What shows should you spec? Shows you love to watch A show that’s been around 1-2 seasons but expected to last Highly-rated, critically acclaimed shows Episodic shows One half-hour comedy and one procedural Not the show you want to write for That’s the simple answer. You should always write something you love to watch because [...]

ONE. That’s the simple answer.  A show like Entourage for example, it really does have three “acts” like any story, but if you get your hands on a script, you’ll see it’s written in standard screenplay format like a feature, not like a sitcom.  It has no act breaks because it airs for the full [...]

This is a topic I’ve carefully avoided because it’s kind of controversial.  I’ve searched online, read countless books and honestly, still don’t know what the perfect query letter consists of.  I do know what has worked for me.  And it’s as simple as this: Dear Miss Producer Lady I have just finished my latest feature script [...]

Last summer I was introduced to the Canadian writers’ community through a little networking drinks thing called Ink Drinks at the Paddock on Bathurst. It was then organized by Canadian writer/showrunner Denis McGrath who has worked on such shows as The Border, Stargate, and Blood Ties. Last Friday was his last day at a Toronto [...]

These days it seems particularly competitive for new screenwriters to get into the business.  You’ve submitted various spec scripts for staff jobs and heard nothing.  You’ve shopped around original scripts and heard nothing.  So do you decide that you aren’t cut out for the industry or do you take matters into your own hands and [...]