Top 20 from Top 20 books on writing for TV

Jun 9, 2024

Based on the top recommendations from various books on writing for television, here are the consolidated top 20 to 30 recommendations for aspiring TV writers:

Concept and Idea Development

1. Start with a Strong Concept: Develop a marketable and unique concept that stands out (Bork, McKee).
2. Craft a Compelling Logline: Create a concise and intriguing logline that captures the essence of your show (Snyder).
3. Expand Your Idea: Build your initial idea into a full-fledged story with depth and potential for multiple episodes (Bork).

Structure and Plot

4. Master the Three-Act Structure: Use the classic three-act structure to craft compelling narratives (McKee).
5. Plot Construction: Focus on creating a well-constructed plot that drives the story forward (Truby).
6. Develop Key Plot Points: Identify and outline key plot points that will anchor your story (Bork, Snyder).

Character Development

7. Create Multi-Dimensional Characters: Develop complex characters with clear motivations and arcs (Douglas, Truby).
8. Unique Character Voices: Ensure each character has a distinct and consistent voice (Sandler).
9. Character Foundations: Establish strong foundations and backstories for your characters (Bork).

Dialogue and Scene Writing

10. Sharp Dialogue: Write realistic and engaging dialogue that enhances character and story (Sorkin).
11. Scene Construction: Learn the components of an effective scene and how to weave them together (McKee, Yorke).
12. Punchlines and Timing: For sitcoms, focus on setting up and delivering jokes effectively (Smith).

Theme and Moral Argument

13. Strong Themes: Weave a strong underlying theme and moral argument into your story (Truby, McKee).
14. Social and Political Themes: Seamlessly integrate complex social and political themes where relevant (Sorkin).

Writing Process

15. Daily Writing Habit: Write every day to build your skills and maintain momentum (King).
16. Edit Ruthlessly: Be prepared to revise and cut unnecessary parts of your script (King).
17. Simplify Language: Use clear and simple language to convey your story effectively (King).

Networking and Industry Insights

18. Understand the Market: Know what networks are looking for and tailor your pitch accordingly (Douglas).
19. Networking: Build industry connections and learn how to pitch your show ideas effectively (Douglas).
20. Learn from Experience: Study the experiences of successful writers and learn from their journeys (Goldman).

Additional Techniques

21. Improv Techniques: Use improvisation techniques to develop stories and collaborate effectively (Johnstone).
22. Save the Cat Moments: Include moments that make the audience root for your protagonist (Snyder).
23. Genre Conventions: Understand and use genre conventions to enhance your script (Truby, Snyder).
24. Hero’s Journey: Apply the hero’s journey framework to modern storytelling (Yorke).

Practical Tools

25. Script Formatting: Ensure your script is professionally formatted (Sorkin).
26. Show Bible: Develop a comprehensive show bible detailing characters, settings, and plot arcs (Sandler).
27. Conflict and Resolution: Focus on the importance of conflict and how it drives the narrative (McKee, Yorke).
28. Scene Weaving: Learn how to weave scenes together to build tension and maintain interest (Truby).
29. Collaborative Writing: Learn to work effectively in a writers’ room environment (Sandler).
30. Study Existing Scripts: Analyze existing scripts to understand their structure and pacing (Sandler).

These recommendations draw from the wisdom and practical advice found in some of the best books on writing for television, providing a comprehensive guide for aspiring TV writers.

Here are the top recommendations from each of the selected books on writing for television:

“Writing the TV Drama Series” by Pamela Douglas

1. Understand the Market: Know what networks are looking for and tailor your pitch to fit their needs.
2. Develop Strong Characters: Focus on creating multi-dimensional characters that can drive the story forward.
3. Master the Structure: Learn the essential structure of TV drama scripts, including acts, scenes, and beats.
4. Write a Compelling Pilot: Your pilot script needs to grab attention and set the stage for future episodes.
5. Networking and Pitching: Build industry connections and learn how to effectively pitch your show ideas (No Film School).

“The TV Writer’s Workbook” by Ellen Sandler

1. Break Down Scripts: Study existing scripts to understand their structure and pacing.
2. Develop Unique Voices: Ensure each character has a distinct and consistent voice.
3. Practice Dialogue: Work on writing realistic and engaging dialogue.
4. Create a Show Bible: Develop a comprehensive guide for your show, detailing characters, settings, and plot arcs.
5. Collaborative Writing: Learn to work effectively in a writers’ room environment (No Film School).

“Writing Television Sitcoms” by Evan S. Smith

1. Focus on Humor: Understand different types of humor and how to integrate them into your scripts.
2. Build a Strong Premise: Create a unique and relatable premise that can generate multiple episodes.
3. Character Dynamics: Develop interesting relationships and conflicts between characters.
4. Punchlines and Timing: Hone your skills in setting up and delivering jokes effectively.
5. Editing and Rewriting: Continuously revise your scripts to improve humor and clarity (Script Reader Pro).

“The West Wing Script Book” by Aaron Sorkin

1. Study Dialogue: Analyze how Sorkin crafts sharp, fast-paced dialogue.
2. Story Beats: Observe the story beats and how they are distributed across an episode.
3. Character Development: Note how characters evolve over multiple episodes.
4. Political and Social Themes: Understand how to weave in complex political and social themes seamlessly.
5. Script Formatting: Pay attention to professional script formatting and presentation (No Film School).

