Who are you?

Georgia Lester – a 28-year-old writer based in north London.

What do you write?

Mostly drama. At times I attempt to make it funny, but I wouldn’t be so bold as to call it comedy. I started writing in my late teens and early twenties, so most of my work has focused on coming-of-age stories and teen series. However, as I get older, the stories I’m writing now tend to reflect more mature themes and I’m finding myself drawn to thrillers. I’m passionate about telling female-driven stories, and more often than not I’m drawn to typically ‘unlikeable’ characters. The challenge to redeem a character keeps me up at night, trying to create the most complex manifestation of evil and a way in which I can get an audience to empathise with them.

I love reading on my statement where in the world the shows are being watched, especially as the episodes aired so many years ago.

Do you have a ‘day’ job?

I’m incredibly fortunate enough that writing is and has always been my full-time job. Yet, it translates in many different ways; in the past I have worked on both drama and soap, spending my days in ‘writersrooms’ and story conferences. At this moment in my career every day is different, which is exciting; I have solitary (and lonely) days at my desk working on my own ideas, both for TV and film, I enjoy collaborating in ‘writersrooms’ for developing series and I am also a consultant story producer on a reality TV series, which gives me enough social contact and structure to keep me sane.

How useful do you find social media and/or blogging?

It is a writer’s best friend and worst enemy. I can spend hours scrolling through Twitter and falling into clickbait holes when I’m meant to be writing. More often than not, the articles I’m reading are trashy and uninformative, I’m just looking for any distraction. But, it can also be comforting, informative and inspiring, especially when I’m going through a period of working by myself. BUT I never communicate with people on social media – I’m a writer, which means I obsess over words and sentences for hours… I don’t have time to do that every time I have the urge to tweet… so I just don’t.

How long have you been an ALCS member and how did you hear about us?

I have been a member of ALCS since I started writing about ten years ago and was encouraged to join by my agent.

For what sort of uses of your work do you receive royalties from ALCS?

I have worked on teen dramas Skins, Hollyoaks and Youngers and receive royalties for these credits, the amount varies from year to year. I love reading on my statement where in the world the shows are being watched, especially as the episodes aired so many years ago.

My ALCS payments have been incredibly helpful over the years, especially when I’ve been focusing on developing my own original ideas

Which is your most surprising source of ALCS income?

A few years ago, Skins was broadcast overseas and the money I received from that was really surprising… and very welcome.

Which is your highest-earning work from ALCS income?

I don’t know – I just look at the final amount and breathe a sigh of relief that I can pay my rent or excitedly start thinking about what unnecessary thing I can treat myself to.

How important are your ALCS payments to you as a writer?

Very important! My ALCS payments have been incredibly helpful over the years, especially when I’ve been focusing on developing my own original ideas and have not been working as much on paid projects. There have been years I’ve been obsessively checking the site waiting for my statement to be uploaded. However because I never know how much I’m going to receive, I can’t depend on it as a source of income. Instead it is a nice surprise and, depending on the amount, allows me to reconsider my workload in the following months.

Are you aware of any potential threats to your ALCS income?

Not really, but having heard about the issues writers are having in the US regarding royalties, in terms of streaming, I imagine I should start being more aware of how royalties and rights are changing.

… stay inspired, keep working, be open to trying new things with new collaborators and don’t hate yourself if you spend a week on the sofa binge-watching The West Wing.

What does the future hold for you as a writer?

Honestly – who knows!? I’m just going to keep working hard and hope for the best. In the past I’ve tried to make career plans but everything changes so quickly that nothing ever works out like I expected. Shows can fall through at the last minute, a random drink in the pub with a friend of a friend in the ‘industry’ can become the chance to create something new and exciting. I think the best way to cope with the instability of screenwriting is to accept it… stay inspired, keep working, be open to trying new things with new collaborators and don’t hate yourself if you spend a week on the sofa binge-watching The West Wing.

GEORGIA LESTER is a screenwriter and consultant story producer. Her credits include Skins, Hollyoaks, Youngers, Taking New York and The Only Way is Essex. Her first feature script won the Bafta Rocliffe Film Forum Competition in December 2015. Georgia is represented by Julia Tyrrell at Julia Tyrrell Management.