Real Life, Great Stories

“The best stories come from real life.” – Diane English

Born in Buffalo, NY, on this date in 1948, English is a screenwriter, producer and director, best known for creating the television show Murphy Brown and writing and directing the 2008 feature film The Women.

After studying communications at Buffalo State University, English began her career at WNET, the PBS affiliate in New York City, working first as a story editor for The Theatre in America series, and then as associate director of TV Lab.  From 1977 to 1980, she wrote a monthly column on television for Vogue magazine.

Among the many awards she has earned over the past 30 years are 3 Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for her television work,  and “The Women in Film’s” Crystal Award (it’s most prestigious), for her work on The Women.    

                                                                     Her advice to writers trying to break into the market is succinct.  “You have to be creative. It's the basics. You can't be Picasso unless you know how to draw a real face.  (After that) you can turn it upside down.”

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