How to Get Into Soap Opera Writing

The term "soap opera" is derived from the bevy of sponsorships the shows received from household cleaning product manufacturers in the genre's earlier years.

Soap opera writing is a competitive field -- a little more than a dozen people usually make up the small team of staff writers behind network television's most popular soaps. With the recent cancellation of long-running serials like "As the World Turns" and "Guiding Light," the number of opportunities in soap opera production are even smaller. While there is no linear path for getting into soap writing, aspiring soap writers can break into the field through internships, coursework and networking.

Instructions

1. Watch soap operas regularly. Follow plot lines, couples and family dynasties. Read soap opera blogs as well as magazines like "Soap Opera Digest" and "Soap Opera Weekly" to stay up-to-date with story lines, popular fan sentiment and production news. Be familiar with the breadth of soap culture to create inspired soap writing.

2. Take a television writing course. While many universities offer drama television writing coursework as part of television production undergraduate and graduate degree programs, you may also be able to enroll in a shorter, less expensive continuing education or certificate program in television writing. A one-hour drama scriptwriting course will teach the technical aspects of writing like structure, pacing and plotting. Select a course that will enable you to create a spec script that you can market later on.

3. Get an internship at a soap opera or at a network that airs soaps. Most internships require that you be matriculated at a college or university. Furthermore, most American soap operas are filmed in either Los Angeles or New York. An internship is an opportunity to network and build contacts, and can be a precursor to an entry-level position at the network.

4. Apply for an early career program. Some networks offer paid entry-level writing positions to competitive recent college graduates. While these positions may not necessarily lead to a writing opportunity for a soap opera, remember that many of today's soap opera head writers did not start their career as a writer. Some soap writers were associate producers, directors and even actors before they landed a soap staff writer position.

5. Be flexible. The number of American soap operas on the air has dwindled, so staff writing positions may be sparse. Consider accepting writing opportunities on other television drama productions or even on another daytime television program as you wait for a staff writer position on a soap opera to become available.

Tips & Warnings

• While American soap operas have recently experienced a string of cancellations, Latin America's telenovelas are more popular than ever. Australia and Great Britain are also home to flourishing international soap opera audiences. Consider making a move abroad to write for an international soap.

References

• The Museum of Broadcast Communication; Soap Opera; Robert C. Allen
• Soap Central; How to Become a Soap Writer; Elizabeth Lee; January 2008
• New York Times; Soap-Operas Are the Hidden Drama of Strike; Jacques Steinberg; January 2008
• Tisch School of the Arts at NYU: Advanced TV Writing
• Huffington Post; Soap Operas: Can They Survive?; Lucas Kavner; April 2011

Resources

• College Board: Writers
• Psychology Today; Soap Opera Queen; Carlin Fiora; July 2007