Write Weekly TV Recaps for a Living. When My Boyfriend Asked What I Was Watching, I Froze. - Film Daily

A freelance TV recap writer describes the strict structure behind weekly recaps and how it affects both work and personal life. The article’s narrator says they have worked for six years writing recaps for multiple media sites, covering prestige drama, a long-running procedural, and series from outlets like HBO or FX. They outline a workflow with pricing ranging from $250 for a straightforward procedural recap to just over $400 for a Sunday-night prestige recap due before 8 a.m. on the turnaround. The piece explains the “shape” of a recap: a cold open of about 200 words, ratings displayed in a box, a short multi-paragraph breakdown of episodes, and an SEO headline rewritten by editors. The narrative turns when a boyfriend asks what show they are watching, freezing the writer’s response.