether our words will resonate beyond the page. Moments like this are a reminder that they sometimes stay with people long after the conversation ends.

Featured by California Baptist University News

I was also incredibly moved to have been recognized by the university where I teach in the film program, California Baptist University, for my participation in the seminar: first by the CBU Family Newsletter and then by CAVAD News.