By Forris Day JR
“Writing the TV Drama Series” by Pamela Douglas is a book designed for the serious screenwriter who wants a career penning dramas for television. It is a book rich with information. It will give any serious wanna-be TV writer the tools they need and the understanding of the format that is necessary to be a success. It is not a light book for the casual reader, but if you are curious as to how television works, then sit back and enjoy. The information is at your fingertips in this volume.
Douglas begins the book with an in depth description of what exactly a TV drama is. You will learn about different formats and some rules about dramas for TV. In the next chapter she teaches how television shows get on TV and how the seasons run. It’s the nuts and bolts part of the business. She breaks the process down into small digestible parts. It seems so incredibly overwhelming, but when you see it in it’s smallest pieces, you begin to understand the process much better. The fog clears.
Now that you understand a bit more of how the television world works the book now delves into the script. Scripts are broken down too. They are broken down the same way the process of television itself was earlier in the book. She will show you how to craft a script for television using some NYPD Blue scripts as examples. (This edition is from 2011)
The book moves forward and now you will actually write your own episode using the information you have learned. She drops in some great tips to help you write along the way. The whole book is filled with Douglas’s wisdom and you feel she is right there next to you helping you through the process.
Ok…you feel comfortable and confident writing but now you need to get a job. The book is coming to a close. Here is where you get lots of information and guidance on finding a job and breaking into the business. With a focused commitment and a good understanding of what is being taught in the book you are now ready to pursue your dream.
Start to finish. That is the journey this book takes you on. From understanding the business to working in it. Each chapter ends with a summary of the chapter and a guest speaker, someone who is in the biz and can cast some more light on the subject at hand. Each of these guest speaker sections is a one on one interview that Pamela Douglas has done. She asks the questions that you would ask if you could.
This is a hearty book that is fun to read. Her style is light enough and informative enough to really understand the complex subject at hand. I strongly recommend anyone who plans on working in television in any capacity to read this book. By understanding all aspects of the business you will only be better at your segment of it. This book is a treasure chest overflowing with golden nuggets of information.
Rating: 9/10 – TV drama writing broken down into bite sized pieces
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