TV Screenwriter

Working Schedule
 

• The life of a Screenwriter is not always predictable, and neither are the hours. Professional writers who work for a studio can expect full-time employment. During production, they might be called upon to make revisions or to rework someone else’s material. 

Typical Duties
 

• Creating new characters, plots, and in some cases new fictional worlds for films, television shows, video games, and other video content
• Writing complete biographies of main characters to use as references about traits, psychological makeups, motivations, and backstory elements
• Using scriptwriting software to plan out story beats
• Shopping manuscripts around to agents, producers, and directors
• Editing, revising, or rewriting scripts based on feedback or guidance
• Adapting existing novels, plays, comics, or other material for film or TV
• Writing scripts on spec, meaning writers weren’t paid upfront to write them but will be paid later (if the work sells)
• Working with talent agents to find suitable projects
• Additional Responsibilities
• Conducting research to ensure stories feature accurate details
• Consulting with subject matter experts when writing about a specialized topic or story element 
• Being on call to do rewrites during production. In some cases, being physically present on the set to consult with directors

Soft Skills

• Attention to detail
• Creativity
• Fiction and non-fiction writing skills
• Flexibility 
• Objectivity
• Organization
• Patience and resilience 
• Research skills
• Teamwork 
• Time management skills
• Understanding of psychology

Technical Skills

• Familiarity with psychological traits
• General familiarity with computers (PC or Apple)
• Grammar checking software like Grammarly
• Knowledge of historical events, current news, cultural references, and trivia
• Basic understanding of a broad range of career types, such as law enforcement, attorneys, medical doctors, and military roles
• Knowledge of myth and story structures such as the Hero’s Journey
• Knowledge of printers, scanners, and photocopy equipment
• Microsoft Office, Google apps, Macintosh software
• Online research databases
• Scriptwriting software like Final Draft, Movie Magic, and StudioBinder

• Broadcast networks
• Cable TV
• TV studios
• Nonprofits
• Self-employed
• Video game developers

It can take years to break into Screenwriting for those who ever do (Script notes that the number of paid, working writers in the Writers Guild of America numbers less than 5,000). Because of the creative aspects of the work, this job is not like most careers where one can learn a specific skill set then hop to it. Most of what writers do springs from their imaginations, creating stories then fleshing them out with research to provide relevant details that will lend the writing authenticity. 
 
That said, there are time-honored archetypes and story structures related to plots and arcs and how to plan them out. The structure varies for a 2-hour film versus a season of TV episodes, but the basic ideas are tried-and-true and can be learned on one’s own or by taking classes. Screenwriters are expected to craft compelling characters and put them on dramatic rollercoaster rides that weave in and out of the story arcs of other characters. Though fictional, these characters should possess complex motivations and characteristics that are not too cliche but also not so radical that the viewer can’t empathize on some level.
 
Screenwriters have to walk a tightrope between fulfilling their own creative desires and appeasing teams of editors, marketers, producers, and executives. The ability to please so many stakeholders is a creative skill set of its own!

Every decade, audience tastes change, and every generation, the audiences themselves change. Meanwhile, the technology used to release video content is also evolving. With all this constant disruption, where does that leave Screenwriters? Since their scripts are the basis of every production, it’s incumbent upon the writers to keep up with the times and roll with the changes!
 
Streaming video content was already altering the film industry when the COVID-19 pandemic caused cinemas to shutter their doors. This double whammy created a ramp-up in the production of smaller-scale releases for Netflix, Amazon, Disney+, and other content providers. In turn, new opportunities opened for TV show writers and lesser-known (i.e. more affordable) film scriptwriters. 
 
Content made for TV has subtle differences from big-budget blockbusters. Scenes are different, dialogue is different, and the paycheck to write those scripts is also different. Meanwhile, audiences are demanding increasingly sophisticated approaches to storytelling, where there is more “trust” that they’ll catch on and less “boring” exposition. Writers need to get straight to the action, with tighter scenes, more conflict, and more cultural awareness. 
 
It’s a brave new world and those with the most flexibility and diverse writing credentials are likely to thrive as the industry continues to transform. 

Screenwriters are storytellers and likely always loved to read or hear a good story! They might have been bookworms or avid film buffs with a natural ability to remember details and trivia about their favorite tales and characters. No matter whether they were sucking down novels and comics or gobbling up movies and TV shows, they probably always paid close attention to the characters’ dialogue and motivations. After, they might have loved pouring over (or obsessing about) the finer points of the story with their friends or even with strangers in online forums. They could be introverts or extroverts; there is no pigeonholing when it comes to Screenwriter personality types. But one thing they all have in common—a passion for what they do!