Zach Ayers
Zach recently sold the CIA drama THE RECRUIT (CBS) and is showrunner/creator of upcoming suspense thriller THE MINE (Audible). He has sold two drama pilots (Sony) and two comedy pilots (UTV, CBS TV) and has been lead instructor for WBD’s Access Writing Program since 2021.
Zach Ayers is a versatile writer who has found success in both comedy and drama.
Before his TV career, Zach was an intelligence officer at the Central Intelligence Agency where he wrote top-secret training films. He knows a lot of dangerous secrets, which Zach finds both dramatic and comedic.
Currently, Zach is the showrunner/creator of THE MINE (Audible), a suspense thriller and narrative podcast produced by Broadway Video set to be released in 2026. He has also sold a CIA workplace drama, THE RECRUIT to CBS, along with Spyglass Entertainment.
Zach’s writing credits include AMERICAN SOUL (BET), SIREN (Freeform), and STATE OF AFFAIRS (NBC). He also spent several years as a story producer on the awards juggernaut LIFE BELOW ZERO (NatGeo). He’s also sold several scripted projects, with shows set up at WBTV and Sony Pictures TV.
As a senior TV writing instructor for Script Anatomy since 2016, he has taught courses for the WGA Foundation, PGA Foundation, and since 2021 is the lead story instructor for the Warner Brothers Discovery Access Writing Program. He himself is an alumnus of the Disney Entertainment Television Writing Program, as well as Ithaca College.
Zach grew up working-class in Anchorage, Alaska, and had his forklift license long before his driver’s license. He now lives in Echo Park with his wife, two teenage daughters, and a cat named Your Majesty. You can find him @ZachTellsLies.
Testimonials
Zach is an awesome instructor who shows genuine care for his students and their ideas. He gives constructive and helpful advice along with tons of encouragement and support. It’s the best mix for anyone trying to break into an industry notoriously filled with rejections. He is absolutely tuned in to each students’ pitches and ideas and makes the whole process from pitch to outline a lot less painful than it can be otherwise. A total must-take instructor!
Zach’s class on outlining so impressed me that I went on to his Draft Intensive. Both classes were integral to the final pilot that has producers reading. Zach has a format created by Script Anatomy that far exceeds any prior class I’ve taken. He adds examples of real scenarios from our homework, wit, and personal anecdotes to make the classes fun and informative. He hit it out of the park. The packed sessions had so much content my typing speed went up. He worked on our projects in his lectures and you could tell all of our work was important to him.  I’m up for any writing classes he teaches.
Zach brings a wealth of real world experience, energy and creativity to class. He knows just how hard to push to get the best out of students, and his weekly notes during the Televisionary Workshop have been priceless.  Zach helped me to go from a foggy idea to a solid outline in 5 weeks, and I’m truly amazed at the progress I’ve made.