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The cover has curled corners. Book may have little to no writing and/or underlining inside, and is in overall good condition. Cover may have some cosmetic wear. The cover has curled corners. Book may have little to no writing and/or underlining inside, and is in overall good condition. Cover may have some cosmetic wear. See less
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Writing the TV Drama Series: How to Succeed as a Professional Writer in TV Paperback – October 15, 2018

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 205 ratings

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This revised and updated edition is a complete resource for anyone who wants to write and produce for television drama series or create an original series, as well as for teachers in screenwriting classes and workshops. It leads the reader step-by-step through every stage of the development and writing process, offering practical industry information and artistic inspiration. The Fourth Edition leads readers into the future and engages provocative issues about the interface between traditional TV and emerging technologies. It’s also the single most comprehensive source on what is happening in original television drama around the world, with surveys of 15 countries.
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Pamela Douglas is an award-winning writer with numerous credits in television drama. In addition to previous editions of this book, she is also the author of The Future of Television: Your Guide to Creating TV in the New World (MWP 2015). She consults internationally to professional TV writers and producers, and has lectured in Africa, Europe and throughout the United States. Douglas was awarded the Humanitas Prize for Between Mother and Daughter (CBS), an original drama that also won nomination for a Writers Guild Award. Multiple Emmy nominations and awards, and awards from American Women in Radio and Television went to her other dramas. She was a creator of the series Ghostwriter, and wrote for many shows including Star Trek: The Next Generation, named one of the top 100 shows by the Writers Guild of America She has also been a member of the Board of Directors of the Writers Guild of America, West.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Michael Wiese Productions; 4th edition (October 15, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 310 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1615932933
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1615932931
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 205 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
205 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book helpful and informative for screenwriters getting into TV writing. They describe it as interesting and entertaining. Readers praise the storytelling as masterful and fascinating, with interpretations of current shows. However, opinions differ on the ease of reading and understanding the content - some find it easy to understand and apply, while others feel it lacks depth and is suitable only for novice writers.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

15 customers mention "Information quality"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful for screenwriting TV dramas. They say it offers useful information about outline and writing a pilot, as well as an insider's perspective on working behind the scenes. The book provides insights beyond craft and advice, making it great for screenwriters getting into TV.

"...But now the author has gone even further with insights beyond craft and advice...." Read more

"...The information is giving in the perfect way that it was easy to understand and apply to my own situation and story...." Read more

"...Explains the business of the one hour TV drama. Also has good examples of what not to do or do as a new writer...." Read more

"...A good book gives you unique insight and a deep understanding of the topic that you won't get elsewhere. None of that happens in this book...." Read more

5 customers mention "Interest"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and entertaining. It provides unique insights and a deep understanding of the topic.

"...Easy to read, fast paced, extremely interesting. Exciting interviews and comments from the current leading writers in TV are included throughout...." Read more

"...A good book gives you unique insight and a deep understanding of the topic that you won't get elsewhere. None of that happens in this book...." Read more

"...It's interesting but if you're looking to learn how to write for television or how to write a proper script or how the format should go there are..." Read more

"It's as current and it pulls no punchs . This book is an eye opener and will enable you to avoid a many a pitfall." Read more

4 customers mention "Storytelling"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storytelling in the book. They find the structure fascinating, with established writers and showrunners. The book provides interpretations of current shows and fresh interviews. It features continuing action and character development within the 4-act and 5-act structure.

"...has all that, but venturing into the future, new media, interpretations of current shows, and fresh interviews puts it over the top." Read more

"...They are master storytellers, and looking at the structure in this book is hugely helpful for anybody who wants to write in a format that keeps..." Read more

"...interviews with established writers and showrunners are fascinating." Read more

"...writing climax, continuing action, and character development within the 4-act and 5-act structure. I refer to it regularly...." Read more

7 customers mention "Ease of reading"3 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed views on the book's readability and usefulness. Some find it easy to understand and apply, while others say it lacks real advice for script writing, is good only for novice writers with no knowledge of TV writing, and has basic instructions that are hard to follow.