“Story” by Robert McKee

1. Three-Act Structure: Master the classical three-act structure for compelling storytelling.
2. Character Arcs: Develop characters with clear and engaging arcs.
3. Conflict and Resolution: Focus on the importance of conflict and how it drives the narrative.
4. Scene Construction: Learn the components of an effective scene.
5. Theme and Premise: Ensure your story has a strong underlying theme and premise (No Film School).

“Save the Cat Strikes Back!” by Blake Snyder

1. Loglines and Pitches: Craft compelling loglines and pitches that capture the essence of your story.
2. The 5-Point Finale: Structure your screenplay with Snyder’s five-point finale.
3. Save the Cat Moments: Include moments that make the audience root for your protagonist.
4. Genre Conventions: Understand and use genre conventions to enhance your script.
5. Beat Sheet: Use the beat sheet to outline your screenplay and ensure it has a solid structure (Script Reader Pro).

“The Anatomy of Story” by John Truby

1. Plot Construction: Focus on creating a well-constructed plot.
2. Character Development: Develop multi-faceted characters.
3. Moral Argument: Weave a strong moral argument into your story.
4. World-Building: Create a believable and engaging world for your characters.
5. Scene Weaving: Learn how to weave scenes together to build tension and maintain interest (Script Reader Pro).

“The Idea” by Erik Bork

1. Concept Development: Start with a strong, marketable concept.
2. Building Outward: Expand your idea into a full story with depth and potential for multiple episodes.
3. Character Foundations: Establish strong foundations for your characters.
4. Plot Points: Identify key plot points that will drive your narrative.
5. Pitch Preparation: Prepare a compelling pitch for your show (No Film School).

“On Writing” by Stephen King

1. Daily Writing Habit: Write every day to build your skills and maintain momentum.
2. Simplicity and Clarity: Use simple and clear language to convey your story.
3. Edit Ruthlessly: Be prepared to edit and cut unnecessary parts of your manuscript.
4. Read Widely: Read a variety of genres and styles to broaden your understanding of storytelling.
5. Develop Your Own Voice: Find and hone your unique writing voice (No Film School).

“Into the Woods” by John Yorke

1. Story Structure: Focus on the fundamentals of story structure.
2. Hero’s Journey: Understand the hero’s journey and how it applies to modern storytelling.
3. Character Motivations: Explore and develop your characters’ motivations.
4. Conflict and Resolution: Focus on the importance of conflict and how it drives the story forward.
5. Narrative Techniques: Learn and apply various narrative techniques to enhance your storytelling (Script Reader Pro).

These recommendations offer a comprehensive guide to various aspects of writing for television, from concept development and character creation to the intricacies of dialogue and story structure.

Here are some highly recommended books on writing for television, drawing from diverse perspectives and covering various aspects of the craft:

1. “Writing the TV Drama Series” by Pamela Douglas – A comprehensive guide to writing and selling your TV drama script, covering everything from story development to pitching your script​ (No Film School)​.
2. “The TV Writer’s Workbook” by Ellen Sandler – Offers a creative approach to television scriptwriting, with practical exercises and advice on breaking into the industry​ (No Film School)​.
3. “Writing Television Sitcoms” by Evan S. Smith – Focuses on the specific craft of writing sitcoms, providing updated examples from contemporary shows​ (Script Reader Pro)​.
4. “The West Wing Script Book” by Aaron Sorkin – Contains eight scripts from the acclaimed series, useful for studying dialogue and structure​ (No Film School)​.
5. “Story” by Robert McKee – While not exclusively about TV writing, McKee’s book on story structure is invaluable for understanding how to craft compelling narratives​ (No Film School)​.
6. “Save the Cat Strikes Back!” by Blake Snyder – A follow-up to the popular “Save the Cat,” offering more insights into story structure and character development​ (Script Reader Pro)​.
7. “The Anatomy of Story” by John Truby – Explores the fundamentals of storytelling, focusing on various genres and their unique requirements​ (Script Reader Pro)​.
8. “The Idea” by Erik Bork – Helps writers develop their initial ideas into fully fleshed-out scripts​ (No Film School)​.
9. “On Writing” by Stephen King – Though focused on writing in general, King’s insights on the craft of writing are highly applicable to TV scriptwriting​ (No Film School)​.
10. “Into the Woods” by John Yorke – Examines the structure of storytelling and its psychological underpinnings, making it a valuable resource for TV writers​ (Script Reader Pro)​.
11. “The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations” by Georges Polti – Useful for generating episode ideas by exploring classic dramatic situations​ (No Film School)​.
12. “Impro” by Keith Johnstone – Provides techniques for improvisation, which can be beneficial in a collaborative writing environment​ (No Film School)​.
13. “Adventures in the Screen Trade” by William Goldman – Shares Goldman’s experiences in Hollywood, offering valuable lessons for aspiring TV writers​ (No Film School)​.
14. “Storyline: Finding Gold in Your Life Story” by Jen Grisanti – Encourages writers to draw from their personal experiences to create compelling stories​ (No Film School)​.
15. “The Science of Storytelling” by Will Storr – Focuses on the neuroscience behind effective storytelling, providing insights into character and narrative development​ (Script Reader Pro)​.
16. “David Mamet’s Memo to Writers” – A famous memo from Mamet offering practical advice on the business and craft of TV writing​ (No Film School)​.

These books cover a range of topics from structural techniques and character development to practical industry advice, making them essential reads for anyone aspiring to write for television.