Troy Devolld is always thinking of ideas for new TV projects, even when he doesn’t realize it – it’s kind of a fascinating process to watch. You’ll be sitting with him having a conversation about a classic movie he just saw or a favorite restaurant he wants you to try, and out of nowhere his eyes will light up as something sparks his imagination. For Troy, every situation has the potential to create great television.

“I’m constantly sending emails to myself so that I’ll remember what my ideas are,” he says. “I’ll write at least a couple a week saying ‘I have a great idea for a new show,’ something that I thought of while I was in the middle of executing the show I was already working on.”

As a writer, story editor, and producer for reality television, it’s safe to say that Troy has settled on his ideal career, with the episodic storylines and quick turnarounds offering the rare creative outlet that can actually keep pace with his rapid-fire inspiration.

Troy discovered his love of reality TV shortly after graduating from Full Sail’s Film program, beginning his career on the MTV hits Fear and The Osbournes. These two shows helped kickstart the reality craze, as well as Troy’s career, which has since included credits on many of the genre’s top-rated series, including The Bachelor, Dancing with the Stars, Flipping Out, and Basketball Wives.

“When I was a student I never thought about going into reality television, but it’s one of those weird happy accidents,” he says. “As a writer your rewards are more immediate. If I work on a film it might take two or three years to see my vision realized on screen for a grand total of two-and-a-half hours. At last count, I have written and/or produced 62 hours of television in the last 10 years.”

Troy’s day-to-day work is a rarely publicized, but vital part of the television industry, as he develops the overall narrative for a reality series and creates different situations for the cast members to interact with. He’ll also assist during postproduction, breaking down the raw footage into episodes, and creating different story arcs that will play out during a season. There’s a real art to this role, picking up on little moments the camera catches in the lives of real people, and Troy continues to find inspiration in the ability he has to turn these slices of life into compelling entertainment.

“What you do to stay fresh in reality TV is to tell stories in a way that people have not seen before, and honesty is always fresh,” he says. “What I love most is when it’s done well you get to tell real stories. The reactions are completely real, and that’s something you will never have in scripted television. You get to see real human behavior, and it can be very uplifting.”

It’s an interesting concept in itself, building a career on stitching together the highlights (and lowlights) of people’s lives and presenting them for millions of people to see. It could actually be the basis for a good reality series – an irony that isn’t lost on Troy as he thinks back on his success. Maybe the only surprising thing is that he hasn’t already pitched the idea himself.

“I’m really grateful to reality television for what it’s been able to do for me,” he says. “I’ve been lucky enough to have a resume that’s pretty much almost every significant reality show in every possible subgenre, and I like watching my shows because I can look back and 99% of it is very lighthearted, fun stuff. I think success is being able to make a go of whatever you choose to do, and being content with the quality of work you’re doing. It’s about your ability to have a place in the creative community and be able to do what you want for a living.”