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Basically there's two ways to be a star on a TV staff. Write outlines and scripts the showrunner barely has to rewrite. Pitch storylines, scenes, images, emotional payoffs, solve story issues etc, that keep landing in the show.
When I was first working, I was quickly very good at the second. I would regularly pitch stories that landed in episodes, scenes, emotional moments, funny lines, etc. I was much stronger in the room than on the page. Somehow I could improv the show outloud better than I wrote.
One day, we were told we were behind and had to turn in an outline by the end of the day we hadn't started. That put the fire in me and I learned to write on cue. I got better and better at outlines over a few shows.
Last came my ability to write strong episodes. This didn't really happen until I was also developing my own work. The exposure to exec notes, having to rewrite a lot and know what might be expected or asked, and working with very talented showrunners simultaneously upped my game.
I like to share some of the process that was often hidden to me because that's how writers learn. When you're on staff you're often not privy to notes or chances to rewrite. You're also not always getting to write a whole episode and make it your own with new leaps.
The tough love is writers who are okay at pitching and okay at nailing the voices/tone of the showrunner will have a harder time with rehiring. If you want to be valued, highly, hone the two areas of pitching and page. If you're not as strong at one, work on it in your spare time
And then when you get an outline and a script, see how you can deepen and make more connections than what was broken with the room. Follow formatting so the showrunner isn't redoing all caps and sluglines when they're already exhausted. Elevate it where you can.
A lot of excelling at TV writing is having talent and strong work already. It's kind of true that the hardest part is breaking in. Even writers with a few seasons' experience are learning. Because a lot is learning on the job. I wish this for all of you who work hard to improve.
