Read 'Breaking into television by writing spec scripts based on an existing series' at http://www.SellingYourScreenplay.com.

I got this question recently:

“I wrote an episode for a television show I like, and have ideas for more. I’ve read your posts on TV writing, but they seem to be mostly about developing a series. What I’m wondering is how I might best go about approaching the producers/creators of the show to ask them if they’re interested in reading my episodes. When I’m done writing and I send them a query letter, would a few sentences per episode be sufficient? Or longer?”

It might be wise to take a step back and understand why it’s a good idea to write spec scripts for existing shows. What you’re trying to do is create a cache of high quality specs that you can use as writing samples. So if you’re going to write a bunch of t.v. specs you should write them based on a variety of different shows. What you’re really hoping for is to submit these specs to agents and managers who will represent you and submit them as writing samples to similar shows to get you staffed on one of those shows. So it’s important to be able to show you can write for many different, although similar, shows.

While it is possible to sell spec scripts to existing shows, it’s very difficult for a variety of reasons. Often times the people running television shows simply have egos that are too large to accept scripts from outsiders. In addition, there are often lots of subtle things that an outside writer simply would never understand about the show like long term story and character arcs.

To answer your question, though, in most cases the actual production company that produces a show will be listed in the Hollywood Creative Directory or on IMDB Pro. Look them up, find the name of the show runner or head writer, and submit a query letter to them. If you have completed scripts for many episodes you might as well pitch a log line for each episode as you never know which one might interest them. Again, I want to emphasize that this is going to be a real uphill battle!

Next, I would break out the Hollywood Creative Directory agents and managers edition and start submitting query letters to them, too, as this is really your best shot at becoming a television writer.

Good luck!

Read 'Submitting an idea for a television show' at http://www.SellingYourScreenplay.com.

I got this question recently:

“Apparently, submitting a plain idea without any scripts is sometimes valid for television programming. Tell me if I’m wrong about this. Now, I don’t want to do something stupid, so that’s why I am asking a professional in the matter.

I have a great idea for a show, but I don’t want it to end up with just any people producing it. I am a huge fan of Nickelodeon, and I wanted to submit my show idea to them. This is their FAQ post:

Q. What steps do I need to take to submit an idea I have for a show?
A. If you have a programming idea, you must have a licensed agent or attorney contact Nickelodeon Development in writing at Nickelodeon 1515 Broadway, New York, New York 10036 to request a “Submission Release” form. The proposal must be accompanied by the signed submission release for review. If not, the proposal will not be considered.

So I need an agent, I think. Does the Hollywood Creative Directory supply a list of agents, or only producers and such? Do I really need an agent for this particular instance, or is it just to scare people like me away?

I know my chances are low. But if things go as planned, I want my show animated in a specific drawing style that they’ve used before. Is it possible to specify this without creating a turn-off?

Also, since it’s just an idea and not a script, do I need a synopsis?”

First, if you haven’t already done so, read my post, How to create an original television series (breaking into television writing).

If you’re an established television writer you might be able to go in and pitch your idea to some studio executives and have them respond favorably. But even then, it’s a long shot. Creating your own television show is the holy grail of the entertainment industry so there are lots of very smart, very talented people with a lot of experience trying to do it. And even if you get a network to shoot your pilot there are a lot of pilots that never actually get aired. The point is, what your’re about to try is maybe the hardest thing in the entertainment industry – and that’s saying a lot because there a ton of really difficult things to accomplish in the industry.

With that said, I’m all for following your dreams and going out and trying to make things happen for yourself. So good for you.

So to answer your questions specifically…

If you don’t have a script or even a synopsis what exactly do you have as an idea? The more concrete your story idea is the better off you’ll be. So if you can write the pilot episode and a few additional episodes it gives the studio executives a lot more to read and get a feel for what it is you’re trying to do. If all you have is a few sentences describing your idea I can’t see it being taken very seriously, but who knows.

Yes, the Hollywood Creative Directory does have an Agents/Managers version which you could use to find an agent. But it’s going to be very difficult to find an agent with nothing more than a story idea. In fact, I doubt you’ll find any interest from agents and managers. But again, who knows. If I were you I would do a Google search for “entertainment lawyers” and contact a few lawyers and see how much they would charge you to make this submission to Nickelodeon. I would guess you’ll be able to find one who will probably do it for less than $1,000. Even at $300 per hour they should be able to make this submission in a few hours. That’s going to be the quickest easiest way to get your idea to Nickelodeon.

If you try and submit your story idea without an agent or lawyer there’s a good chance it will just be thrown away, but again, you never know who might read it and pass it along. You might try to submit it on your own first and see what happens. If it gets rejected then try and find a lawyer to submit it for you.

I wouldn’t mention the drawing style at this stage of the process. Unless it really adds to the pitch, it’s not worth mentioning. You’re main goal is to get a meeting or at least a conference call with them about your project and at that time you can tell them what your aesthetic vision is for the project.

Good luck!

Read 'Should I write my idea as a feature film or television show' at http://www.SellingYourScreenplay.com.

I got this question recently:

Just to set the scene, I am a very new writer into the film industry with no contacts as I’m sure is the same situation with many other writers. I believe I have a very interesting and unique storyline, which either way could be shortened into a feature film but also easily adapted into a series. I personally prefer a series as I believe it can become a very complex story while maintaining the key interests of today’s audiences. For example, it has the characteristics of a current very successful series but with a very different storyline.

What I would like to know is, in terms of success stories, the chance of it ‘making it’ and what producers are looking for, what would be better to write, a feature film or a television series?

First, read my post about creating your own television show,
How to create an original television series (breaking into television writing).

If you’re sure your idea would work best as a television show then my advice is to put it on the back burner until you’ve established yourself either as a television writer or a feature film writer. Once you’ve done that, you’ll have contacts and experience and getting an original show off the ground may be possible. But as a novice it’s probably not possible.

So with that said, you need to come up with other ideas. If all of your ideas are original ideas then turn them work on ones that will work as a feature film. While it’s very difficult to sell a feature film script for anyone, especially novices, it is possible. I wouldn’t try and squeeze an idea that you feel should be a television series into a 2 hour movie. Just move on to your next idea.

One important point that many beginners don’t realize is that a career as a screenwriter isn’t about one great idea. It’s about consistently coming up with great ideas and being able to consistently execute those ideas. Many wanna-be writers fall in love with their one “brilliant” idea (which usually isn’t half as great as they think it is) and they spend years working on it. My advice is to write it up – quickly – and then move on to another idea… and another… and another. And by your fourth or fifth or maybe even sixth script you might actually write something that’s pretty decent.

Read 'How to create an original television series (breaking into television writing)' at http://www.SellingYourScreenplay.com.

I’ve gotten this question many times over the last couple of months:

“I have a great idea for an original television series.  How can I sell it to a television network?”

I want to start out by saying that I have zero experience in television writing.  I wrote one Seinfeld episode for a sit-com writing class in graduate school but I never sent it anywhere.  It wasn’t very good.  That’s the extent of my television writing experience so I may not be the best person to ask about this.  I have known several television writers over the years and I do know the basics about how a television series is created so I’ll take a shot at answering this question even though my experience is fairly limited.

Creating a successful television series is the most lucrative thing a writer can do.  A hit television series that runs for 3 to 5 years (around 100 episodes) and goes into syndication can net the producers/creators hundreds of millions of dollars.  When you hear about the astronomical sums of money that actors are paid on hit television shows it pales in comparison to what the producers and creators are making.

I’ve never heard of an unknown writer being the creator of a television show.  I’m not saying it’s never happened but if it has I’ve never heard about it.  If anyone knows of a show that was created by an novice writer by all means let me know by posting it in the comments section below.  It would be inspiring for all of us.  It’s easy to research this.  Just think about your favorite show, look it up on IMDB, and then look up the show’s creator on IMDB and see what she did before she created that show.  In most cases you’ll see that she was a writer on other shows for many years before creating her own show.

This makes sense, too.  When a network or production company decides to produce a new show it’s a huge financial investment and is very risky.  So to try and mitigate the risk as much as possible they try and use ideas from people who have experience creating shows or at least have written for television for many years.  If you were putting together a project of any sort you would try and get the most experienced people you could afford, too.  It just makes good business sense.

Unlike feature film writing, a writer who creates his own show is involved in many levels of production.  So a network is not just buying the idea they’re hiring that writer to oversee the show for years to come and they need someone who knows how to do it.  No matter how brilliant your idea is for a show there’s a lot more to being a show’s creator then just having the idea.  The show’s creator is usually a producer and they often become the “show runner” which literally means the person who runs the show.  It’s not a job for beginners.

So the bottom line is that there is no market what-so-ever for original television shows from new writers.  With that said, I’m a big believer in thinking outside the box and not listening to conventional wisdom so if you have your heart set on trying to create your own television series go for it.  I wish you luck and I hope you succeed.  But realize what you’re trying to do is probably the most difficult thing in the entertainment industry and may be flat out impossible.

If you take a step back and look at this as a long term goal (which I highly advise that you do) there are some basic steps you can take to slowly work towards creating your own television series.

Since most shows are created by television writers you need to become a television writer on an established show.  While this is not going to be easy it is possible for an unknown writer to get hired on an established show.  You should write several spec scripts for successful shows that are currently on the air.  Then send query letters to agents and producers using these scripts as samples of your ability to write.  In the Hollywood Creative Directory (HCD) you’ll find production companies listed that produce television shows.  You should target these companies with your query letters.  Again, you’re not pitching your original show idea you’re trying to get hired to write episodes of an already existing show using your spec scripts for similar already existing shows.  As an aside, it’s usually bad form to send a spec script for a show to that show.  They usually won’t want to read it for legal reasons (they think you’ll sue them if they air a similar show).  So if you’re trying to break into sit-com writing write an episode of Two and a Half Men (or whatever popular show you’re familiar with) and send it to production companies that produce other similar shows. Two and a Half Men has been around long enough and is popular enough that most television producers will be familiar with the characters enough to gauge your writing ability from reading your Two and a Half Men spec script.

You should read my post How to Sell Your Screenplay (in a nutshell).  It explains how to write a query letter and find companies to send the letters to.  You’ll have to adapt some of the information for television writing but overall it should be pretty much the same.

If you’re serious about turning your idea into a television series you should move to Los Angeles and try and become a television writer’s assistant.

Here are my posts about moving to Los Angeles:

Do you have to live in Los Angeles to be a screenwriter?

Moving to Los Angeles and preparing for the long haul

Becoming a writer’s assistant is a great stepping stone to breaking into television writing.  John August had a good post about being a writer’s assistant here: http://johnaugust.com/archives/2009/showrunner-asst

Whether you want to be a feature writer or a television writer you should always be writing and always be trying to get your stuff produced, even if it’s on a shoestring budget.  If you have an idea for a television series why not try and produce a few episodes yourself?  Living in Hollywood makes finding other aspiring filmmakers easy – use that to your advantage.  Once you’ve produced an episode or two submit them to film festivals as a short.  After that has run its course post them on YouTube and promote the hell out of it.  This probably isn’t going to result in you selling your original idea but it will add a credit to your writing resume and at least on paper you’ll no longer be a complete beginner.  These small projects will add up over time.

Once you’ve been living and working in Hollywood for a few years you will eventually stumble into an opportunity to pitch your show idea.  Make sure you’re not a beginner when it happens.  If you’ve done everything you can to advance your writing career for a few years you won’t be a beginner for very long.  If you have a little bit of experience, a great idea for a show and it is executed well over several completed scripts it will be an impressive package and when you finally do get your chance you just might be able to make it happen.