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Posts published in “TV Writing”

Writing Episodic vs. Serialized TV (PT95)

Writing Episodic vs. Serialized TV (PT95)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:21 — 50.0MB)

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Alex and Nick discuss the advantages and disadvantages of writing episodic and serialized television.

Which format is better suited to your story? How does breaking a season change based on serialization? Why do serialized stories provide more developed character arcs? When is an episodic script more accessible to an audience? How is TV production impacted by the level of serialization?

Plus, a major announcement and two more Paper Tease entries.

The Paper Team connects the dots…

SHOWNOTES

Content

Paper Tease Session (01:58)
1 – Characters (10:40)
2 – Story and Plot (23:44)
3 – Finding the middle ground (40:40)
4 – Production (47:43)

Paper Tease Entries

“How Grace Got to Run the World” by Reeve Segal & Kaela Crawford
“Reunion Tour” by Paul Sprangers

Links

“The TV Writers’ Room” – TV Calling Facebook Group
The Art of the TV Episode (PT20)
TV Viewing Habits: Writing for the Binge (PT42)
“Day 478 ” (2×11 – The Good Fight)
“The Inner Light” (5×25 – Star Trek: The Next Generation)
“Git Gone” (1×04 – American Gods)
“The Sincerest Form of Flattery” (1×07 – Counterpart)
“Kiksuya” (2×08 – Westworld)

This episode brought to you by Roadmap Writers’ JumpStart Writing Competition

Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode.

If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :)

You can find Paper Team on Twitter:
Alex – @TVCalling
Nick – @_njwatson
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Tips and Tricks for TV Writing (PT93)

Tips and Tricks for TV Writing (PT93)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:55 — 53.2MB)

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Alex and Nick offer tips and tricks to solve common TV writing obstacles. From procrastination, prose, and loglines, to characters, dialogue, and scene work, get actionable advice to troubleshoot your screenwriting problems.

Can’t find time or discipline to write? Having trouble coming up with ideas? Is your TV show premise unexciting? Does your TV script not have enough conflict? Are your characters uninteresting? Is your dialogue not working? Are your scenes running too long or too short?

Plus, we offer feedback on two more Paper Tease entries and crown June winners.

The Paper Team helps you out…

SHOWNOTES

Content

Paper Tease Session (00:49)
1 – Problems with productivity, ideas, and procrastination (17:49)
2 – Macro script problems (24:55)
3 – Problems with character, dialogue, and prose (34:35)
4 – Scene problems (46:25)
5 – Problems after the draft (53:02)

Paper Tease Entries

“Duende” by Matt Sorensen
“American Monarchy” by Bo Liu & Nick Ruck

Links

Bringing the TV Writers’ Room Process Home (PT06)
Gary Provost
Rewriting Your TV Script (PT90)
“25 ways to kick exposition’s ass” – Terrible Minds

This episode brought to you by Roadmap Writers’ JumpStart Writing Competition

Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode.

If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :)

You can find Paper Team on Twitter:
Alex – @TVCalling
Nick – @_njwatson
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Breaking in as a TV Writer Later in Life ft. J. Holtham (Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger) (PT92)

Breaking in as a TV Writer Later in Life ft. J. Holtham (Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger) (PT92)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:32 — 44.6MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | Email | RSS | More

Alex and Nick invite J. Holtham, writer on Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger, to discuss breaking into the TV industry later in life, and writing on a comic-based series.

What is some important advice for people wanting to pursue TV writing later in life? How can breaking in older help in the writers’ room? What is the process of writing for Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger? What can writing plays teach you about screenwriting?

The Paper Team powers up…

SHOWNOTES

Content

Breaking in older, getting noticed, staffing on Pitch, being a playwright, the first staff writing job, working for Marvel, working on Cloak & Dagger, adapting existing IP, moving to LA, advice for people pursuing writing later in life (00:51)
Resources and Next Week On (44:21)

Links

J. Holtham on Twitter
Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger on Freeform
Screencraft Fellowship
PAGE AwardsHumanitas Prize
Pitch
Ensemble Studio Theatre’s Youngblood
Doom Patrol

Resources

Amy Berg’s Twitter thread about being staffed

This episode brought to you by Roadmap Writers

Use code ROADMAP to get $15 OFF your first Roadmap Writers Program

Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode.

If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :)

You can find Paper Team on Twitter:
Alex – @TVCalling
Nick – @_njwatson
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]