Yescessary is the newsletter you want in your overflowing inbox. Full of honest personal stories and helpful strategies, I share what I’m learning as I build a meaning-full, content life. You can subscribe and follow me on Instagram @yescessary​

Meet-cute with a year? Why not?

I hope you’re protecting your peace these days, keeping curious and cozy, letting in the good goods.

I’m excited about the Big ‘26 because I’ve entered this year with different energy. I’m trying to be chill.

I’m even trying to talk slower. Not at a drawl pace yet but give me a few months.

My new motto is:

I said that at a coffee meeting recently and was like, “Damn. That’s my energy this year.”

Not to be unaccommodating or a jerk – to be really chill.

I am over here.

Fisherman don’t chase fish. At least the dudes I see at 6am on our lake are not chasing. Fisherman position themselves and wait. That’s me - minus the 6am call time. Minus the worms. Gah!

I’m working on feeling secure, grateful, content. February is a tough month for many reasons. Not every day is sunny.

And this Canadian winter has been a biter. Was not looking to have my layer game tested like this!

I’m working on attracting what I’ve been working towards all these years.

I really do believe good things are coming for us all in ’26!

Best reading experience is in your browser. That’s where I am.

Y’all comin’?

The latest newsletter is LIVE Read this puppy (or kitten!) in your browser for the best experience. I am right stoked you’re here!

• How I choose IP (BHM edition)
• Obsession confession – sweater vests

I was recently on a panel at a conference called “Rethinking Youth and YA Content.”

Oh gosh, panels are nerve-wracking!

The opening question was “How do I choose IP?” Fancy for, “How do I choose what ideas to develop?” I was deeply honest.

I said that my development slate is full of heartbeats and that it is a living, pulsating thing. This one. Dropping poetry from the jump.

But it’s true!

When I look at the development slate that I’m supporting (that’s what I believe, I’m the support), I see every one of my creator-partner’s souls, their energy and humour. Their hearts.

I start with storytelling. Not toy potential. Not genre. Not branding.

Of course, brand potential eventually but we don’t start there.

My job is extremely layered, but one striation is that I develop kids and family series for the global market. It’s my job to pick winners.

To break that down more, a winner (to me) serves a programming need, features an interesting approach and a distinct voice, comes from a creator from an underrepresented group or is a topic that is underserved, piques kids’ curiosity, is hella entertaining, layered, supports good humanhood and is FUN, FUN, FUN-o-rama.

Never earnest. Earnest is yawwwwwn.

DIFFERENT. INCLUSIVE.

Let me give you a squeegeed window into how I enter this process.

I ask wonderful talented writers/creators/animators what they’re passionate about. No limits. No parameters.

We start with: What speaks to you? What do you care about? What were you curious about as a kid? And my favourite ask – what’s your weird? Why is it wonderful?

I believe that creators from every group and every skin colour should feel free to explore what they feel compelled to create. No limits. No obligations. No pressure.

I wrote something to this effect when applying for funding for a project. This was my pitch as to why I was putting forward a series idea from a Black creator that did not focus on our race and focussed on a human experience, and why it should still check the diversity box.

We were putting it forward because it was brilliant, creative, and their brand of funny.

I’m not sure how long I’ll be leading development and making these choices, but as long as I’m at the door, I’m going to give permission slips.

You’re allowed to go there.

Let’s go together.

I believe artists and writers, especially those of colour, especially those from underrepresented groups should experience creative liberty. This world has the capacity to hold all of us.

Let me be even more clear and pointed this February. We need to do a better job of opening up the scope of narrative freedom - especially for Black creators.

There is an expectation in creative industries that if you are a person of colour, you must include characters of your race and rep your culture. Nothing wrong with repping culture! Of course. But why only that?

Here’s how I see it. If a creator identifies as Black, then anything they create is still Black artistic expression no matter what the characters look like or the topic is. Their creation is an extension of who they are and how they identify even if the characters do not look like them.

If their heart is calling to them to represent their race or culture in whatever form – are you kidding? Let’s answer that call. And if a Black creator is into animation and cars. I’m down with that.

Yay cars. Yay to underpinning that series with an environmental message, too.

Good humanhood.

I’m taking a moment in Feb during BHM to share my passion for expanding what we expect Black writers to write. Instead of trauma, suffering, racism, joy, let’s include the entire wheel of experience – unrestricted.

You may be thinking – of course, everyone can create what they want. There are no rules…

But here’s what I’ve observed. When I have those conversations and I offer my invitation,

When I say with genuine excitement and a dash of mischief, “Bring me your noise,” creators tend to come back to me with another idea, a different part of them that is still all the things – funny, entertaining, interesting, energetic, emotional, playful, unexpected.

Bet.

We go there.

Development is a business (let’s be real, it’s commerce), but it can also be a beautiful creative adventure. And when we start from a place of acceptance, it can be incredibly freeing. Free = hella fun.

Development is a giant trust fall. We’re together making, creating, pitching, selling for years.

I don’t think I’m doing anything special, but I do know that I lead with my values (I wrote about it here). When I spin the value wheel it tends to land on authenticity and adventure.

I work this way and offer the invitation because I’m also in this creative “Can I?” position, too.

I know what it’s like to write (maybe even say) what people don’t expect of me.

Now that I’m older, wiser, riper (?) I arrive with my full, tie-wearing, poetry from the jump self. I am me.

As long as I’m doing this TV thing, I will do my best to help all writers/creators and especially artists of colour find, bring forward and embrace their full artistic self.

I’m deeply passionate about this contribution.

We all use the word inclusivity, but how do we practice it? What do we actually do that demonstrates that we are inclusive? Inclusivity and action make good partners.

Now that I’ve been at this for a spell, I know this invitation is not hard to offer. It needs to be genuine, not just words.

Earning trust is not easy, but we work on that.

Which leads me to why I write Yescessary. So, I can embrace my full humanity and share what I’m learning, doing, observing – no limitations.

More openness. More freedom. Creative liberation for all.

Word.

I’m on my way to another big conference where my purpose is to share my development slate. I’m going to be pitching my little heart out because my heart is right in there, too!

I don’t know how to do this part of the job without my heart fully invested.

My pitch will go like this – I offer living, pulsating, beautiful ideas born out of the most rewarding partnership. Want one? Ha!

OBSESSION CONFESSION – SWEATER VESTS

I’m giving winter the silent treatment. I know it’s passive aggressive and we should have a good heart to heart, but winter’s been overbearing lately. Let someone else, like sunshine, what about our friend, warmth, have a turn?

I thought I’d have a little fun and show you what’s helping me step into the cold feeling a bit brighter (and warmer) – sweater vests!

Bonus, I’ve discovered sweater layers – sweater vest on sweater and it’s given my looks liiiiiiifffe. It’s the equivalent to adding a ginseng shot my wardrobe.

I hope this encourages you to shop your closet and play. Winter is being bossy this year. Let’s have fun however we can!

Thanks so much for reading! I appreciate you more than you know.

Enjoy today!

Hello! It's me, AG. I'm Andrea Griffith (a.k.a. AG), a TV exec, writer, wife and mother. Yescessary is the love child of yes and necessary, the word I use to describe my personal philosophy for living with intention, purpose and with my priorities in the pole position. This newsletter is where I share funny moments, helpful strategies and everything I'm learning on my journey to build a meaning-full, content life. Andrea's Work → ​​​​ FOLLOW THE JOURNEY TO YES IN MY SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

​https://www.andrea-griffith.com/​
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