How to Write for Television

The Opportunities
- Television Needs You!
- Skills And Techniques
- What The Audience Wants
- High Cost = High Risk
- Working In Your Favour
- How To Succeed
- The Rewards
The Basics
- The Calling Card Script
- The Best Length At Which To Write
- The Ideal Number Of Characters And Locations
- The Best Kind Of Drama To Write
- Common Queries
- Summary
Story And Theme
- What Is Your Play Really About?
- Analysing The Story Outline
- The Dangers Of Too Much Analysis
- Summary
Style
- What Type Of Play Are You Writing?
- Narrative Realism
- Non-Realistic Drama
- Ways To Tell Your Story
- Ways The Camera Can Narrate Your Story
- Summary
Structure
- Simpler Than It Looks
- The Basic Structure
- The Opening
- Classic Hooks To Keep Viewers Watching
- Structuring For Commercial Breaks
- Multi-Strand Structuring
- Summary
Plotting
- How Do You Make The Plot Interesting?
- Conflict In Drama
- The Importance Of Decision-Making
- Consequences Of Action: Cause And Effect
- Creating Sympathy
- Plots To Avoid
- Summary
Visual Interest
- How To Increase Visual Interest
- Using Pictures Instead Of Words
- Dramatic Tension
- A Look At The Opening Of A Boon Episode
- Summary
Dialogue
- The Three Functions Of Dialogue
- How To Create Character Through Dialogue
- Colour And Texture
- Economy With Words
- Subtext
- The Through Line
- ‘bad Language’
- Common Faults In Dialogue
- Summary
Characterisation
- Giving Characters Depth
- Developing Characters
- Ill-Treating Characters
- The Thought Process
- Character Names
- Summary
Situation Comedy
- The Different Types Of Comedy
- What The Programme Makers Are Looking For
- Settings
- Characters
- Structure
- To Joke Or Not To Joke?
- 20 Top Tips For The New Sitcom Writer
- Hit Comedies
Presentation
- How To Make The Right Impression
- Presentation That Lets You Down
- Presentation That Helps You
- Int. Laboratory. Day
From Script To Screen
- Turning A Script Into A Programme
- Summary
The Difficult Markets
- Which Are The Most Difficult Areas To Get Into?
- Single Plays
- Serials
- Adaptations
Programmes Looking For Writers
- Which Are The Best Programmes To Try?
- Series Dramas
- Short Plays Or ‘shorts’
- Children’s Drama
- Situation Comedies
Soap Operas
- A Large And Growing Market
- The Soap Formula
- Soap Opera Stories
- Scripts And Writers
Other Markets For Scripts
- Children’s Programmes
- Education
- Science Programmes
- History Programmes
- Light Entertainment
- Human Interest, Consumers And Leisure
- Daytime Television
- Scottish, Welsh, Irish And Regional Programming
Common Queries
- Character Lists
- Synopses
- Protecting Your Written Copyright
- Protecting Your Ideas
- Scripting Commercial Breaks
- How To Time Scripts
- Script Layout
- Importance Of Titles
- Are Agents Necessary?
- How Much You Will Be Paid
Tv Talk: Common Words And Expressions Used In Scripts And In The Television Industry
Organisations That Will Help You
- Writing Courses
- Residential Courses, Day Seminars, And Workshops
- Taps
- Grants And Development Funds
- Internet Help Sites For New Writers
- Organisations For Writers
- University Courses
Where To Send Your Script
- Approaching A Script Editor
- Bbc Contact Addresses
- Independent Television
- Independent Production Companies
- Television Agents