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How to Write a Television Script

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  • Introduction

    • Maybe you know every single Buffy episode by heart. Maybe you've watched Battlestar Galactica so many times that you could take over for Commander Adama. If you're a television buff who loves to write, then television screenwriting is probably for you. Every series starts somewhere. As a writer, you could help to shape the future of prime time for years to come.
    • However, it's probably not surprising to learn that screenwriting is very competitive. Writing a good script can get you in the door, but there are many quality scripts that don't get made. It's important to hone your skills and create the best script possible to make the most out of every opportunity.
    • This How To guide, combined with a lot of elbow grease and some serious dedication, can help you to get started on the road to a successful career writing for television.

  • Step 1: Watch and Read... A Lot

    • If you don't like to watch television, then hopefully you have the common sense not to write for TV. Because when you're a scriptwriter, it pays to watch a lot of television. Here are some tips on what to watch and what to look for when you're watching:
    1. Don't just limit yourself to one genre or format. Watch a wide variety of shows.
      • Watch the ones at the top of the Nielsen ratings and the ones that aren't doing so hot.
      • Watch shows that have won writing Emmys.
      • Watch 30 minute shows and 60 minute shows.
    2. Take notes on your reactions at first. Write down what you liked and disliked as a viewer: when were you bored, when did you laugh, when did you lose interest and start flipping through a magazine. What happened right before a commercial break, and were you itching to find out what happened next.
    3. And then, once you've got a feel for what works for you as a viewer, try to get your hands on a couple of scripts. The ideal situation is to be able to read a script and then watch the episode, so try to find a series that's out on DVD. You can get free scripts online at the following websites:
    4. Read the script, and then watch the episodes with the script at your side. Learn how what is written on the page translates to the screen.

  • Step 2: Pick a Genre, Any Genre

    • There are some rules that are true of any television show, but each genre also has its own conventions. Once you know what genre you want to write in, it's time to study that genre in depth.
    1. Do your research. If your genre requires special knowledge, start studying. For example, if you really want to write police procedurals, it's a good idea to have a passing acquaintance with police regulations.
    2. You need to know what's out there if you're going to stand out from the crowd. Start a list of shows that are in the same genre as yours. Try to watch as many of them as you can.
    3. Figure out how your idea stands out from the crowd. How is it different from the shows already on the market? You need to be able to express this in a succinct sentence or two at the most, which is called a logline.
      • Your logline needs to differentiate you from all of the other shows on the market. It should be brief, to the point, and it should stress what's special about your show.
      • For example, if you want to write a show about crime scene investigators, you'll need to show agents and producers that it's different from the popular CSI franchise. This difference should be completely clear in your logline: "Lieutenant Bobo is a slapstick comedy about a Crime Scene Investigator who happens to be a baboon."
      • By developing your logline first, you have a chance to hone your idea and make it as unique and compelling as possible without going completely overboard. If you can't clearly state what makes your show special, how can you expect someone to buy it?

  • Step 3: Outline Your Plot

    • Telling a satisfying story in a single television episode is a lot more difficult than it looks. Not only are you limited by time, but you're also required to write scenes in acts that allow for commercials.
    1. Get some ideas about the standard act structure for your genre. If everyone on air is using a four act structure and you want to use three, why? Rules can be broken, but you ought to have a good reason for doing it.
    2. Some shows such as sitcoms don't follow a rigid act structure. So again, the key is to understand what is being done.
    3. Once you've settled on a structure, outline your story.
      • Choose a format that works best for you: index cards, spiral bound notebooks, computer, crayon, whatever.
      • Write down the basic actions that will happen in each act.
      • Determine where the commercial breaks will lie and make sure that the action leading into the commercial is compelling enough to make viewers stay tuned.

  • Step 4: Develop Your Characters

    • A good character can really make or break a TV show, and some of the best shows have the most memorable characters. Tony Soprano. Lucy Ricardo. Jack Bauer. Mulder and Scully. Carrie Bradshaw. Make the most of your characters to add depth to your show.
    1. You'll need lead characters, who will appear in almost every episode; supporting characters, who appear sporadically; and guest characters who reappear rarely if at all. Obviously, it makes the most sense to spend the bulk of your time developing the leads since they'll carry the show.
    2. Take the time to develop a history. Leads should have some kind of history or backstory that helps to drive their actions and shapes who they are.
    3. Keep a list of mannerisms, favorite phrases, and other details. Catchphrases can be very powerful tools when developing a character.
    4. Although you might spend days or even weeks working on a character background, that doesn't mean that you need to cram all of that information into the script. The idea is to let small details leak out gradually. Think about it like getting to know a person in real life. If you learned everything about them in the first day, wouldn't you get a little bored?

  • Step 5: Write Like the Wind

    • A lot of people talk about wanting to be writers but never put their pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard. Don't let all of your hard work go to waste. Sit down and write.
    1. Decide how often you want to write and then stick to your schedule. Whether your goal is to write every day or twice a week or to finish five pages no matter how long it takes, get it done.
    2. There will be days that you don't want to write. The writers who make it in big this business are the ones who write anyway.
    3. Writer's block is a reality you'll have to deal with. If a scene isn't working, put in a placeholder to remind you to go back and finish it later, and move on to another scene. The goal is to keep working; don't let a problem in page two keep you from moving on indefinitely.

  • Step 6: Use the Right Format

    • Script formatting software is available and makes the process as easy as possible, but of course there's a cost associated with most programs. You can also hand-format. Whatever you do, make sure that you follow the conventions. Otherwise, you reduce your chances of success.
    1. If you really plan to pursue screenwriting as a career, formatting software is worth the investment. The most popular programs include:
    2. If you're determined to format by hand, you'll need a scriptwriting format book or website. You can find a lot of resources online these days. The rules are too long to list here, but here's a sample of what you'll need to do:
      • Scenes are numbered and start with what's called a slugline: the location and time of day.
      • Scenes start with FADE IN:
      • Character names are capitalized.
      • Dialogue is capitalized and double spaced.

  • Step 6: Revise Until Your Head Spins

    • By all means, celebrate when you finish the first draft of your script. You deserve it; you've made it a lot further than most people ever do. Unfortunately, this is also where the real work of revision begins.
    1. First, you'll need to focus on the big stuff.
      • Does the plot make logical sense?
      • Does tension increase as the plot moves forward?
      • Is there a satisfying resolution?
      • Are the technical details accurate? Look them up; you need to know for sure.
      • Is it the right length?
      • Do your commercial breaks hit at the right place page wise?
    2. Now it's time to fine tune.
    3. For help with revisions, why not join a critique group or writer's group. Other writers can help point out problems and potential solutions that you're just too close to your work to see clearly.

  • Conclusion

    • Anyone who tells you that writing a television script is easy is flat out lying to you, but every screenwriter started where you are today: with no writing credits but a lot of drive. With some hard work, who knows? You could be the next Seth MacFarlane or J.J. Abrams.

  • Resources for How To Write a Television Script


 


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