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Matt B. Roberts shares how the Outlander writers are assigned their episodes

By Alexandria Ingham

HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 18: (L-R) Executive producer Ronald D. Moore, actors Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe, executive producer Maril Davis, production designer Jon Gary Steele and executive producers Toni Graphia and Matthew B. Roberts arrive at Starz's "Outlander" FYC Special Screening and Panel at the Linwood Dunn Theater at the Pickford Center for Motion Study on March 18, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 18: (L-R) Executive producer Ronald D. Moore, actors Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe, executive producer Maril Davis, production designer Jon Gary Steele and executive producers Toni Graphia and Matthew B. Roberts arrive at Starz's "Outlander" FYC Special Screening and Panel at the Linwood Dunn Theater at the Pickford Center for Motion Study on March 18, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images) /
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Ever wondered how certain Outlander writers are given certain episodes? Matt B. Roberts shares some of the secrets from behind the scenes.

The Outlander writers will be getting ready to start on Season 5 soon. There’s still some pre-production work to do first, like choosing the storylines from the books to develop in the 12 episodes available, but the writing will be underway very soon to get ahead of filming. That filming date is already known! The question is do they know who the writers are for each episode yet?

While we don’t get to learn that, Matt B. Roberts recently shared in a Twitter Q&A just how the episodes are divided up. Does everyone have a scramble for what they believe are the best episodes? Do they just get given an episode and have to deal with it?

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It turns out that it’s sort of a mixture of both. If the Outlander writers find an episode that speaks to them the most, maybe it’s the storyline or the chapter from the novel, then they get to pick that episode. Of course, if every writer chose the same episode there would be a problem! Roberts didn’t go into too much detail over how that picking and choosing works.

However, for the most part, the episodes are handed out between the writers. It’s the showrunner’s job to assign the writing.

Outlander writers and showrunners and cast
HOLLYWOOD, CA – MARCH 18: (L-R) Executive producer Ronald D. Moore, actors Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe, executive producer Maril Davis, production designer Jon Gary Steele and executive producers Toni Graphia and Matthew B. Roberts arrive at Starz’s “Outlander” FYC Special Screening and Panel at the Linwood Dunn Theater at the Pickford Center for Motion Study on March 18, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images) /

In case you were wondering, the writing is done ahead of filming. In fact, it’s one of the first things that happens in the pre-production stage and is a good quarter of the process. And yes, there are tons of moments from the novels that Roberts wishes made it to the show. There just isn’t the time to fit them all in! He’s a fan of the novels just like the rest of us!

Next: 9 places every Outlander fan should visit

Did you realize how much work goes in before filming? Are you surprised at how the Outlander writers get their assignments? Share in the comments below.

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