40 years worth of TV writing experience and info, yours for the taking.
Everything you need to know about great writing. Especially if you’re Stephen King (“Stop watching television?” Oh noooooooo):
Renowned author Stephen King writes stories that captivate millions of people around the world and earn him an estimated $17 million a year.
Here it is, gang. Just what you’ve been waiting for. Or should’ve been waiting for: The most complete guide to writing a spec episode of a TV series this TVWriter™ minion has ever seen.
Um, LB…why haven’t you done this? (Uh-oh. Am I in trouble now?)
For years, I’ve toyed with posting one of my scripts on this site and using it to explain my process of breaking a script. In all cases, I ran into the same problems: I couldn’t use something that I was still sending around as a sample with my own name on it, and anything older I was no longer using as a sample was probably such a sub-par example of my work that it seemed foolish to put it out there publicly. Every now and then I thought of writing one of those “gimmick” specs, like the infamous FRIENDS spec where they all get AIDS, but was often confronted by a lack of either time or inspiration.
The phrase “The More, the Merrier” is about as common as any statement in the English language can be. But to Etymologist Supreme Arika Okrent “there is something unusual about the construction.” And today she’s here to tell us what it is:
Another fine production made possible by Mental Floss
There are a zillion ways to ‘get started’ in terms of writing your teleplay and if you’re ambitious, your television series.
If the steps outlined in this series of articles resonate with you – then go for ’em! If they don’t, do whatever does work, but DO IT!
Speaking of editing your own work, as we were earlier in the week:
You need to edit your work even if you’re working with the world’s best editor. Especially if you’re working with the world’s best editor. Submit your best version?—?proofed and polished?—?and watch as the world’s best editor tears it apart.