Drama Showrunners Unscripted: Inside the Evolution of TV Writing

Variety's A Night in the Writers Room gathering of five drama showrunners was a lively affair as the scribes compared notes and reflected on how much television has changed in a short time. The discussion, moderated by Emily Longeretta, Variety's senior TV features editor, centered around the showrunners' preferred writing processes and the time spent in the writers' room. According to the showrunners, the amount of time spent in the room varies greatly, with some preferring to spend more time brainstorming and outlining, while others prefer to dive straight into writing. Jennie Snyder Urman, showrunner and executive producer of the CW's "Sweetbitter," revealed that she spends a significant amount of time outlining and researching before starting to write. "I'm a total planner," Urman said. "I like to know where the story is going before I start writing. It helps me stay focused and ensures that the story stays on track." On the other hand, Joel Fields, co-creator of Netflix's "The Americans," prefers a more free-form approach. "I don't like to outline too much," Fields said. "I like to let the story unfold as we write it. It keeps the writing fresh and exciting." The showrunners also discussed the importance of collaboration in the writers' room. Howard Gordon, co-creator of the Fox series "24," emphasized the value of having a diverse group of writers with different perspectives and experiences. "The writers' room is where the magic happens," Gordon said. "It's where we come together to share ideas and create something new and exciting." Ginnifer Goodwin, showrunner of the ABC series "Once Upon a Time," added that the writers' room is also where the showrunners can learn from each other and grow as writers. The discussion also touched on the changing landscape of television and the impact it has on the writing process. With the rise of streaming services and the increasing demand for content, showrunners are facing new challenges and opportunities. "Television has changed so much in the past few years," said Joel Fields. "We're no longer limited to a traditional broadcast schedule. We can experiment with different formats and styles, which is exciting but also challenging." The A Night in the Writers Room gathering was a unique opportunity for showrunners to share their experiences and insights with each other and with the audience. The discussion highlighted the diversity of approaches and perspectives in the writers' room and the importance of collaboration and creativity in the writing process. As the television landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how showrunners adapt and innovate in response to the changing demands of the industry.