Category: Resources

40 years worth of TV writing experience and info, yours for the taking.

Servicing Your Characters

will-s

by Diana Black

Last week explored what we must know about a character in The Character Profile – hell, we barely scratched the surface! However, it didn’t include their shoe size, favorite dessert or the color they most like to wear unless those ‘choices’ figure prominently in their psyche; influencing their interaction with those around them and the events unfolding in the narrative..

If we’re to flesh the character/s out in order to get them up off the page, especially in moments when we’re seriously contemplating flipping burgers (or whatever) because of plot issues, then we need to be respectful. If we don’t take our characters seriously, how can we expect people other than ourselves, to root for them? read article

Peggy Bechko Wants Us to Know “The Rules for Writing a Novel”

by Peggy Bechko

ruler
Not rulers, munchman, rules. Sheesh!

“There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.”? W. Somerset Maugham

It’s funny and it’s true. Of course I could get nit-picky and start talking about language and all the rules needed to write properly. I could go on about the mythology behind stories, story arcs, beats and how to construct one the ‘right way.”

But I won’t. read article

Reality TV Troy Wants to Know What YOU Want to Know

by Troy DeVolld

There comes a time when a fella really wants to update his blog with something useful, to not simply plug something he’s got to sell or rehash some old troydevolldis coolthing he’s covered before, but there just doesn’t seem like there’s anything to be said at the moment.

I’d imagine it has something to do with being up to my elbows in a move from North Hollywood out to Sunland, where it’s quiet enough to decompress after each long week of work on a show coming back to HGTV next year, finish up the second edition of REALITY TV, and enjoy myself in the stolen moments between answering emails, consulting and all the other reality stuff I find myself doing — like revising not one but two lectures coming up at Story Expo in less than two weeks.

It’s a great life, but sometimes I get tired and have to walk away from things or handle business for a minute.  How about this — help me out by requesting something I could contribute to the blog for you next week.  I feel awfully bad about taking such a long hiatus, and would really love to share something new with you. read article

8 Tips for Writing for Children’s TV Shows

It’s Worldwide TV Writing Weekend here at TVWriter™ so let’s get started with this excellent advice from India:

writingbyhandInterviewed by
Sushmita Ghosh, Anuj Shukla and Aastha Dass

Writing for kids is one of the best and simple forms of storytelling as it is free of any incredulity. However, it is not an easy task, it requires the same amount of scriptwriting skill and craft as writing any other drama does. If you are able to write a script of a kids’ TV show, with a good turning point and meet the children’s requirement, then the kids are waiting eagerly to watch your show.

Here are eight tips suggested by Mr. Aviram (Content Director, head of creative team at Ceasikaletet, a company specializing in the production and distribution of videos and books for children) on scriptwriting for kids television series: read article

Writing the Character Profile

Picture-11

by Diana Black

In a previous article, The Creative Process, we concluded that a sound knowledge and understanding of creative writing principles along with a penchant for creativity, must be ‘in the room’ if we are to transform blank pages into a polished Teleplay. It must sparkle like a diamond amidst a pile of…..

Diamonds are tough, the hardest substance known – able to scratch any other substance, including metal. Graphite is one of the softest; so soft we can use it as a pencil and leave a stream of molecules sliding off onto the page in the form of words comprising the rough draft of our teleplay. Diamond and Graphite are pure substances comprised of only one element – Carbon. So how can this be?

It’s all about structure – more precisely, molecular structure. Both Diamond and Graphite are allotropes (forms) of Carbon. End of science lesson…almost. read article