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There are plenty differences between TV writing and writing for movies. TV writing is a harder task because the writer usually has to meet very short deadlines. Churning out scripts continually, day after day, is challenging but also receives instantaneous feedback for the screenwriter. In contrast, movies usually take several years to reach the screen. An hour TV show requires a lot of material every few days, depending upon the schedule of the shooting. The procedure of developing the concept, outline, and approved script has to be completed within a stipulated timeframe.
TV writing means working according to an internal structure. Although it does not encompass commercial breaks alone, they must be accounted for. Every act must end with a cliffhanger -- something for the audience to muse over and look forward to the next act, either after the commercial break or the beginning of the next episode. Teasers are used in TV writing to gain the audience's interest at the beginning of every act. Generally, an hour show is divided into four distinct acts.
The writer is invariably a member of the staff who has to be present at the set to make changes that may be required. TV writing created by freelancers does not always receive a warm welcome by crew members. At the same time, the work of the writer is crucial. Directors may be replaced but changing the writer can be disastrous. A screenwriter for TV shows can do away with a character who is not performing well. Most actors are on the best of terms with the decider of his fate. Although the director has more say, he or she is typically willing to understand the screenwriter's reasoning.
The ultimate power lies with the network, which in turn is answerable to the audience. From the first episode, the idea is to hook the viewers; all subsequent episodes need to sustain their interest. A cardinal rule of TV writing is consistency. Every episode of a serial should transition into the next. Though a week apart, the story must feel as if it is continuous, based on what occurred previously. This also means that once you choose a certain style of language or format, you will typically be stuck with it for the life of the show. Pay extra attention to it right at the beginning. Writing for TV is highly satisfying. Watching what you wrote come to life brings immense pleasure. Even if your show flops for some reason, gloat over the fact that millions of people had watched it, yet try to improve the next time.
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