By Dana Ford

BURBANK, Calif. (Reuters) - Thousands of Hollywood's most experienced and qualified writers walked off their jobs on Monday, but many continued their work from the picket line, carefully crafting the characters and drama in a new story starring ... themselves.

Writers attacked strike work like they might any other job, framing the fight, drafting the dialogue, crafting a message -- even rewriting strike chants.

"Wait, wait! I have another one!" shouted a striking worker, picketing outside Disney in the studio studded city of Burbank.

With her burst of creativity, the writer joined a colleague on the megaphone with a new chant they thought might get the attention of passersby.

"No more movies! No TV!" the group shouted above the sound of cars, many honking in support of the strikers who hoisted red and black placards.

Other writers used their skills to deliver high-impact sound bites to reporters' questions. Many paused for several seconds before delivering their well-composed lines.

Carlton Cuse, a writer and executive producer of the television show "Lost," struggled with his feelings about walking out on his show.

"It's painful. No, wait," said Cuse, shaking his head. "It's like damning your child."

Freelance writer Erin Maher picketed outside Gate 2 of the Warner Brothers studio in Burbank and struggled to vocalize her disgust toward producers who attempt to portray all writers as wealthy.

She ran through a number of scenarios to make her point, before settling on the phrase she thought sounded right.

"We aren't the fat cats they're painting us as," Maher said with a satisfied smile. "Yep, that's it."

(Editing by Mary Milliken)