This book takes a deep dive into writing for today’s audiences, against the backdrop of a constantly evolving TV ecosystem.
The aim of this 2nd edition is to go beyond an analysis of what makes exceptionally compelling episodic TV series work. It is a master course in the creation of entertainment that does more than meet the standards of modern audiences – it challenges their expectations.
The book will help readers discover how to satisfy the satiated viewer, by analyzing the new hybrid genres, trends, and how to make smart initial decisions for a strong, sustainable story. It will also cover the development of iconic characters that foster empathy and entice viewers to bond with characters and generate the sensation that their problems are mutual.
Finally, the book will also take a deep dive into creating a lasting, meaningful career in the TV marketplace, by overcoming trips, traps and tropes, the pros and cons of IP, the use of pitch documents, pitch decks, and show “bibles” as proof-of-concept in the marketplace.
This will be an essential resource for student and professional writers and is supplemented with a companion website offering additional content, including script excerpts, pitch document/deck/show bible samples, scene analysis and templates, plus useful writing exercises to break new ground and to mine new territory.
Foreword ix
Acknowledgments xv
Research Team xvii
Author Bio xix
PART ONE NEW TRENDS, FRESH SPINS 1
1 The Slow-Burn, Season-Long Mystery vs. the Durability of the Case-of-the-Week Procedural 3
2 Blurring the Lines: Redefining Genre and Tone in the Dramedy 31
3 Trust Me: The Confidence Games of Grifters, Swindlers, Imposters, Charlatans, Gaslighters, and Snitches 61
4 Dystopias, Alternative Realities, and Magic Realism 91
5 Coming-of-Age in a New Age: From Frozen and Conformist to Fluid and Authentic 131
6 Reimagining the Workplace Sitcom as a Hybrid Genre 159
7 The New American Frontier 189
PART TWO ART AND CRAFT 205
8 Episodic Story Structures, Circa 2024 207
9 Story Tentacles and the Role of Time 229
10 Caught between Two Wrongs: Moral Dilemmas, Triangulation, Limitation, and the Double Bind 247
11 The Art of Dialogue 279
12 Empathetic Character Development: Digging Deeper 311
13 Make the Body Count Count: Reframing the Narrative on Gun Violence in Episodic TV Series 341
14 Trips, Traps, and Tropes: Rookie Mistakes to Avoid 353
Index 366
Biography
Neil Landau is an award-winning screenwriter, creative producer, author, and professor of screenwriting in the MFA in Film, Television, and Digital Media Program at the University of Georgia. His screen credits include the teen comedy Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (1991) and the 2024 remake; the Goya Award-winning animated feature, The Adventures of Tadeo Jones and its two sequels; and the TV series Melrose Place, The Magnificent Seven, Doogie Howser, M.D., The Secret World of Alex Mack, Twice in a Lifetime, MTV’s Undressed.
Praise for this Edition
“As a former student and admirer of Landau, it’s no surprise that his book is a love letter to the medium of television – an inspired guide to storytelling that embraces forward thinking, riddled with candid wisdom, a deep understanding of the past, the present, and a fresh perspective on the future.” - Francesca Sloane, Co-Creator and Showrunner: MR. & MRS. SMITH, FARGO, ATLANTA.
Praise for the First Edition
“This is like a masterclass in the art of creating television – both now and for whatever ‘television’ may become. Visionary, insightful and timely.”
— Issa Rae, Golden Globe–nominated Writer/Producer/Actress: Insecure, Rap Sh!t, The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl
“I’m a longtime fan of Landau! His decades of experience and genuine love of the form shine in TV Writing on Demand. The definitive guide to writing for modern audiences.”
— Damon Lindelof, Emmy Award–winning Writer/Producer: Watchmen, Lost, The Leftovers
