So you’ve got a great idea for a TV show. Now what? How do you go about getting the job writing for one of the most popular TV shows? This article will tell you definitively how to put together a winning reel for an aspiring TV writer.
Get To Work
The best place to start when hunting for a job is with your friends and contacts in the industry. You’ve got a better chance of getting in the door without a referral than with one. Ask your agent what contacts he has and see if he knows of anyone writing for a particular show. Having an agent may not hurt either. You can find his contact info easily online. Most agents work remotely, so you can easily contact them without having to meet in person.
Make Sure You’re Ready
Even if you have an in with the industry, there’s no guarantee your friend will be able to get you in the door. Nothing stops a potential employer from giving the job to someone else. You need to make sure you’re ready for the job by putting together a reel that will entice them to give you a call. It’s a good idea to take an evening or two to put together a great reel.
Know The Type Of Script
Each new season of a popular TV show will be filled with brand new episodes. Sometimes these will be along the lines of what you’d expect from the show. However, you should always expect the unexpected when it comes to TV shows. The episodes will probably be between 15 and 22 minutes long and can consist of any type of story. These are the basic guidelines, but you may find yourself writing something that doesn’t fit within them.
Get Inspired
You can’t write something without first having an idea of what it is you’re writing. Sometimes this can be difficult. You may not always have a clear picture in your head of what a particular scene or situation would look like. This is why it’s important to get inspired. Watch TV shows, read articles, or ask others for their opinions and ideas. The more you know, the better you’ll be able to write. Inspiration can come from anywhere, so don’t be afraid to seek it out.
Create A Roster
A good writer will have a diverse range of skills. You don’t want to limit yourself to only writing for one TV show. It’s a good idea to create a roster. This is a list of the various shows and movies you are willing to write for. As you go through the list, cross off the shows and movies you aren’t interested in. Creating a diverse range of material will give you a greater chance of pitching your reel to a variety of shows.
Once you’ve got your roster ready, it’s time to start hunting for a job. The best place to start is with the shows and movies you’ve written for. Your agent will know of people who may be looking for writers and can make some introductions or provide names of people who may be interested in your work. If you have a reel, you can show it to these people and potentially land the job.
Pitch The Show
Each new season of a popular TV show will be filled with brand new episodes. Sometimes these will be along the lines of what you’d expect from the show. However, you should always expect the unexpected when it comes to TV shows. The episodes will probably be between 15 and 22 minutes long and can consist of any type of story. These are the basic guidelines, but you may find yourself writing something that doesn’t fit within them.
Research How To Improve
Sometimes it takes a little bit of research to figure out how to improve a particular situation or storyline. For example, if you’ve written a scene where two characters break up and you want to add a little more drama to the scene, you may need to do some research about how to write a better breakup scene. You can find tips and advice on writing better breakups and hookups from Breaking Dawn to The Vampire Diaries. These are just some of the most popular shows, so you can imagine how much advice there is on writing for them.
Use Your Breaks
These are the most precious. You’ve got 45 minutes, once or twice a day, when you’re not required to be working. Use this time to write. Set a timer for yourself so you don’t spend too much time on any one thing. It’s often better to write for a few minutes than to rush and try to write a longer piece. Once you’ve got a few thousand words, take a little break. You can come back to it with a fresh set of eyes and get back to where you left off.
It would be best to put your reel together using some of the tips and advice mentioned above. The more you know, the better you’ll be able to write. Creativity should never be restricted. The more you can get away with, the more interesting your writing will be. Variety is the spice of life. As a writer, you’ll be faced with new situations and storylines on a weekly basis. This is what makes it exciting and keeps you interested in your work. When you know exactly what to expect, the daily grind can become a little bit dull. Variety is the spice of life. Ask yourself, would you like to wake up one day and find that your entire career has been dedicated to writing for one particular TV show? Or would you prefer to write for a diverse range of productions and see how long that can keep your interest? It’s a choice you’ll have to make. And it’s a choice that should be based on what makes you happy. As long as you’re writing about things that interest you, the material will always have some value. Whether or not this value is monetary, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you enjoy what you do and feel like you’re making a difference with your work. This is the best recipe for success.