PulpLit.net

Writing the TV Drama Series

Writing the Tv Drama Series

First, a confession: I have never been interested in writing a TV drama series. Only once every five years or so am I even convinced to follow a TV drama series. Though I intend no disrespect to the genre and for the record, have never been one of those annoying "I don't even have a TV, thank God" people, I read Writing the TV Drama Series by Pamela Douglas for the same reason I can't get down to work in the morning without first skimming three sources of international news and several blogs: I am incredibly nosy. I was curious to know where TV drama series come from and from a purely selfish perspective, I wondered whether there might be some secret TV writing technique I might be able to harness for my own devilish novel-writing needs.

This book fulfilled all my nosy desires. Far beyond filling in the hows and whys of the craft, this book accomplishes the admirable task of breaking a larger-than-life process down into logical, achievable steps. In doing so, it sells its subject so well that if you make it to the end still not interested in writing for TV, you might have to ask yourself whether you actually enjoy writing at all. If you have seen TV, own word processing software and have a pulse, this book is for you.

Nominally aimed at recent grads of TV writing courses, Writing the TV Drama is probably better suited to newbies like me, who will be looking for an overview of not only how to write for TV but also why, and how the industry works as a whole. Right off the top, Pam Douglas establishes herself as both a seasoned veteran of TV writing and a benevolent educator and matriarch of the craft. Everything a writer needs to break into the industry is covered, from pitching a proposal, to crafting a pilot script to the ins and outs of serving on a writing staff and how much money to expect once you get there.

Throughout the book, helpful charts and diagrams illustrate everything from character arcs, to the production cycle. Script samples offer opportunities for both inspiration and analysis. A glossary of TV terms fills in the gaps for the uninitiated, and an appendix of industry resources points the way for future research and development.

Each chapter is followed by an engaging in-depth personal interview with a seasoned industry heavyweight including the likes of Stephen Bochco, John Wells and John Sacret Young. These are drawn from all corners of the industry and feature writers, producers, agents and reps from the Writers Guild of America.

Throughout the book great care is taken to address how the industry is changing with the shakeup of the traditional programming grid and the introduction of more digital and multimedia options to the televised landscape.

The only complaints I have with the Writing the TV Drama relate to nitpicky production details. This is one of those books that ought not to be judged by its cover, which is flimsy, and bears an image of a dude lying down, watching TV. I can only assume his show in hiatus because the book makes it clear that if you want to break into TV writing, you're going to be doing everything but loafing.

A charitable attempt to use photos throughout the book falls flat because the low quality of the printing makes it difficult to see any details. More annoying, some of the production stills are just there as window dressing and don't relate to the text at all.

Note: Ed Note: The book reviewed was a bound galley, therefore comments about picture placement/cover quality may not be accurate and have been removed.

These flaws are easily overlooked. If anything, I wish the book were more robust because I can see myself referring back to it frequently.

Writing the TV Drama is about everything a writer can accomplish with talent, development and perseverance. As such, I recommend it to anyone who is interested in writing. While industry hierarchies support virtually every genre of writing, from film to novels, in Writing the TV drama, it is refreshing to see relationship between the industry and the art acknowledged so openly. Here standards and rules are addressed not as restrictions, but as the stable framework around which creativity can grow. Aspiring TV writers will find all the advice they need. The merely nosy, like me, will find a fascinating and detailed view into the medium and many tips applicable to good writing in general.