How to keep your TV writing career on track

Whatever it’s important to keep your career moving in the right direction, and it is just as important to “be at the table,” so when the moment arrives you’re ready to take full advantage. Here’s a few tips.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• computer and scriptwriting software
• connection to the internet

1. Update your resume. Producers and story editors don't have a lot of time, so keep your resume short and simple. Adjust your resume to the type of shows you're most interested in pitching. If you want to write for a comedy show, put your comedy credits first. Take out extraneous material: education, non-writing jobs, etc. Have an electronic version of your resume ready to e-mail
2. Contacts and networking. This is a business of relationships: it's who, not what you know. Keep track of producers, story editors and other writers and stay in touch with them: coffee, lunch, just a telephone call keeps your name in their mind.
3. If you have an agent, keep him or her happy. Agents aren't paid to get you work. Call your agent once a week. Agents, like everyone else, tend to forget about you unless you keep reminding them. Their job is to negotiate the deal once you get an assignment. Remember that you're in charge of your own career; don't depend on agents to do your job for you. Make as many contacts as you can.
4. Know what's being bought. Keep track of shows in development and in production. Read the trades, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Ask fellow writers, your contacts and visit both studio and production company sites and fan sites on the Internet.
5. If you've never dealt with a story editor before, he or she will want to see a sample of your writing. Keep your spec scripts current; no one wants to read an old show. Make sure your spec is in both the genre and tone you're pitching to. Before you start a spec, read sample scripts from the show you want to write for.
6. Know the show you're going to pitch to. Read sample scripts if available, watch episodes, and ask to see the bible. Start your pitch with a hook, something that will grab your audience. Pitches should be short, lively and intriguing. Practice the verbal pitch several times before you give it. You need to show that you’re really excited about wanting to write for this series.
7. You came, you pitched, you got an assignment. The story editor liked your story, the producer agreed, and they tell you to go home and write an outline. Get a sample outline or two from the show. Follow the format, noting act breaks, length, and style. An outline tells the story editor how the story unfolds scene by scene. The story editor is in charge so do as he or she says.

Tips & Warnings

• Diversify your writing career. You're not just a television writer. You're a writer. Have your fingers in as many pies as possible. That way, when one area of writing slows down, you're already in another. Book editors are impressed by Hollywood writers. Hollywood producers are also in awe of published authors.
• Above all, write, write, and write.