Bruce Prichard On His Job In WWE – “I’m A Storyteller”
Bruce Prichard has never thought of himself as a writer.
Prichard has now been in the wrestling business for 50 years both on and offscreen. During that time he has held multiple roles in different promotions but is most associated with WWE, where he currently serves as the Executive Director of Raw and SmackDown, heading the writing for both brands.
During the latest edition of his Something To Wrestle podcast, Prichard said that despite his current position and previous role as Head Writer for TNA in the past, he considers himself a “storyteller” rather than a writer.
“I’ve never been a writer. Creative and booking TV, I would never consider myself a writer. I don’t consider myself a writer in the way that I think that Hollywood and people look at writers. Not a big fan of that term. I think we’re creative people that put things on paper.”
Explaining further, Bruce Prichard said he “isn’t a title guy”, preferring to talk about what he does rather than what his job title is.
“When I was a producer, I was the guy that put everything together, I didn’t understand that I was a producer. I think people get confused with titles and what they are. I’m not a title guy. I didn’t sit there and write out what people say.
“Maybe that’s what I think what a writer does. We created shows, we created formats, we told stories. What am I? I’m a storyteller. That’s what I do. I tell stories, and I try to bring them to life on screen.”
When his co-host, Conrad Thompson, asked if other writers would say they do the same thing, he agreed that some would, although others would agree with his way of thinking.
“Sure, some would. Some wouldn’t. Some would say, ‘No, I write the words and other people do that. I’m an idea guy, I’m a creative guy, I’m a storyteller.’
“It pigeonholes, and there are so many more things that I did then or do now. ‘Ah, writer.’ No, even the writers do so much more than just write. It’s an education process that people who have never been there will never understand. You can try as you may, you’re just not going to understand it.”
H/T to Fightful for the above transcription.