"...None of that happens in this book. It's just very basic, nothing you wouldn't figure on your own very quickly...." Read more

"...Easy to read, fast paced, extremely interesting. Exciting interviews and comments from the current leading writers in TV are included throughout...." Read more

"...writing includes samples of screenplays from NYPD Blue but was hard to follow as it's 10 or so pages of the script then analysis and wish it was..." Read more

"...The information is giving in the perfect way that it was easy to understand and apply to my own situation and story...." Read more

Great book for new writers
5 out of 5 stars
Great book for new writers
I Really enjoy this book. Explains the business of the one hour TV drama. Also has good examples of what not to do or do as a new writer. I was recommended this book from a working writer of NCIS.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2019
    What a terrific book! If I were still teaching my college screenwriting book, I would make this required reading. Please note that as the title indicates, this is designed for TV and not for feature film... which makes it even better since the two art forms are so different now. So if you write for TV, you can't go wrong with this book.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2011
    The best book in this field just got even better. Since the Second Edition came out in 2007, writers and producers have been referring to the Second Edition in writers rooms at shows, in classrooms and workshops, and in conversations about the art, craft and business of television. It was like the "bible" for professional TV writers. But now the author has gone even further with insights beyond craft and advice. The Third Edition still has all that, but venturing into the future, new media, interpretations of current shows, and fresh interviews puts it over the top.
    7 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2014
    Nearly anything you could want to know about writing TV drama is in this book, especially the facts of how the industry works. Easy to read, fast paced, extremely interesting. Exciting interviews and comments from the current leading writers in TV are included throughout. I highly recommend this book.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2022
    I was taking a class on writing serials which pointed me to this book. TV writers have to get people to tune in at the same time every week and endure a huge number of commercials to get to the meat of the story. They are master storytellers, and looking at the structure in this book is hugely helpful for anybody who wants to write in a format that keeps drawing people in for more.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2017
    As a newbie to the screenwriting community I really found this book on writing for a drama series to be extremely helpful. The information is giving in the perfect way that it was easy to understand and apply to my own situation and story. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to start writing for a dramatic one-hour television series.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2019
    I Really enjoy this book. Explains the business of the one hour TV drama. Also has good examples of what not to do or do as a new writer. I was recommended this book from a working writer of NCIS.
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for new writers
    Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2019
    I Really enjoy this book. Explains the business of the one hour TV drama. Also has good examples of what not to do or do as a new writer. I was recommended this book from a working writer of NCIS.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Customer image
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2015
    Buy this book only if you're a complete novice when it comes to TV writing. It seems that many of the great reviews of the books are by her former students at USC. I went to USC film school too, but I never took her class so I don't feel an obligation to give this book five stars. So why I think the book isn't that special? Because it just spouts out a bunch of facts such as how are acts broken up in a typical TV script, what is the timeline networks use to order pilots, and other facts, that you can easily look up and are constantly changing. A good book gives you unique insight and a deep understanding of the topic that you won't get elsewhere. None of that happens in this book. It's just very basic, nothing you wouldn't figure on your own very quickly. The only interesting part about the book is the chapter where she follows a few of her students through the first ten years (I think ten years) of their careers as writers in Hollywood.

    In my opinion, a good book on TV writing is Writing the Pilot by William Rabkin. That book has the kind of insight I was looking for. It's a thin book, but I felt that I learned something after reading it. It wasn't just a bunch of facts. It was wise opinions of someone intelligent who spent sometime working on TV shows.
    25 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2014
    a very insightful look at TV writing. offers useful information about outline and writing a pilot as well as an insider's perspective on working as part of a writing staff. interviews with established writers and showrunners are fascinating.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Amazon Customer
    1.0 out of 5 stars Not at all useful for serious writers.
    Reviewed in India on November 1, 2022
    If you are a beginner, it's okay. Otherwise nothing much in it.
  • Marcus
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bible of tv series writing
    Reviewed in Italy on September 27, 2022
    Complete and accurate guide for beginners of tv writing
  • Tatiana S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Um bom manual para roteiristas iniciantes
    Reviewed in Brazil on June 1, 2020
    Ela explica bem o processo de seleção de roteiros pelas televisões americanas, algo que nunca é muito falado em livros do gênero.
  • bindu
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2018
    Great condition, great content, really helpful for me.
  • Amazon Customer
    2.0 out of 5 stars My second least-favourite screenwriting book
    Reviewed in Canada on June 8, 2019
    Some nice info throughout but very tough read. Lots of opinions and stuff that I didn’t find super relevant.