TV Show Writing

TV show writing is a field of writing, which is much more scintillating and satisfying job than most would have us believe. Much practice is required before you can become a good TV writer. The major advantage of pursuing a career in TV show writing is that you only have to write a continuous story, which is broken up in segments that make up a whole. Taking one step at a time is less taxing. Yet this very factor has a flip side. The disjointed efforts must flow smoothly, giving each episode an impression of continuity. It becomes imperative to maintain the tenor and pace of the storyline while also paying attention to preserving accurate characterization of the actors so that no kinks show up. A few tips can get you started:

· Undergo dedicated training -- formal or informal -- to learn the basics of TV show writing.

· Self tutor by watching TV shows of many genres, both half hour and hour shows.

· Observe and take notes on how the story was developed, what you liked or disliked about the show
and why.

· Read and study many scripts, especially TV shows airing currently. There are websites specifically devoted to TV show scripts.

· Study the genre of your choice in depth and conduct research.

· Formulate an outline for your entire plot.

· Write the pilot episode and get it critically analyzed. Make suitable changes and re-write.

· Introduce the supporting characters at intervals to maintain the flow and rhythm.

· Heighten the suspense just before a commercial break. A 60 minute show will have four such breaks.

· Begin and end the show with a bang leaving your audience wishing for more.

· Keep a record of the idiosyncrasies, language, and favorite phrases used by your characters so that all the episodes are seamless.

· TV show writing means hard labor, so get down to some serious and regular work.

· Adhere to the formatting rules or use software to help you do this.

The task of TV show writing is gratifying since you have a much larger audience who can provide you nearly instantaneous feedback in the form of reviews. There are professionals hired specifically for this purpose. The formatting guidelines are easy for anyone to learn. Television show writing does not come naturally, even to to those who are television buffs and love to write. By understanding the basic structure and guidelines of television writing, however, you will be better prepared to write a hit television show.