Category: television writing

Larry Brody’s TV Writing Tips & Tricks #14 – Description, Description, Description!

by Larry Brody

Looking for more detailed info on TV Writing? Then this is for you!

Over the past several years I’ve noticed a running battle on all Message Boards, Bulletin Boards, Facebook Groups, you-name-it about screen and/or television writing. That battle is about how much to describe the action and settings in your script.

I can’t speak for feature films (although my theory there, which I’ve stated in other writings, is that everyone might as well emulate Shane Black, the most successful spec script writer/seller in history. Read something he’s written and then do the same), but I know television. read article

Larry Brody’s TV Writing Tips & Tricks #13

A Writer’s Credo
by Larry Brody

Looking for more detailed info on TV Writing? Then this is for you!

Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of what I can only call BAD WRITING. Self-indulgent and, frankly, uncommunicative.

I’ve written about the way I look at our “calling” before in my column in the sadly now defunct SCREENTALK Magazine. For those of you who missed it – and since the mag’s demise was about a generation ago that’s probably most of you – here’s a restatement. read article

Larry Brody’s TV Writing Tips & Tricks #12

Conflict!
by Larry Brody

In real life human beings strive to attain warm, comforting relationships with spouses, children and friends. We work hard to find ways to support each other emotionally.

However, I learned early on in my career that having your characters respond to each other this way on film is at best boring and at worst injurious to your script (and the ratings of your show). read article

Script Reader Pro’s “Ultimate Guide to Script Coverage”

If you’re a new TV or film writer, you’ve either just learned or are about to learn that at this point in your life, for all practical purposes your future is dependent on how impressed professional script readers are when they read your work. Which means, “Hey kids, this tutorial is for you!”

via Script Reader Pro

You’ve finally written the words “fade out” on your script, but how do you know if it’s good enough to send out into the industry? read article

Larry Brody’s TV Writing Tips & Tricks #11

More About Editing Yourself
by Larry Brody

Beginning writers, accustomed to thinking of all stories in terms of the three act structure of beginning, middle, and end, often make the mistake of believing that the scenes within their teleplays and screenplays must also have beginnings, middles, and ends.

While it’s certainly true that scenes need to build to a specific point or effect, don’t forget to make use of another old homily: Less is more! read article