Monday, February 5, 2018

What Does A Freelance Television Writer Los Angeles Do?

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.

Many TV writers do not write alone but in groups of 4 to 20 other writers who must all collaborate being led by a lead writer or 'showrunner'. Often the 'showrunner' has full creative control of what is produced by the other writers and has many responsibilities. Often they are called on to rewrite scripts, produce dialogue, create plot lines and situations for a show. They do this in collaboration with the other writers but they have full authority over the content produced.

A freelance TV writer often is not hired by a station but works independently and takes work on a job by job basis. They may work with several television stations during their careers. Being a freelancer allows more job and career freedom than being hired by a production company.

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.

You will need to prepare your portfolio for potential employers and this portfolio will consist of your spec script. A spec script can be an idea for a show that already exists or it can be your own original idea for a pilot TV series. It will showcase your ability to follow the standard format of a television script and showcase your writing and creative abilities.

Writing for TV is no easy task, and any writer who has the creative abilities and talent to produce winning plot lines and memorable characters has a chance to make a rewarding career for themselves writing for television. The key ingredient to becoming a television writer is to just write. It takes lots of practice in the craft of writing and the more writing you do the better you will get.

If you have a desire to write for television, you can take a course in script writing or creative writing at a local college or university. There are also online courses in writing of various types that may be more suited to your busy lifestyle and tastes. The objective is the get the necessary training you need as a writer and then go out and write.




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