It depends on your goals and this isn't just true for TV writing - it's true for everything. I just watched The Social Network, and it's a perfect example - sl

It depends on your goals and this isn't just true for TV writing - it's true for everything. I just watched The Social Network, and it's a perfect example - slaving away as somebody's assistant, pumping your connections, doing something on the side, "meeting important people", you will eventually get into one of those exclusive finals clubs, and then live a life of secure mediocrity. Perhaps even at a very high level, making very good money. If, on the other hand, you're actually obsessed about creating something great, you end up inventing facebook. There's a good chance you'll fail, too but at least you have followed your dreams and imaginations. I guess it depends on what kind of person you are, and what your goals are. I assume that really great writers - or great anything -never did the connections thing.