“Pam Douglas takes on the complicated business of episodic television and makes great, grand sense of it. For years she’s been a star of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, imparting these secrets to her students. Now these secrets have been written down. A textbook, a how-to, a resource, an inspiration, this book has knowledge, has wisdom, is a joy to read.”
Howard A. Rodman, Artistic Director, Sundance Screenwriting Labs
“Solid career advice and industry insights. Provides crucial foundational guidance for the aspiring television drama writer.”
David Trueman, reviewer, Script Magazine
“Writing the TV Drama Series sheds much-needed light onto the befuddled, and oft overlooked subject of television programming development — invaluable to teachers, students, or anyone else interested in the world of television.”
Brian Johns, Eastman Kodak Scholarship Program Director
“Written by a television insider, this well-written text takes one, step by step, through the maze on why and how television programs make it from pitch to script to pilot to series. Pam Douglas’ style is fun to read; she packs in information and the definite how-to’s of making it as a series television writer.”
Jule Selbo has been a series writer/producer on Life Goes On, Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Melrose Place, Undressed, Maya and Miguel and many others
“Remarkably comprehensive and up-to-date, Writing the TV Drama Series is a candid, enthusiastic introduction to the craft and culture of dramatic television.”
Jeff Melvoin, Executive Producer, Alias, Northern Exposure
“Pamela Douglas provides valuable insights and insider tips in this essential guide to writing the television drama. Her step-by-step instruction to jumpstarting and surviving a career in the television business is packed with current industry information and practical advice from renowned industry pros. Chapter Five, which highlights working on staff, is dead-on. It took me years to learn what Pam has so artfully and honestly laid out. A must-read for any aspiring television writer.”
Toni Graphia, Writer-Producer, Roswell, Carnivale, Battlestar Galactica
“This book covers the waterfront in writing for dramatic television.”
Peter Lefcourt, Writer-Producer, Beggars & Choosers, Karen Sisco, Cagney & Lacey
“A knowledgeable insight to writing TV drama. A book that is a delight to read.”
Amy Taylor, Cedar Grove Entertainment
“Right now is the golden age of TV drama, and this book is far and away the best resource I know of for any writer wishing to work in this tremendously challenging and rewarding field.”
Daniel Petrie, Jr., President, Writers Guild of America, West; The Big Easy, Beverly Hills Cop
“Pamela Douglas demystifies the entire process of writing one of the most intimidating and challenging formats — the television drama series. This comprehensive book takes the reader on a step-by-step journey from the birth of a series concept to what happens long after the final scene has been shot. Suddenly, the impossible seems possible, thanks to Writing the TV Drama Series.”
Marie Jones, book reviewer, absolutewrite.com
“The breadth and depth of practical advice on real-world writing should enlighten and inspire any aspiring TV drama writer. It should enlighten because it is clear, free of jargon, and explains the business and the design of television dramas. It should inspire because it cuts to the chase — a writer gets an outline of the drama life cycle and knows what is required from pitch to pilot to longevity of a series. The interviews with successful writers makes this book valuable all by themselves, but there’s so much more.”
Diane Carson, Ph.D., Editorial Vice President, University Film & Video Association
“Writing the TV Drama Series is an invaluable resource for anyone aspiring to be a television writer. Having worked with beginning writers for years, the information in Pamela’s book is exactly what they need to know: how to write excellent scripts and how to become savvy enough about the business to break in and get their first job writing for television. I recommend it to every new writer I work with.”
Carole Kirschner, Head of the CBS Diversity Institute Writers Mentoring Program; Program Director, WGA Showrunner Training Program
“Pamela Douglas has written ‘the’ book on writing hour episodic drama. She breaks the process down into simple-to-understand steps, while carefully weaving the inseparable elements of craft and business. This is a must read for any screenwriter who wants to get in — and stay in — the television series loop. In the rapidly changing landscape of hour episodic television, Pamela Douglas is on top of the trends and thinking one step ahead of them. Essentially, she has created the gold standard for any book on this topic.”
Catherine Clinch, Contributing Editor, Creative Screenwriting Magazine; Publisher, MomsMediaWorld.com
“Writing the TV Drama Series is both practical and enjoyable; I repeatedly recommend this guide to series writing to aspiring television writers. Douglas keeps it easy to follow, and every page is loaded with valuable information that will help writers navigate those challenging first years.”
Erika Kennair, Entertainment Diversity Representative, NBC Entertainment Strategy Dept.
“Through her experiences as a writer on well-known series, Pamela Douglas teaches you to write from the heart while being conscious of all of the details that accompany working in the fast-paced world of television: writing within budget, analyzing and breaking down scenes, working with a staff of writers, the drafting process from outline to shooting script, and breaking into the business. As a production assistant working on a serial program, Writing the TV Drama Series helped me to understand how a concept is developed into a full story that airs over months. I know it will help you too.”
Joshua Friedman, author: Getting It Done
“Think of Pamela Douglas as a Sorcerer and that you’re lucky enough to be her apprentice. The 3rd Edition of Writing The TV Drama Series delivers on many levels.”
D.B. Gilles, author: The Screenwriter Within and You’re Funny! Turn Your Sense of Humor Into a Lucrative New Career
“Writing the TV Drama Series remains the best of book of its kind, a must-have not only for aspiring (or working) drama writers, but for producers, execs, agents, and anyone who needs to understand — or think critically about — the inner workings of TV dramas.”
Chad Gervich, writer/producer: After Lately, Cupcake Wars, Wipeout; author: Small Screen, Big Picture: A Writer’s Guide to the TV Business
“For the past decade or so, TV drama has been the most interesting and successful form of storytelling in our culture. And I can’t imagine a better one-volume guide to writing TV drama than Pamela Douglas’ book.”
Michael Cassutt, writer/producer:
