Aspiring writers often ask me if they should write a spec script of the show they want to get staffed on. The answer is: “No. Absolutely not.” Even if you carefully study that show, taking notes on the types of stories they tell and how the characters talk, I guarantee you something will be a little off. Maybe you won’t …

The biggest mistake most aspiring screenwriters make is that they don’t unfold the story properly. I’ve been a professional television writer for 25 years. I’ve written on numerous hit shows, sold a dozen pilots, and two features. On the series where I’m showrunner, part of my job is to hire the writing staff. This means reading countless scripts from young …

For students who want to learn how to write a script for a TV show, there’s no better example to learn from than Sylvester Stallone’s script for Rocky. Yes, it’s a movie and not a TV show, but the same story concepts still apply. If you remember, Rocky Balboa was picked from obscurity to fight the champion, Apollo Creed in …

  Before you learn how to write a TV pilot script, it’s important to understand the definition of “story.” The simplest explanation is this: a story recounts the struggle of a hero, fighting an obstacle, to achieve a goal. Hero. Obstacle. Goal. In this article, I’m going to take things one step further by discussing ways to make your story …

  Writing a sitcom a sitcom is very involved process. Even bad sitcoms require a ton of work. Many outsiders think it’s as simple as creating a few fun characters then stringing jokes together. Some people assume that because televisions shows have a staff, every writer must be assigned a character and we just sit around a table, saying whatever …

For people who want to know how to write a TV show, it’s helpful to know one thing: At its core, every story is about a boy wanting to become a man. (Or a girl becoming a woman.) That is to say, it’s about the hero’s quest to fix a flaw to become complete. Does it matter if the hero …

Learning how to write a sitcom starts with understanding story structure. But as a professional television writer and showrunner, I can tell you with certainty that few aspiring sitcom writers understand that. They think that as long as the jokes are funny, they’ll be able to find a job. The truth is, the jokes are the least important part of …

  Here’s a question that all screenwriting classes online should be able to answer:  How has the story of Jack and the Beanstalk remained a classic throughout the centuries? Yes, it’s a fairytale and you’re interested in learning contemporary screenwriting, but what makes a story compelling is the same whether it’s a screenplay, novel, short story, comedy or drama. Let’s …

For those who want to learn screenwriting online, the first step is to truly understand the definition of “story.” That was the discussion of my last piece. Essential, a story is defined as the struggle of a hero, fighting an obstacle, to achieve a goal. In this article, I’m going to take things one step further. This is what you …

The best online screenwriting programs aren’t taught by professional teachers or graduates with a Masters Degree in Screenwriting. Those kinds of screenwriting courses tend to emphasize theory over practical and actionable knowledge. I’m a professional television writer and showrunner with over twenty-five years of experience. None of my knowledge came from a online screenwriting program. Instead, I learned everything I …