She was also writer and executive producer on the NBC film Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors.
She began writing scripts for the show while she was still part of the cast, and in 1982, Long was named head writer of Texas.
[3] Long created several key characters on Guiding Light, including vixen Reva Shayne, complicated Alexandra Spaulding, and rough-around-the-edges ingenue Harley Davidson Cooper.
Long was creator and executive producer of the prime-time drama Second Noah for ABC, for which she won the Child Advocate Award.
Numerous pilot developments, TV movies and a feature film followed, as well as writing and producing the first scripted drama series for MTV, Undressed, with Roland Joffe.