Monday, March 26, 2018

How To Become A Freelance Television Writer Los Angeles

By Donna Rogers


Television is a medium unlike any other. We turn to it time and again for entertainment and to just pass the time when there seems nothing else to do. But just how does the world of television work and what does a freelance television writer Los Angeles do to contribute to this growing medium?

When we watch television we often don't think about what goes into creating the shows that we know and love. But, it begins with an idea and that idea comes from writers. A television writer writes the scripts for all kinds of television content. This type of writing is unlike writing for the stage or film, it is an art in and of itself.

Often TV writers write in groups that may contain only 4 writers or the group may contain up to 20 other writers. All these writers must collaborate on what to produce. The TV writer does not often write alone. They may be the lead writer for a TV show and may even be the producer. Many times these people are called 'showrunners' because they lead the group regarding the what is produced and they have full creative authority over the show. The writer of television series may also be responsible for rewriting of the script, writing the dialogue and creating plot lines and situations for the characters.

Sometimes a freelance TV writer is hired on by a station on a job to job basis and is not part of the regular writing staff. They are independent which allows them more control over their career and the types of jobs they take on.

TV writers, as stated, must often work in groups and the 'showrunner' or lead producer has full creative authority over what is produced and how it is written. This can be frustrating for writers who desire personal creative freedom. Working in a group may seem to be more restricting but it also allows for various viewpoints and input that would otherwise not be available to a writer who works alone.

In order to break into the field of television writing, a writer must have a portfolio of some type, much like a photographer or graphic designer. The writer's portfolio consists of a spec script. This script may be about a show that is ongoing or it may be an original idea for a pilot series, but showcase the writer's abilities to produce a TV script and their knowledge of the format it is written in. It will also showcase the writer's creative abilities to the producers of a show.

TV writing can be hard to break into, but for those that have a lot of creative abilities and lots of ideas for plot lines and can create memorable characters, there is a place for in this industry for them. The simple ingredient that you need is to just write and keep practicing your craft until you become good at it.

If you have a desire to write for television, you can take a course in script writing or creative writing at a local college or university. There are also online courses in writing of various types that may be more suited to your busy lifestyle and tastes. The objective is the get the necessary training you need as a writer and then go out and write.




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