This month my screenwriting course had us work on a variety of episodic and serial writing projects. This included not only TV, but also a web series, video games and comics. Having come to this course as a novelist, I never really considered writing on a show. I am humbled and amazed at the amount of work that has to go into season arcs, episode construction and execution. When people complain about a show, I will be able to say now with authority “you have no idea what you are talking about.” It is hella hard. As a staff writer, you are also taking someone else’s creative property for the most part and executing it the way you are told to do. Can you craft a story that fits that world? Yes. Will you be in control of its execution? Rarely. Like adapting a novel the screen results in hard decisions being made by forces beyond your control, you may put all the work in but have very little say in changes or direction. Think about that next time you decide to hate Tweet a writer! :)
I had to publish a blog post on my mastery journal about what it was like to be a staff writer, if you are interested, you can read that HERE.
