This is a noncredit, online writing class through UW-Madison Continuing Studies.

Writing Your TV Pilot

Do you have an idea for a great television series? This course introduces you to the world of writing for television in two sections. (Take either or both.)

The first section, The TV Marketplace and Your Idea, emphasizes understanding the television marketplace and how to construct your show bible (the document that guides the creative development of your tv show) to sell within that marketplace.

The second section, Writing The Pilot Script, is devoted to the writing of your television pilot with emphasis on TV screenplay structure and formatting. Take one or both of these new online courses and write the next Mad Men or Glee television series.

Section 1: The TV Marketplace and Your Idea

This section gives you an overall look at the television arena–including broadcast and cable networks–and how to take your idea and construct the creation story, or what is known as the bible for your series.

Lesson 1

1. The business–broadcast and cable development
2. Comedy, drama, or dramedy?
3. Anatomy of comedy and drama series
4. Formulate your comedy, drama or dramedy series idea

Lesson 2

1. Constructing a bible–logline and synopsis
2. Characters and future episodes
3. The big picture for the small screen
4. Complete your TV series bible

Section 2: Writing the Pilot Script

Writing for television is a different discipline than writing feature film length scripts. Seasonal arcs, character development (and arcs), episodic movement, compelling dialogue and overall TV formatting is addressed in this session.

Lesson 1

1. Review your bible materials
2. Pilot script planning–plot, dialogue and scenes
3. TV script formatting
4. Begin writing your TV pilot

Lesson 2

1. Teaser, first act
2. 1-7 acts
3. Summary–have you written a pilot that best represents your TV series?
4. Complete your TV pilot

Throughout both sections, the instructor provides up-to-date information about the current television marketplace including tips on pitching, marketing your script, and navigating the changing landscape of the television arena. 

Your instructor

Laurie Scheer is a published author, her book Creative Careers In Hollywood and her DVD How To Pitch and Sell Your Screenplay have helped mentor the next generation of media professionals for nearly a decade. Laurie has been a professor at universities across the United States and professional speaker. She is currently researching and navigating the landscape of writing for the Web, creating a number of new courses for writers who are migrating from print to web based platforms.

How it works

You can start our workshops anytime, and there are no required hours to log on. It's all done through one-on-one correspondence with the instructor using email. You can read and print course materials at the course website, which you can access at your leisure with a password that we will give you. We have writers from around the world participating in our workshops, and we have success stories. A lot of great writing gets accomplished via email. Because of the one-on-one nature of our workshops, you'll find them an excellent "coaching" or mentoring situation that will keep you going. And if you want to just work on your own–ey, that's fine too. Of course you can do the suggested exercises on your own without the feedback if you'd rather do that. We're also here throughout the year if you have questions.
 
Review the current technical requirements for students in Learn@UW online courses.

Costs

$195 for The TV Marketplace and Your Idea (earn 3.0 CEUs.) $195 for Writing the Pilot Script (earn 5.0 CEUs.) $375 for both of these courses (earn 8.0 CEUs.)

Register any time.

Contact

Your contact for more information about Writing Your TV Pilot is Laurie Scheer, 608-265-3972, lscheer@dcs.wisc.edu.

For more information about online learning contact Lori O'Neill at 608-263-6322 or toll-free 877-336-7836 or email LSAonline@dcs.wisc.edu.

How to register

Online: Register now online with our secure server.

Mail: Print and mail our registration form.

Telephone: Call 608-262-2451 or toll-free 800-725-9692 to register. Our phone is answered M-F, 7:00 am-4:30 pm Central Time. At other times please leave a message, and we will return your call.

Also of interest

Explore other online writing classes.

The same writing staff that bring you these great online classes also provide individualized writing critique services. Learn more by visiting our writing critique services web page.

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