Irked Writers Strike Back at Their Critics

I think I speak for Stephen Cannell as well as myself in taking issue with Burt Prelutsky’s statement (Saturday Letters, July 9) that we earn 99% of our income as producers. The fact is, both of us have always earned a living as writers, attested to by a varied collection of Writers Guild awards, Emmy statuettes and Humanitas Awards, all in honor of our abilities as writers.

I would venture a guess, furthermore, that either of us has had more writing credits in the last five years than Mr. Prelutsky.

The fact is that any success Stephen Cannell or I have achieved as producers derives from our talent as writers. If in fact a majority of WGA members made their living as writers, I suspect there would be no strike today, and we would all be busy churning out scripts instead of petulant letters to the editor.

STEVEN BOCHCO

Beverly Hills