ABSTRACT
Reflecting fluctuations in society, in the industry from which the profession of screenwriting was born, in response to maturing audiences as well as socio-economic ups and downs, the role of screenwriter continues to evolve dynamically as the industry continues to grow, shift and mature in its own way. Television writers became part of the larger corporate machine, many dabbling in screenplays speculatively during downtime or on hiatus. Into the 1990s, Hollywood became the wild screenwriting west, in the best ways, as the spec market exploded. Today, with the arrival of peak TV driven by cable and digital outlets seeking the sort of scripted content that would help them expand and solidify their viewership, writers are finding varied avenues to break into that space. Throughout the years, what it meant to be a screenwriter, and what was expected from anyone attempting to own that moniker, has changed and shifted along with the shifts and changes in the industry.
