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Developing A Career As A Freelance Television Writer Los Angeles

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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.

Since TV writers write in groups, it can often be the source of a lot of pressure and frustration because no single writer has full creative control or authority over what is produced. This can also be plus as there are many more ideas and the collaboration allows for greater creativity than with a single writer working 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.

To begin your writing career as a television writer, you should consider taking some writing courses to hone your skills and your craft. A good scriptwriting course at a local college or university may be ideal. There are also online courses that may suit your busy schedule. Whatever route you take to break into this field, remember that writing is writing and the more you practice and learn all you can, the better you will be.




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