This Netflix original series took over the #1 spot (beating Wednesday) and we can see why.
The suspense.
The drama.
The secrets.
Let’s talk about what we can learn, as writers, marketers, and brand alchemists…
From Ginny and Georgia (G&G), a Netflix original.
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*This contains spoilers if you haven’t watched Ginny and Georgia.
If you haven’t watched the first season AND season two trailer…
Read at your own risk.*
I am also going to be discussing the first episode of season 2, but no real spoilers (imo).
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I. Am. OBSESSED. with this mother. freaking. SHOW.
Whenever I come across something that makes me truly feel-like I can’t look away, don’t even want to blink, entirely STUCK in the moment deeply F E E L.
So, here are my takeaway noted from Sarah Lampert (screenwriter of G&G) on how we, as writers, can improve our crafts if we start writing like G&G characters act.
I forget, occasionally, that all shows, movies, and entertainment ALL started out as the same exact thing:
A story that HAD to be written.
(If that’s not inspiring, what gives, right!?)
In 2023, I’m studying more of my favorite shows and less marketing books written by old white men that want their great grandsons continuing their 1997 beliefs.
Between Breakthrough Advertising, Made to Stick, and $100M Offer, we’re taught to ‘pull-one-over’on our new, existing, and future communities through psychology and pain points rather than carrying humans through storylines, developments, and scenery.
INSERT: Ginny and Georgia, written by Sarah Lampert and produced by Claire Welland.
Lampert keeps us fully involved, enthralled, and addicted without tricking us–
And we should do the same as copywriter, content writers, and marketers.
Here’s What I Learned from Ginny and Georgia
1. THESE CHARACTERS My gooooshhhhhh.
How are you building out your characters (the audience)?
When we’re writing, we have to remember that our readers don’t know who we’re talking about until we TELL them who we’re talking about.
The more we can build a character, the more our readers can relate.
The more they relate, the deeper they’re invested.
We could do a whole synopsis on each character and how their lines DIRECTLY feed into their personalities so flawlessly–
But that’s a given.
This isn’t specific to fiction, either.
Are you more tempted to read a non-fiction scholarly article with no character developments, or a nicely written non-fiction novel that takes you through the MC’s journey–the good, the bad, and the ugly?
I just want to look at a couple of characters for the point of this..point:
- Georgia Miller
It’s probably just because I’m from Georgia and while I don’t think my accent is as thick as Georgia’s…it is typically the first thing people comment on after meeting me.
(Lmao @ the fact that I’m going line dancing tonight, too.)
Regardless–Georgia is a pure light with a big heart and the ability to do absolutely whatever it takes to take care of the people she loves…and I love her for that.
Some characteristics I think make Georgia, Georgia:
Her accent. I mean, DUH.
But that accent is KNOWN to be ‘bless your heart’ southern belle…
And also trailer park princess.
Farmhouse style.
Again with the southern hospitality, her house looks like Rae Dunn ‘done did it.
+ She’s also always in the cutest little outfit–
Whether she’s dropping Austin off at school or headed to a fundraiser,
Georgia looks PHE NO MEN AL.
The style I WISH I had…
But I just can’t bring myself to care that much.
Job in politics.
Georgia can spin, manipulate, or convince her way into winning EVERYthing.
Moral? Idk.
Do I love it? Yes.
What BETTER job for her than politics!?
Go where you excel.
- Marcus Baker
Sheesh. What a heartthrob, right?
(And it’s not weird because Felix Mallard is actually 24 so GOMD.)
The toxic AF bad guy.
The ‘I’m too cool for school and deffff too cool for a relationship’ guy EVERY 15yo girl’s hormones go C R A Z Y over.
Some characteristics I think make Marcus, Marcus:
The bike.
OF COURSE he drives a bike, yanno?
Like he couldn’t be such a badass if he always pulled up in a subaru, could he??
Oh, and let us not forget his dramatic exit of a night just to crash tf out of it.
Bad. Boy.
His twin.
Maxine deserves her own analysis, Misses THEATRICS…
But she does a lot to make Marcus as mysterious, clueless, and forgiving as he is.
She is everything he’s not, which makes him look THAT MUCH MORE everything he is.
Note from this: If we can show the opposite, it hits twice as hard.
His soft, forgiving tone.
At first, he feels like just a player.
But the more we learn about him…
He’s just a broken teen, learning how much life really sucks sometimes…
And how beautiful chapters come around again–Like Ginny.
(Ya know, AFTER she stopped cheating on Tyler, of course.)
