Writing Television Drama: Get Your Scripts Commissioned

by Nicholas Gibbs

Writing Television Get Your Scripts Commissioned takes you from the very first line of the script through to becoming a regular writer for soaps and 'continuing dramas'. It starts with the basics of different types of script and production, and moves on to getting ideas, shaping character and dialogue, re-writing, pitching work and the practicalities of who does what in the production world, in both the UK and the US. Structured around a practical, progressive, goal-orientated approach, each chapter contains a diagnostic test, case studies, practical exercises and Aide Memoire boxes. Each chapter concludes with a reminder of the key points of the chapter (Focus Points) and a round-up of what to expect in the next (Next Step) will whet your appetite for what's coming and how it relates to what you've just read.

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a well-researched and efficient text covering the basics of writing for television and contains insider information to help you get a foot in the door. Suitable for beginners and advanced screenwriters alike, this book offers in-depth analysis of story elements and is backed by a wealth of data, quotes and fascinating interviews with writers, readers, editors, producers and broadcasters. Gibbs shows you how to approach writing for TV, how to present and structure your script (including an invaluable breakdown of running times for different formats and the needs of different broadcasters), then looks at all the stages of preparation towards getting your work out there. Gibbs covers all possibilities and eventualities by interviewing representatives from all the mainstream channels, equipping writers who feel ready to move onto the next stage in their career all the advice and support they need. An excellent manual and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Recommended!

[OGEE Substack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good nuggets and tidbits of wisdom in here, but just an FYI - the book is geared toward working in the UK. The author could have cleared this up by using the British spelling of the title WRIUTING TELEVISIOUN DRAUMA instead.

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very basic introduction to writing for television, which was mostly a good thing. As an experienced writer of prose, however, not all of the chapters taught me something new.

What I was looking for when I first started reading this book was a guide teaching me how to set up a script for television: How many pages should one episode be? How many pages for each act? What's the basic method for writing a scene? These questions were all answered, and in depth, too. Furthermore, the book provided me with a basic knowledge of both the UK and the US television industry in general (though with a clear focus on the UK), much of it backed by interviews with people from the industry. So I got what I was looking for, no doubt about that.

If you are totally new to writing fiction or aren't sure how to build up a good story, there are chapters going through such things as how to create a world, how to create exciting characters, how to construct dialogue, etc. If you already feel confident in how to construct a great story, you can skip them - they don't exactly tell you something new.

All in all, a great book for aspiring television screenwriters.