You can’t get a writing job without having written. It doesn’t matter what kind of writing it is. Go create a garden variety blog and start posting daily musings on it. Go cover a renaissance festival for a local news outlet as a freelancer. Cook up your own storyline for your favorite TV show and think of it as a “What if I was writing an episode for Series X?” project. Try to create a unique idea. Try to add your own special sauce to whatever it is you’re writing about. Create a portfolio and keep improving it. Submit it to whoever you can. Creativity and persistence are all you need.
If you want to become a TV writer, the best way to do it is to generate your own ideas and get your own script turned into a show. After that, send it to everyone you can think of who has a pipeline into the television space. Create an idea, hammer out an outline, write a strong first episode, formulate how you want the characters to evolve – and then shop it. You will need to write a query letter or story deck or some other presentation to entice production companies. Look at other examples on the Web, take some of those ideas and create your own unique deck. Give people something they can remember. Be persistent and send it to everyone you can think of. Persistence is the only way.
Unless you already have direct connections with a TV show’s producer, the best way to get your spec script seen is to submit to high-quality screenplay competitions. Producers’ assistants are constantly monitoring high-level competitions to look for new talent, and even getting an honorable mention can get your screenplay into the hands of a real difference maker. Be careful to check guidelines while submitting, though–some contests prevent simultaneous submissions during their evaluations.
A spec script is a mock episode written for an existing TV show already on air, and they’re the biggest determining factor for producers taking on new writers for their show. Producers look to see if a writer is able to write an entertaining script that follows the general themes, tropes, and tone of a show. For that reason, write an episode from a show you’re already familiar with and enjoy–and don’t try to be too experimental. Producers are looking, first and foremost, if you’re able to get the basics down first.
Marketing & Outreach Manager at ePassportPhoto
Answered 4 years ago
Television writing is a competitive field, but it's possible to break in if you have talent and perseverance. The best way to start is by writing spec scripts for episodes of current TV shows. You can find information on how to write spec scripts online, or you can take a course in television writing. Once you have a fewspec scripts under your belt, you can start submitting them to production companies and agents. They may offer you a job or representation if they like your work. It can be tough to break into the TV writing industry, so don't give up if you don't get a response from every company or agent you submit your work to.