He’s SO there for Ginny, even though he has no clue what he’s doing.
And, all I’ll say is that Season 2 Marcus feels so…so unequivocally safe.
That innocent, dreamy bad guy with a ‘i wanna be a lot harder than i am’ vibe.
If you want a fun exercise, choose a different character and find their top 3 things that make them, them.
Then, identify YOUR characters (audience), and the 3 things that make them, them!
(And I’d love to see your answers if you’d want to share.)
As a writer, it is your job to give the reader/reciever ALL of the context they need to hate, love, and empathize with your characters (even if the character is them).
Talk about your MC’s day-to-day reality, dream goals, and master plans to get there.
Tell us about the jewelry they wear, food they eat, and everything that keeps them up at night.
You’ll have us hooked after every line, segment, and page.
2. Words aren’t everything, but they make up all of it.
Words are THE MOST important part of any
- Story
- Launch
- Campaign
Because when/if we say & use just the right colors, sounds, and POVs-
Everything is incredibly more intense…dramatic…and feel-able.
For example, if I say,
“I took a sip of coffee,”
You probably feel a bit less than when I tell you:
While the rain poured off our gutters and the naked trees that lined our dead yard, I took a sip of my black peppermint coffee and, while burning my tongue with the type of pain that makes life feel a little more real, I thought to myself…‘how the fuck did she find that out?’
There was more of a picture, huh?
Now, imagine there was a wide shot with a blue overcast of my kitchen, with me standing there with coffee, looking out the window. It closes in on my face while I sip my coffee, then dropping the mug into the sink while burning my tongue. It pans out as I think ‘how…’.
In G&G, it’s easier to grab context with the colors they use, music included in various moments, and even the facial expressions of the OUTSTANDING actors and actresses.
With writing, you have to explain a little more because you’re making the story everything it is–without all the extra visuals and audio.
More context = more grip. (But don’t overdo it…slippery slope, I know.)
Part of copywriting is shrinking the text, only using what’s vital to the story.
If you want to write better, write longer on your first draft.
Don’t hold out…
And then edit with a fine-toothed comb, only keeping what pulls your reader directly into the story, and makes them utterly upset when it’s over.
3. Secrets make money.
Georgia has made her fair share of mistakes, and she keeps them hidden from nearly everyone except us (the audience).
She’s killed ex-abusers, regularly commits fraud, and confidently lies her way through any inconvenience.
And we know every detail.
When your readers and audience feel like they’re in on something everyone else (or the other characters) isn’t/aren’t in on, they feel lucky.
Ahead of the curve.
We can see this in almost every one of Ginny’s important relationships in G&G.
Ginny has at least one secret with all of the following characters at some point:
- Georgia
- Zion
- Austin
- Marcus
- Abby
- Maxine
- Padma
- The Law
- Herself
Each secret makes that relationship SO MUCH MORE important…
And it leaves us SO MUCH MORE invested.
Now, I’m not recommending you keep a secret from your readers, audience, or clients. What I am suggesting, though, is to bring your readers INTO the secret with you.
One way to do this is through your headlines. Some examples could be:
- 3 Exercises Your Physical Therapist Isn’t Showing You
- My Secret to 10k Months as a Freelance Writer
- 5 Copywriting Hacks Your VA Doesn’t Know About
These evoke those, “Ooooo. I know something they don’t know,” vibes!
Just remember, you HAVE to keep your reader/audience IN on the secret…
Or they’ll feel outcast and you’ll have missed the mark.
(Imagine if we didn’t see snippets of Ginny, Georgia, and Austin’s pasts…none of it. How would you see them differently? Would you be as committed to the show?)
Are You Ready to Write Like a Storyteller, NOT an Expert Marketer?
You don’t have to be signing 5k projects to start becoming a better writer.
Ingest content you love-
And STUDY it.
What is doing for you?
Why are you drawn to it?
How are you attached?
What are you waiting to see?
How do you feel?
Figure out how you’re entertained and you’ll learn how to capture millions of people’s attention.
Writing Tips from Ginny and Georgia Summary
If you want to learn how to become a better writer, just look at around at what your intentionally and unintentionally consuming.
Movies, shows, books, ads, and social media continue to give you endless opportunities to write quicker, better, and more efficiently.
This article is only one example of pulling lessons from our favorite outlets!
Ginny & Georgia shows us the importance of character development, descriptions, tone, scene-setting, and the secret to secrets.
If you carry even one of these suggestions into your next writing session, I bet you’ll feel pleasantly surprised at your results!
What show should I analyze next?