Taylor had a varied career prior to writing for television, including working as a newspaper and magazine reporter, as well as a musician who performed on guitar and sang with a rock band.

He began his television work as a freelance writer for the Deep Space Nine, where he wrote one of the franchise's classic episodes, "The Visitor," while living in New York and still pursuing his musical interests.

Taylor moved to Los Angeles to join the staff of Star Trek: Voyager during its final three seasons, writing many other memorable episodes.

Taylor's Voyager credits include: After Star Trek, he became a writer and producer on the USA Network series The Dead Zone, based on the science fiction thriller novel by Stephen King.

[1] In 2002, Michael Taylor was nominated for a Nebula Award, which is given by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, for writing the Dead Zone episode entitled "Unreasonable Doubt".