Writing for television is a very collaborative environment. You need to set the stage with story possibilities so that your viewers will come back for episode two.Įstablish plot lines that will keep an audience hooked, such as romantic tension between two leads, or a big challenge for a character that will take several episodes to be resolved.Īs you develop the voice of your show, think ahead to where and how the irony, conflict, drama and story hooks will occur. Give your show a futureĪs you are writing your script, keep in mind that your plot lines and characters must have places to go. Keep your audience on the edge of their seats by using the act breaks (or commercial breaks) as cliffhangers. You need to create a big impression in the pilot.ĭepending on if you are writing a half hour or an hour show, you are going to separate your script into three or six acts. Don’t try to do too much, or the show will feel muddled and leave the audience confused.Ī good general rule is to introduce an A story and a B story, then resolve both stories within that episode. The pilot should introduce your show’s world and its core characters, give a taste of back story and create an episode template that clearly marks the show's tone. Keep it simpleīe careful not to overwhelm your audience in the first episode. Remember, you want your characters to be as dynamic as possible on screen to make the best possible use of your visual stage. What is the setting? What will the characters be wearing, will they be sitting still, entering or exiting, being active?

Television is visual, so as you are writing your script, consider the visual context of your scenes. Reading aloud as you write will also help produce lines that flow naturally.

Once you’ve developed your character’s traits, quirks and background, make sure their dialogue embodies that “voice” you have created in your head.

The key to writing a compelling character is to give them a clear and unique voice. Your cast is even more important than plot in a pilot episode because if the audience fails to connect to the characters, they won't tune in again. Start With an Outlineīefore you write your script, it helps to start with an outline of the basic elements, including the overall story arc and individual scene descriptions.Īn outline will help you shape your story, and point out any holes before you jump into developing the dialogue.

Template for writing a tv pilot