YOU CAN’T MAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD… UNLESS YOU OUTLINE
Hollywood doesn’t pay for vibes. It pays for structure
Um, hmm… that’s right.
WRITERS LOVE TO SAY THEY HATE OUTLINING.
But here’s the truth: if you want to make it in Hollywood, outlining isn’t optional — it’s required. Outlines are a detailed snapshot of your story — the plot, the emotional arcs, the big turns — used to make sure everyone’s on the same page before you start writing pages.
In features, you may be hired for an OWA (Open Writing Assignment) — a paid opportunity where a studio or production company hires a writer to develop a project based on an existing idea instead of buying their original script. In these cases, your outline is contractually required and often included in your step deal, meaning you don’t get paid for the next step (writing the script) until your outline is approved. And trust — outlines can go through several drafts before that happens.
yeah, ok. but i want to write tv, so…
The gag is… in TV, staff writers are expected to submit an outline for every episode to the network or studio for approval. You cannot escape outlining.
so why does this matter for you as an emerging writer?
Practice makes professional.
Outlining isn’t busy work — it’s how pros werk. Remember geometry class? You couldn’t just write down the answer; you had to show your work. That way, if the answer was wrong, you could find your mistake along the way. Your outline works the same way — it reveals plot holes and inconsistencies before they trip you up in the draft.
If you want to be a professional writer, we’ll help you practice a professional process:
Have an idea.
Build your characters and world.
Write your outline to map out the full story.
Submit it for review.
At The Professional Pen, we’ll review your outline just like a studio exec would — giving you actionable notes, identifying what’s not clear or working, and guiding you to an “approved for script” plan. No more throwing spaghetti at the wall with your stories. An outline is a solid roadmap to a strong draft.
Not sure how to outline? Click here to learn the format the pros use.
