Q&A for How to Write a Television Show Script

Find your main focus by asking yourself what you want to say about the world or a particular situation or problem. Then, create a fleshed-out main character to tell the story. How old are they? Where are they from? What would they look and sound like?

You could try to find someone in the industry who will read it and give you advice. Check with your parents to see if they have any friends who work in the media, or ask for recommendations on social media. Spread the word and try to network.

First start creating your characters. On your computer, laptop, or on a piece of paper do an "About" which consist of name, gender, age, birthday, family, friends, relationships. And then do the your characters history and personality and any magical abilities they have. Then when you are done with that, do the same thing with your town and it's landmarks and the types of magic and magical tools it uses. The religion it uses, type of clothing, stuff like that.

Contact the producers, directors or writers.

You might have a chance, but you might also want to make it different from the other show.

Each episode should have a runtime of about 40 minutes, to account for a 1-hour time slot that includes commercials.

Showcase the reality of the African music market featuring the good and bad. Next, give the audience an inside view of one overcoming the obstacles along the journey to reach the top.

Yes. Your best bet is to make it original. There are already a lot of stories like this, kind of like The Hunger Games, so make it stand out from the rest.

Find something that will give the characters an edge that the viewers can't deny watching. A soap opera in a village is already a unique scenario.

Depending on your age, friends, and time, follow the instructions and learn how to make swimmable tails.

Probably a drama, but you can really make it any genre you see fit. Sometimes you just need to write and a genre will come out of it. I've had trouble coming up with genres myself, so I just came up with the theme and characters and their motives. Then just started writing and the right genre wrote itself into the story.

Yes. You can't use someone else's intellectual property without express permission.

When you feel you can't stop re-writing it, it is good enough. When you have difficulties changing anything, send some good friends your script and have them tell you what they think, ask them what they think should be changed, and what they think of some dialogue. Get all their input then do that until everyone seems happy with it. That's when you'll know.

If it's a developed enough idea, there's sure to be a audience to follow it. Just work through it and try to get it into the right hands.

Look up templates online and go from there. I suggest looking for a show in your genre, and reading a script or two. Don't copy the content, just use the format and make it your own. Then, once you get used to it, you can work with it a little more if it doesn't exactly fit what you're trying to do.

Just as you would write any other synopsis. Write it as if you're telling it to someone. Don't forget to sell the show and make readers want to see your show.

Yes, because the process remains the same.

Avoid Mary Sue characters (who are perfect in every way), have a unique plot, original characters, and a catchy title. Treat it like a book and do research. Or think of a cool and popular show that you like and think about why you like it for inspiration.

It depends on who you are working for. It could be anywhere from $3,000 to $500,000, sometimes more. Of course, if you are just writing for fun and not for a TV show, you might not even get paid at all. It all depends on what the production company or studio is willing to pay, how popular the show is, etc.

Yes, it would work. Even though your idea has been used already countless times, there are still ways to stand out and be original.

Enclose action notes in brackets, like this [continues to type the answer on keyboard].

Of course! Many shows have directors who are writers.

Look at the way that TV show takes advantage of both their characters and the setting. For example, "Parks and Rec" and "The Office" were shot and created in almost identical ways, but they ended up being entirely different shows with a somewhat similar premise. Find a way to make your characters unique and interesting, and if the setting is the same, find a way for them to interact with it in a new way.

You can include them in the script. If you're just starting out and it's your fist time writing a script I highly suggest you to leave most of the angles for the director/cameraman. However, don't stop yourself from writing them if you would like to, when your script gets published it would be extremely easy to change them.

Make it unique. Be inspired by people and things in everyday life. Don’t make it overly dramatic, and make sure your characters and storyline make sense.

It depends, as there isn't a limit on words. When you rehearse how the show should go, make sure it doesn't exceed one hour.

You can't try to sell a script about DC characters, as DC owns them and you will get sued. You can write fan fiction, but cannot profit from it.

You should be fine, the two shows can share that aspect of the plot. However, avoid making it too similar. Changing the protagonist's goals and personality, as well as other aspects of the show (his relationship with his grandparents, the change in lifestyle, etc).

Comedies are usually episodic, and the script is a bit more humour-oriented. Dramas tend to be serial, and the scripts usually follow the relationships and struggles of its characters.

First make sure that you have a person to interview so when you introduce them, the audience can get a sense of who they are. Start with the basic talk show intro: Good evening everybody and welcome to the ______ show! My name is_____ and today we have a special guest... [name]". Then you write a set of questions that will reveal the person's current activities and thoughts.