In the new issue of Soap Opera Digest, Chris Van Etten traces his path from GH viewer to co-head writer. “I’ve been a fan since I was too young to have been a fan,” he chuckles. After working his way up the ranks at ONE LIFE TO LIVE, where he started as an intern, he joined the writing team, staying with the show through to its 2012 end before moving over to GH. “Getting to work with these characters who’ve lived on my screen and in my mind for so long was a thrill,” he notes. When he was promoted to co-head writer this summer, he admits, “I was probably as scared of the opportunity as any other emotion [and] I am really hopeful that I’ll be able to satisfy fans.” He gives us the rundown on the stories that spoke to him as a fan and his take on what makes a great soap in the new issue, on sale now.