Gardner's Guide to Television Scriptwriting: The Writer's Road Map (Gardner's Guide series) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The basic genres of television include drama, romantic comedy, action/adventure, science-fiction, mystery, and fantasy..." (more)
Key Phrases: poll plot, story signposts, oblique scene, Act One, Gilmore Girls, West Wing (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The Writer's Road Map is your quintessential guide to writing one hour Television shows, whether you are a confirmed couch potato with a good idea for a TV series or a professional writer looking for a new medium to stretch your literary muscles. The writing exercises are designed to get your teleplay idea and/or your episode for an already existing series down on paper in the TV industry format. Follow Webber's trademarked Writer's Road Map and you will complete two marketable one hour scripts with ease! The book's meticulous design provides for several rest points with exercises and rules for lifelong script writing.

Gardner's Guide to Television Scriptwriting: The Writer's Road Map includes information on the different television genres, the basic four act structure, tv plot gimmicks, character types and motivations, scene construction, dialogue devices, themes, prose and rewrite lists. Learn the proper format and how to pitch your idea once it is written. Additionally this book contains a TV-ography of over 70 show references, a detailed glossary of popular industry terms, and a full length television script to provide a realworld example. Hollywood's waiting; the vehicle is ready, and you have the Map.

About the Author

Marilyn Webber has won awards and had numerous nominations in her ten year career as a professional writer. She has freelanced for networks such as ABC, CBS, USA, and UPN, and for studios such as Universal and Disney. She has written one hour action/adventures and family dramas for both daytime and primetime television. Marilyn has taught screenwriting classes and done work as a script analyst. Let her be your guide to turning your ideas into finished scripts.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: GGC Publishing (October 14, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589650042
• ISBN-13: 978-1589650046
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #826,005 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Hands-On, February 11, 2007

By	D. W. Alexander (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews

Writing for TV- or film, for that matter- is a challenge. "Gardner's Guide to Television Scriptwriting-The Writer's Road Map" will help you get that TV episode, even that pilot episode written. And you don't have to have connections in the (entertainment) business to write a pilot (but if it does get accepted, you DO have to move to LA). Very interactive, and informative.

I would have preferred that the author updated this edition, every 2-3 years or so would be fine. As always, TV series come and go, given the volatile nature of (both broadcast and cable/satelite) network TV. But all in all, this is a very good read, and a very good aid to writing for series TV.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Especially for the novice with no prior experience, May 16, 2003

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Television Scriptwriting: The Writer's Road Map by Marilyn Webber is a highly practical guide to the art of writing viable, intelligent, and commercially marketable television shows and scripts. Whether attempting to turn ideas into a television series, or a seeking to earn a living as a professional writer in the exciting and dynamic medium of television, Television Scriptwriting: The Writer's Road Map is a first-rate and highly recommended resource (especially for the novice with no prior experience) featuring basic information, pitfalls to be aware of, useful checklists, and much, much more.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gardner's Guide to Television Scriptwriting, March 10, 2006

By	Brook Wellington "urban farmsteader" (USA) - See all my reviews

I found the book to be informative, well organized, and timely. It helped me immeasurably. The only thing that I didn't like about the book was her descriptives -- comparing the writing process to driving a car. She describes the acts as Streets and lists Roadblocks encountered on these streets. It was kind of silly, but the book is EXCELLENT overall -- even with the goofy metaphors. Marilyn really knows her stuff, and she's an excellent writer. If you were only going to buy one book on scriptwriting (for a one hour show), this should be it!