Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Loy Webb. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Loy, thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

The principle that guided me in making a full-time living from my creative work was articulated by actor Denzel Washington: “Do what you have to do, to be able to do what you want to do.” From an early age, I knew I wanted to be a writer, but I also understood that one doesn’t simply wake up one day and start making a living as a writer.

After graduating from law school, my dream of becoming a writer did not fade. Instead of seeking high-paying jobs at big firms like my colleagues, I established a straightforward goal: Find a job that would pay enough to support myself, while also allowing ample time to write. Many of my law school peers thought I was crazy, but I had a plan. I was determined not to become a lawyer; writing was my true calling, and I had to stay focused on that.

I applied for jobs based on two criteria: Sufficient pay and flexible hours. Eventually, I found a position where I worked from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. It turned out to be the perfect fit, allowing me to work during the day and write in the evenings. I was following Denzel’s advice—”Doing what I had to do, to be able to do what I wanted to do.”

During my time at that job, I received a writing fellowship that enabled me to develop a play. This play gained traction and made its way to an Off-Broadway theater in New York. From that point on, opportunities opened for me in television writing, and I have been working in that field full-time for nearly six years now.

I often see creatives make one of two decisions: They either abandon their dreams entirely because their 9-to-5 jobs consume them, or they believe that working a 9-to-5 means they are somehow failing at their art. I have learned that it is entirely possible to strike a perfect balance between both pursuits until you can eventually pursue your passion full-time. It takes work, balance and discipline, but it’s achievable.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a playwright and screenwriter. From an early age, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in entertainment, but I wasn’t exactly sure which path to take. My father, however, was quite adamant that I should become a lawyer. In fact, all three of my sisters and I have initials that spell “L.A.W.” So that just added more pressure, on top of me being the oldest.

I remember when I was applying to law schools during my undergraduate studies. I was feeling a bit discouraged because I really didn’t want to go to law school, but I felt I had to due to my father. Then, I saw an actor on television named Hill Harper, who discussed how he attended law school before pursuing his dream of becoming an actor. This inspired me and opened my mind to the possibility of doing both. I realized it was possible to combine my interests. From that moment on, my goal became to attend law school and eventually work in the entertainment industry.

During my first year of law school, I discovered my true passion within the industry. At that time, I was feeling very depressed, and I realized that the only thing that brought me joy was theater. I received an advertisement in the mail for a production of the play “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” by August Wilson. I was familiar with August Wilson’s work but had never seen any of his plays performed live. After attending that performance, I felt transformed. As I walked out of the theater, I declared, “Hell or high water, I’m going to be a writer.”

I finished law school, passed the bar, and sought jobs that would provide enough income to live while allowing me time to write. During that job, I wrote a play called “The Light,” which had a significant debut in Chicago. It was so well-received that New York took notice, and it moved Off-Broadway the following year.

From there, I got television managers and, in 2019, I left my day job, moved to LA, and began writing for television. Currently, I am writing at the producer level for the third season of “Reasonable Doubt,” a legal show on Onyx/Hulu.

My journey taught me that no experience is wasted. The time you believe you’re spending on other pursuits might actually become your greatest asset for future opportunities.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I always say that my goal as a creative person, and in life in general, is to be a beacon of hope. I want my life to serve as a bright, blinking sign in the darkness, saying to anyone who might be on the verge of giving up, “Hope This Way.”

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The greatest asset to me and my journey has been reading about successful people along the path I desired. We often feel we have to physically meet people and have them mentor us, which is valuable. But until you can reach that place, people leave gems behind in many places – Books, interviews, magazines, podcasts. You don’t necessarily need to meet them. It’s alright there, if you seek it out.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mslawebb
• Twitter: @mslawebb