Writing for TV: Discovering Your Voice i

Successfully selling a television show requires a writer to have a unique POV, engaging characters and a solid story engine. A series creator must develop two important documents to help them sell their show to television executives – the series bible and the pilot script. Through a number of creative exercises, students will learn the intricacies of the unique screenwriting formats that are the half-hour and hour-long teleplays. Together we will cover the differences between an episode arc and a seasonal one, the requirements of A/B/C story plotting, and how to write an effective show bible.

We will survey popular tv series from diverse voices, primarily focusing on women showrunners and/or series with strong female leads (including New Girl, Stranger Things, Never Have I Ever, Abbott Elementary, Ginny & Georgia, Derry Girls and more). By the end of the course, students will have a written mini series bible, a detailed pilot outline and the first act of their pilot script, which will be the springboard for creating a series that truly stands out!