Hollywood may say it's all for diversity, but TV writers tell a different story

In film, the director holds the creative top spot.

But in television, that position is almost always held by a writer, aka the showrunner. A quick primer on how it works: Showrunners are the key decision-makers on a series, from casting to determining a season's narrative arc to hiring a writers room to help build out and script each episode.

When it comes to TV writing, there are various job titles - "staff writer" being the entry-level designation and even that doesn't guarantee the opportunity to actually write an episode or have your name listed in the show's end credits.

Writers who advance get better titles (executive story editor, producer, etc.) and also better wages. At the executive producer/showrunner level, compensation might also include "points," meaning: A certain percentage of the show's profits. If a show runs for several