Jackie White

Reflections on

Creating an Original Series

Jacqueline White

In the Episodic and Serial Writing class I learned how to create web series and webisodes. The experience was enlightening and taught me a lot in the four-week time span. I learned how to write a premise/overview, elements of an episode, how to write an episode, and how to create a beat sheet. In week one I learned how to write a premise/overview, how to write bios for characters, how to analyze a web series, how to use three act structure to dramatize an episode in six minutes. In week two I learned how to write an episode integrating a teaser, three act structure, and tag. In week three I wrote episode two and posted it for feedback from peers. In week four I learned how to create a beat sheet for an episode, raise the stakes for the characters, create decision making situations for characters, create obstacles for characters, and how to tie in/close, and continue minor story lines from previous episodes.

I have experience as a writer in the sense of novels and full feature films. Taking this class assisted in expounding on writing in television series format. I now have a premise of how to properly structure a television series, create a series bible, and structure an episode appropriately. Learning the proper technique for television writing meshes with my goals as a writer because I aspire to write for television someday.

The Episodic and Serial Writing class was different from other writing experiences I have had. I have written manuscripts for novels, which is a completely different format from television structure. I have written full feature films which does not require teasers and tags in the format. Learning how to efficiently format a television episode to indicate structure, point of view, goals, characters, conflicts, inciting incidents, and climax resolutions in a short episode was exciting and informative.

I can see myself writing for television for a living. I plan to make this a reality by writing a few spec scripts for current popular shows of different genres. I plan to create an original spec script for television. I will continue to take courses in television writing to sharpen my knowledge in that area. I will create pitches for each concept that will demonstrate the elements of the spec script’s plots and storyline.