Four Master TV Writers Reveal Secrets on Writing a Story

Writing a truly great story is so much harder than it seems. Everyone tells you to start with the basics, like a character. Work out a backstory, give them a goal and a weakness. But how can you craft a story or script that is genuinely so riveting that the reader or viewer is compelled to devour the next instalment?

The answer to that question can be found by analysing the workings of binge-worthy TV shows and the secrets of the most successful TV writers.

Three key steps and suggestions from master TV writers on planning and writing a story or script:

Step 1. Concept & Character

For TV series writing: Spend time getting the concept & characters right because an undercooked core creates problems later on. Hooks already embedded in the story concept itself are what make a series binge-worthy. The dramatic question at the heart of your series is key. A strong story engine can power multiple episodes.

How it’s valuable for all storytelling: No matter what you’re writing, your core concept must spark reader or audience interest fast and be able to hold their attention.

Vince Gilligan (creator of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and Pluribus) on

creating characters:

"I think the best way to write a show is to change your characters. The audience likes stability, but human beings change over time. The trick is to have them change in an organic, believable way.”

Step 2. Storyline Beats

For TV series writing: Multiple storylines occur within a TV episode. At the planning stage, each storyline should be assigned “beats”. These are moments, shifts or turning points that move the story forward in some way.

A one-hour episode might have 30 – 40 beats. The A-story follows the main character and will have the most beats. The B-story is often a parallel story that contrasts with the A story somehow or underlines the theme of the show. The C-and even D-stories affect minor characters in the show and will have less beats.

How it’s valuable for all storytelling: As the creator of your universe, you must know how the storylines of your various characters intersect and affect one another both plot-wise and thematically.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone (Creators of South Park) on planning storylines:

“We found out this really simple rule… We can take these beats… of your outline and if the words ‘and then’ belong between those beats, you’re fucked. You’ve got something pretty boring. What should happen between every beat you’ve written down is the word ‘therefore’ or ‘but.’”

 

Step 3. Episode Acts

For TV series writing: TV episodes are often structured using 4 or 5 acts (often with a teaser at the beginning of the episode). This forces the writer to build to a climax every 10 pages or so which keeps the audience engaged.

How it’s valuable for all storytelling: Dividing your narrative into acts will help not only pace your story but ensure that an audience remains engaged while carried along by the momentum of the action.

Shonda Rhimes (Creator of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and Bridgerton) on structuring acts:

“At the end of every act you want to have something happen that turns the story, meaning that the story should then head in a new direction each time you hit the end of an act. In Act One of your story, you really need to introduce your characters in an exciting way and set up your world in an exciting way.”

By using the tools of TV writing, you’ll soon level-up your story writing skills both on the page and on the screen in the fight for audience attention and engagement.

Story Inkubator was founded by writer, scriptwriter and teacher, Kristina Jilly, an Australian living in Central Europe who's written for HBO Europe and RTL Television. She has an M.A. in Screenwriting and teaches at the University of Applied Sciences in Austria. Kristina also writes online content about the art of storytelling and topics that inspire creativity. 

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