The best TV shows are addictive, beckoning us to bring the characters into our homes or onto our devices, episode after episode. The people might be cops, thugs, monsters, geeks, doctors, lawyers, fixers, or just ordinary people with everyday problems. The format might be network, streaming, or a web series. As long as it hooks us.
Each TV show is a unique story-machine, with its own rules and formulas. Here you will learn about the craft of dramatic writing, how to write for TV, and how to market your work.
Whether you seek to write comedy, drama, or something in between, we’ll show you how to write TV episodes that might, someday, get you good ratings.
TV writers either work on the staff of an existing series or they create an original show. To break into the business, you need samples of your work—either episodes of existing shows or original scripts, the latter more desirable these days.
TV I focuses on writing “spec” scripts for existing shows, which is the best way to learn how TV episodes work. TV II focuses on creating an original series and “pilot” episode.
These courses cover “scripted” shows, as opposed to reality TV.
10-week Workshop
Place & Price
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
One-on-One tuition: $1795 Request consultation
This course gives you a firm grounding in the basics of TV writing craft and gets you writing a TV script for an existing show. Course components:
TV Writing I is for beginners or anyone who wants to brush up on the fundamentals. Students must be 18 years or older.
To ensure everyone’s good health, students and teachers in NYC classes must show proof of full vaccination—your Covid vaccine card (or a digital scan), a NY State Excelsior digital card, or another form of government-approved proof. You must bring this proof to your first class session; we will contact you with a reminder before your class begins. You may also be asked for proof of identity with an official government photo ID. Face masks may also be required, pending the current situation.
10-week Workshop
Place & Price
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
One-on-One tuition: $1795 Request consultation
This course teaches you the fundamentals of writing a TV pilot script for an original series, sharpens your TV writing skills, and helps you begin to develop a TV pilot. Writers who wish to continue to develop their projects should take TV Pilot—B:
Prerequisite: TV Writing I (10-week), or the equivalent. Students must be 18 years or older.
To ensure everyone’s good health, students and teachers in NYC classes must show proof of full vaccination—your Covid vaccine card (or a digital scan), a NY State Excelsior digital card, or another form of government-approved proof. You must bring this proof to your first class session; we will contact you with a reminder before your class begins. You may also be asked for proof of identity with an official government photo ID. Face masks may also be required, pending the current situation.
Intensives are fun, fast crash courses.
Two-day Zoom Intensive
Place & Price
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
One-on-One tuition: $350 Request consultation
The Zoom Intensives are taught via the Zoom videoconference platform.
TV Writing Intensive topics include: format, scene structure, character, dialogue, selling/producing your work.
Course components: lectures, writing exercises
Intensives are open for writers of any level. Students must be 18 years or older.
Students may reschedule a Zoom Intensive one time.
One-day Intensive
Place & Price
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
One-on-One tuition: $350 Request consultation
The NYC One-day Intensives are taught in-person.
TV Writing Intensive topics include: format, scene structure, character, dialogue, selling/producing your work.
Course components: lectures, writing exercises
Intensives are open for writers of any level. Students must be 18 years or older.
Students may reschedule a One-day Intensive one time.
To ensure everyone’s good health, students and teachers in NYC classes must show proof of full vaccination—your Covid vaccine card (or a digital scan), a NY State Excelsior digital card, or another form of government-approved proof. You must bring this proof to your first class session; we will contact you with a reminder before your class begins. You may also be asked for proof of identity with an official government photo ID. Face masks may also be required, pending the current situation.
