How to Become a Writer for Television

Before you can become a writer for television, you must already be a writer. You must enjoy writing. You must be doing it every day, driven to write, whether you like it or not. To be a writer for television, you must enjoy (or at least be familiar with) the television medium. Writing for television has its own rhythm and specific guidelines depending on the type of television you are writing for - one-hour episodic, half-hour episodic, documentary, comedy, drama. There are many more television writers than there are television writing jobs - the competition is tough. The loophole in that if you are a producer for television, you often can cross over and become a writer for television with very little writing experience. Getting in the door is often the most mysterious part -- here are some guidelines to get you on that path.

Instructions

How to Become a Writer for Television

1. Attend a well-known four-year university, ideally graduating from their Dramatic Writing Program or the Film and Television Division. Top schools are New York University (NYU), University of Southern California (UCLA) and University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA). Northwestern, Columbia and University of California-Irvine are also contenders. Continuing on to graduate school is also an excellent way of making contacts you'll carry with you into the television world.

2. While in school, choose an internship program as a writer's assistant on a television show. Choose wisely as sometimes an internship can turn into a job after graduation, and then you're already on your way.

3. Live in New York or Los Angeles. Los Angeles is the hub of the television industry. If you're able to live in the city, you'll be going to the gym, to restaurants, to meetings and to jury duty with people in the television business. Network. Call in every distant friend or friend of a friend who has a connection in TV, no matter how feeble. Then ask this friend who he knows, and you'll get your second meeting. This starts the ball rolling.

4. Use your school's alumni office to find vital contacts after graduating. Often an established producer will meet with a young graduate if two two share the same school. If the producer is working on a television show that you know, write a spec episode of their show and bring it when you meet the producer. Your enthusiasm will be appreciated, and as there will probably be no openings on the current show, the producer may remember your pluck. Keep in touch with any contacts you make, and offer yourself as an assistant with each subsequent contact.

5. Choose temp agencies that work with the studios, and sign up. Apple One is a big one in Los Angeles, although even small agencies get contracts with television companies. Explain where you'd like to work when you meet with these various temp agencies. They will usually let you know if their agency has the contacts you're looking for. Being a great typist helps.

6. Check the ads in The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. Sometimes they have listings for assistant positions.

7. Check online at different networks (NBC, CBS, ABC) and companies (Disney, Warner Brothers, Paramount) to see new entry-level job openings. Buy a Hollywood Creative Directory. It's a massive collection of production companies, producers and studio heads and their current production status, and their contact information. Go through and highlight each company you're interested in and then contact them one by one. Talk to an assistant and offer your resume. Ideally you'd want to start in the office as a writer's assistant, but many a writer has started in the mailroom.

8. Write, write, write, in the meantime. The more work you have finished, the more samples of your writing you can share with your bosses. Also read as many scripts as you can, especially in the style you most enjoy, to bone up on your knowledge.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy a screenwriting program for your computer to assist you with formatting and to get you used to script lingo and style. This is a long process, and the more people you know, the faster you can get in the door.

• Don't give up.

Resources

• Hollywood Creative Directory