Got a hankering to start your career in TV writing but aren’t sure which skills you should be cultivating?
We all became writers because we had creative ideas we wanted to explore through, you know, writing. There’s a lovely dream of sitting down in a romantic writing spot with perfect conditions, probably like the Colin Firth portion of Love Actually — French cabin overlooking the water, a typewriter. The ideas just flow. The screenplay pours forth. It is magically discovered by a gilded producer who casts Meryl Streep to play your lead and the next thing you know you’re clutching your Oscar at Elton John’s after-party.
May that dream come true for you. For us all.
But more likely we will face the truth of the industry, which is that writers must be prepared for the business of screenwriting, in addition to cultivating their creative craft.
Here are a few skills that will increase your chances of meeting a community of professionals who can help get you interviewed and hopefully hired for satisfying and financially beneficial work in TV writing.
Networking
What is one of the best things you can do for your TV writing career? Build your network!
Your network is who will read your scripts, give you notes, introduce you to industry professionals, recommend you for jobs, and hire you in their rooms.
They’re also who you’ll turn to when you need to bounce ideas around or get some inspiration. These days, they’re out marching on a picket line with you, keeping spirits high and eyes on the prize. Your network is critical.
We have written extensively about ways to cultivate your network. A few highlights are to always conduct yourself with authenticity and professionalism, to become social media savvy, to listen to screenwriting podcasts and engage with their communities, to join or create writers groups, to attend writers meetups, or to take classes or apply for a screenwriting lab or fellowship.
Remember, high tides lift all ships. Even one accountability partner can keep you afloat in this business.
Pitching
It isn’t enough to have a great idea — screenwriters have to know how to communicate that idea to others. In a television writers room, you will pitch ideas to the room and the showrunner for series plot points, episode changes, jokes, and even problem-solving on set. Writers pitch pilots to buyers before being hired to actually write the script. You may pitch your written pilot to networks and studios to try to sell it or get a green light.
It is also invaluable to know how to pitch yourself. You will often be asked questions like, “Tell me about yourself,” or “What are you working on?” or “What kind of writer are you?” The responses may seem straightforward, but consider the difference between the following two responses:
“Well, I live here in Los Angeles. I like writing fantasy. I have a very adorable puppy named Zell…”
“Hi, I’m Shannon, an Air Force veteran interested in deconstructing the hero archetype through a female lens.”
Both answer the questions and can lead to a polite conversation — but if time with a contact is brief, one of these responses might pique someone’s curiosity a bit more than the other.
The best way to get better at pitching is to practice. Classes and screenwriting labs will have sessions that work on this skill. You can also write a five-minute pitch for one of your writing samples and practice it with a trusted friend. Saying your pitch out loud and often is the best way to make it smooth — and to increase your odds of conjuring it again when you’re nervous.
Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Screenwriting Labs
Adopting Someone Else’s Voice
There’s a difference between writing your own original material and being able to write in the tone and voice of the show you are hired on. While it is very rare that someone will buy your spec script of an existing show, it is still a great practice to write them. They can help introduce you to a new style of writing — for example, if you’ve always written dramas but you’ve seen every episode of Modern Family, writing a Modern Family spec (and, more significantly, studying Modern Family scripts) will help you learn the format and timing for comedies.
You will be expected to bring your unique skills to a writers room while writing in the appropriate tone and style of the show you’re on. There are also specific opportunities out there that call for spec scripts, such as different TV writing fellowship applications.
Read More: Why You Should Write Spec Scripts of Existing Shows
Feedback
Giving and receiving feedback are skills in and of themselves. As a writer, you’re probably already well aware that receiving feedback is inevitable. Even bad feedback can help you revise your screenplay. Learning to find “the note behind the note” or even discerning when to disregard feedback are critical skills.
It’s also very important to learn how to give feedback. You will be exchanging scripts with your community for the rest of your career — and if and when you are promoted or running your own show, you will be giving feedback to other writers in your room.
Learning how to help them tell their own story — and hopefully doing that in a compassionate and supportive way — will help everyone achieve their goals and get home in time for dinner.
Communication
Writing can often feel very personal. Receiving rejection or negative feedback is dispiriting at best. Learning how to communicate well with others is a life skill that everyone needs, especially writers.
You may have a disagreement with your showrunner or studio head about a script or season plotline — discussing it involves clear and rational communication.
Maybe you’re struggling with a deadline — communicating that with your reps or your boss as early as possible can mean you receive the support you need to break through writer’s block or receive an extension that won’t inconvenience anyone down the line in production.
If someone is behaving inappropriately in the room or on set, strong communication skills can alert proper personnel or cool down rising tempers.
You may have the experience doing publicity for a project — great communication can help get eyes on your show or secure your next job interview.
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If you are still dreaming of writing in isolation out in France, it’s possible TV writing may not be for you. If you’ve come this far and you still see yourself working on the next Succession, then it’s important to develop yourself into a well-rounded individual who is ready to work well with others. If you’re an introvert (as many writers are), try not to worry too much — authenticity and kindness truly go a long way toward making meaningful connections.
If you’re still feeling intimidated, check out some classes, workshops, or screenwriting labs that have modules focusing on these kinds of skills. You don’t have to become an expert in anything right away — just keep learning.
Good luck out there and happy TV writing!
Read More: How to Get a Job Writing for TV
Shannon Corbeil is a writer, actor, and U.S. Air Force veteran in Los Angeles with appearances on SEAL Team and The Rookie. She was also a 2023 DGE TV Writing Program Finalist, and her screenplays have placed in various contests. You can read more about her on her website or come play on Instagram and Twitter!
