By Joshua Kazemi
Screenwriting fellowships can often feel mysterious from the outside looking in. It can feel like winning a coveted spot requires some sort of secret sauce that no one in particular is gatekeeping. As frustrating as that feeling may be, rest assured that there are, in fact, some universal truths accepted industry-wide that can help to turn a good script into a great one. One that’s strong enough to finally place in a contest, like the Shore Scripts TV Writers Mentorship Program.
Now, this isn’t the usual advice on plot or structure you’ve seen before, but it’s also not abstract musings on the art of writing either. As much as we love to hear brilliant minds go off about craft, artistry, and passion, we also need working professionals to get real and talk about practical steps writers can take to level up their game. At least sometimes.
So this is our way of giving some tangible, actionable ways to improve your scripts and give yourself the best chance to wow readers.
Format Like the Best of Them
From the first page of your script, you want to instill confidence in the reader. It’s an uphill battle, and you do not want to give anyone a single reason to lose faith in your script. The simplest and easiest way to lose someone is to have formatting issues. Which is a shame, but it’s also one of the easiest things to avoid. Always do a pass of your script specifically to make sure everything is where it’s supposed to be throughout your script.
Then, double and triple-check that the formatting throughout your script is correct for the format you’re writing. For example, a 1-hour drama script with act breaks typically opens with a cold open and is followed by 5 acts, whereas a ½-hour sitcom starts with a teaser, is followed by 3 acts, and often ends with a ‘tag’ (a final gag or character moment that ties up the episode).
Also, be sure that your formatting is consistent throughout your script. You can avoid a lot of unnecessary confusion if “TOM’S BEDROOM” is written that way throughout as opposed to randomly switching back and forth from just “BEDROOM”. Is the Captain character in your procedural referred to as “CAPTAIN”, “CAPTAIN HOLT”, or just “HOLT”? There’s no right answer, but you must pick one and stick with it.
Don’t Be Undermined by a Simple Trypo
This may sound like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised to discover how big a roadblock simple, avoidable typos can become. It’s important to develop an iron-clad procedure at the end of your writing process to ensure that everything on the page is exactly as you intend it to be.
Use spell check, use a grammar software, and have your screenwriting program read your script back to you. Do whatever you need to do to kick the tires of your script. You could even print your script out and read through it again. You’d be shocked at how previously unnoticed typos suddenly jump out at you when you hold them in your hand. And if you’re able, order some pizzas, and invite friends over to have a table read. Having it read aloud by other people is a great way to catch some stray typos, but it also gives you a chance to hear how your story is playing in a room. That feedback is invaluable.
Speaking of feedback, no matter how far along you are in your career, every writer could use some professional help. If you feel like something isn’t quite working with your script, professional feedback could be the next step. At Shore, we have a range of coverage options, from 3-page reports to a complete annotated copy of your proofread script. New to coverage? Check out our free guide on how to handle feedback.
Learn from What Works
Oftentimes, when you're pitching your show, you use comps to help bridge the gap. Your pilot script is about a series of murders that happen in a college dorm, so it’s like ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING meets THE SEX LIVES OF COLLEGE GIRLS. (Ooh, that’s actually kinda good. Dibs.) Not only does that help someone understand the kind of show you’re writing, but it can also be a direct source of inspiration.
It makes all the sense in the world to read at least the pilots of both of those shows and study them like gametape. What did they do to make this work? How are the characters introduced? How is the premise introduced? How many pages does it take to hook you? You can learn a lot from the very shows you hope to emulate.
At Shore Scripts, we’ve compiled a collection of 100+ TV scripts of the biggest produced shows out there, from the best of HBO to the top genre pilots. By studying the writing behind your favorite shows, you’ll quickly pick up new ways to craft an engaging story. Plus, having some distance from your own script might help you return to it with a fresh pair of eyes.
Your Check Show-Engine Light is On - Fix It
You have a great script, but it’s important to ask yourself if that great script is a great pilot specifically. One way to know for sure is if your script demonstrates your show engine. The thing that will keep your show going episode after episode. You may have an idea for episode two locked and loaded, but what about episode forty-two? Can your idea sustain itself over a long period of time? What happens when your main character makes it to the top of the mountain? What happens when the girl is no longer new? (In that specific case, the show becomes a buffet of improv delivered by beloved characters, and we love it for it)
Even still, your show engine needs to be clear. You need to be able to demonstrate that you can come up with a premise and execute a pilot that clearly communicates to readers, and eventually viewers, what they are signing up for. And that what they’re signing up for has legs to run multiple seasons. Maybe you have an idea you’re really passionate about, but you’re questioning if it has all these things. If so, it could be that you’re writing in the wrong format. Maybe your idea is better suited to a Short Film or Feature script. You can download our free guide to finding the right format for your idea here.
Make Your Script Undieable
The high-wire act that every pilot script attempts to walk is an incredibly difficult task. And unfortunately, on top of introducing characters, a world, a show engine, and all the rest, your pilot script also needs to stand out among the rest to secure a spot in a fellowship. Fortunately, you have something no one else has, something that no one else has read, and they won’t be able to deny: your voice. (Okay, this part is a little flowery, but it’s still practical, we promise.)
You don’t have to have experienced some deeply personal and traumatic event firsthand, but even if you have, you also don’t have to share that in your writing unless you want to. All you need to do is be specific about what you have come to learn about yourself, life, and how people overcome obstacles and change. Or at least hope to. Only you know what it’s like to have lived your life. And you’re a writer, so you have a deep pocket of details that you’ve picked up. Things that will make everything in your script feel that much more real and lived in. You may be afraid that some of the things that feel so unique to you will alienate a reader. But it’s those little things that become the most relatable, even if they haven’t happened to anyone else. It’s about exploring the vulnerable parts of humanity. And you have firsthand experience.
Finally, make the reader wish there was a next episode they could “press play” on, even though they swore they were only going to watch one episode and start going to bed at a reasonable hour. We’ve all been there during those accidental binge-sessions. You know what’s it’s like to be hooked at the end of the pilot. That’s what you need to strive for with your pilot script.
Once you have polished your pilot script and are ready to put it out in the world, why not consider submitting it to our TV Writers Mentorship Program? This isn’t your typical screenwriting contest. We’re offering a game-changing opportunity to level up your writing and career with 8 weeks of development sessions, including meeting with showrunner Beth Schwartz (ARROW), taking calls with development execs and reps, working on pitching prep, and more! See a full breakdown of the program here.
