Writing for Television: Finding an Agent

As a writer, you probably have often thought about how you can expand your skills and talents and bring those to the public in a more broad approach. For some writers, making an attempt at television writing is considered part of the process of fulfilling a dream to maybe even write a screenplay one day.

If you think you have what it takes to be a writer for television, there are a few steps that should be considered as part of your journey to landing your first writing job. Understanding these simple guidelines will help in preparing you for the journey to the end; a writer for your own television show.

The first task at hand should be securing the assistance of an agent. While it is well known that there are many television agents who have had great success in the television media market, it is important to you that you find an agent who is passionate about the writing you can produce. While many writers feel a need to secure the services of an agent at the top rated agencies, it should be your goal, instead, to find one that is passionate about who you are and what you offer. This may mean, then, that you find a great agent at a medium level marketing agency.

Because television production is cyclic, it is important to search out and secure the services of your agent in the late summer and early fall. In doing so, your agent can forward your scripts to network executives by the end of the year and, hopefully, sign a pilot opportunity for you in the first of the year when they begin staffing for actors.

While it is unfortunate, as a television writer, it may be necessary to move to the city of Los Angeles to move your career forward. While in today's media frenzy we would think that script writing and television staffing could be done virtually anywhere, this is simply not the case. In fact, most agents will recommend that you move to Los Angeles simply to provide a more accessible feel to your work. In other words, networks who want to visit with you in short notice will have quick access to you for onsite meetings.