Most Important Skills For An Executive Story Editor In A Television Writers Room
Marshall, an Executive Story Editor, highlights collaborative brainstorming and "the ability to hold this shifting narrative in your mind" as crucial skills, exceeding the importance of individual writing ability in a television setting. The ability to accept critique, adapt to feedback, and "set your ego aside" are also essential for navigating the collaborative nature of television writing.
Teamwork, Communication, Problem-Solving, Adaptability, Creative Collaboration
Advizer Information
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Job Title
Company
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Marshall Knight
Executive Story Editor
Television Writers Room
UCLA
n/a
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Creative
Honors Student, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Collaboration and brainstorming skills are essential for keeping track of evolving narratives and solving creative problems.
2. The ability to accept and incorporate constructive criticism is crucial, as most writing in a TV setting is collaborative and subject to revision.
3. Adaptability and the ability to set aside personal preferences for the sake of the overall show are important traits for success in a collaborative writing environment.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
The most important skill is the ability to collaboratively brainstorm. You have to be able to keep a lot of information in your head at once, tracking where the story is in terms of what the group has agreed upon.
What do we think this story looks like right now? What pieces are missing? What questions do we need to answer? It's the ability to hold this shifting narrative in your mind while also identifying problems and coming up with creative solutions.
Most people assume the most important skill for a writer is the on-the-page, typing part. That is important, but in a TV setting, almost everything is collaborative. It all starts in the room.
Every word you write will probably be rewritten by your showrunner. So, the ability to analyze critique and make adjustments based on what your showrunner wants is critically important.
You also need the ability not to be precious about your work. If your boss decides something isn't needed for the show, you need to set your ego aside and move on. Those are the keys.
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