The best calling card for any would-be TV writer is an impressive original pilot script. Having one can help you find writing jobs, get accepted into fellowships, or gain representation through opportunities like our TV Writers Mentorship Program.
But writing a one-hour TV pilot is no small feat, so before you start, here are 5 questions to consider:
1) What Kind of Series Do You See This Pilot Kicking Off?
In other words, will it be episodic, serialized, an anthology, or a limited series? Whether you grew up on shows like THE X-FILES and DEXTER and want to create similar worlds where each episode is a self-contained story, or your idea has a smaller scope that better fits a limited series like CHERNOBYL, it’s vital you know what kind of series you’re writing for.
2) Does Your Idea Have Legs?
The most important thing for a TV pilot script to have is a premise with enough narrative fuel to propel an entire series. Your idea needs to contain characters that can go on long journeys of deep development, plots that can be reimagined again and again into various subplots, and a central conflict that can be explored over an extended period of storytelling.
3) What is YOUR Unique Take?
Make sure to put a fresh spin on your pilot. If you’re writing a medical drama, for example, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel completely – but consider what sets your story apart from others out there. What aspect of the story is something only YOU could tell?
4) Can You Tell Your Characters Apart?
It’s important to ensure that each of your characters has their own unique way of speaking. Here’s a test to see how well you really know your characters – if you were to remove all your character names from your script, would you be able to tell who was speaking just by their dialogue? Would a reader?
5) What is Your Character’s Season – and Series – Arc?
Television shows aren’t restricted by the same time constraints that feature films are, so there’s more room to explore your characters. Characters drive a show, so knowing your protagonist’s arc is crucial. Not only do we need to know what they’re striving for and what’s getting in their way, but we’ve got to care about them long-term, so creating a great protagonist that we’ll want to keep following is essential.
Answering these 5 questions for yourself will help make your 1-hour TV pilot undeniable!
Ready to share your one-hour pilot with the world? Our TV Writers Mentorship Program is open for applications. We’re looking for writers to join our 8-week program, including meeting with showrunner Beth Schwartz (ARROW), calls with development execs and reps, working on pitching prep, and more. See a full breakdown of the program here. Regular deadline is April 11th!
