Andrea Compton, soap writing vet, dished on a host of topics from her daytime writing career.
Daytime Emmy and Writer’s Guild Accolades
Compton was part of the General Hospital directing team that won in 2012 for the episode that featured Luke Spencer’s (Tony Geary) alcohol intervention. “The work that went into that episode made it one of the proudest moments of my life,” she says. Compton also won a 2017 Writer’s Guild Award for General Hospital. “It’s a wonderful feeling to be part of an amazing team,” Compton told Daytime Indulgence. Her tenure as a writer at GH ended last year.
Sound Advice for Soap Writer Neophytes
She has some solid advice for aspiring writers out there. “Write what you know. Everyone has happiness, sadness. You can use these as a basis for a character. And just have fun doing it.”
She also says that for those wanting to write for a show, internships are a great way to start the ball rolling. “Every show has different processes. I started with an internship at Days and was lucky enough to be mentored while there.”
Soaps’ Significance
“Soaps are quite viable because they are such a part of our culture. They are not only an hour or so of escapism but also chances to be informative and talk to people about real life situations” by the stories they present.
Future Plans
“I’ve moved up to the Pacific Northwest. Up here, the main focus is on technology, gaming and sports entertainment so my main focus will be on those. For example, in gaming it’s possible to write an accompanying story. It’s so important not to close yourself off. I am open to all possibilities for my next step.”
Some Context on Compton
Andrea Archer Compton, has served as production coordinator, writer’s assistant, and writer for Days of Our Lives, Port Charles and General Hospital. Compton is an Alabama native who majored in Mass Communications at Auburn University.
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