How to Write a Spec TV Script
A spec TV script, or speculative script, is an episodic screenplay written for an existing TV series. Professional and aspiring screenwriters pen spec TV scripts to attract the attention of agents and producers. These scripts are written to display literary skills for potential jobs, but not for pay. Spec TV scripts do not usually require the writer to create the characters and setting; that is done by the show's creators. However, the writer must ensure that the spec script fits with the tone and style of the original creator's vision.
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Instructions
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Select a TV show for which you will write. Choose a show that has been on television for a few seasons; the characters will be more clearly defined. Research the show's popularity by reviewing weekly TV ratings and reading industry news; current shows make better samples than cancelled ones. Procedural dramas work well for spec scripts since they are often plot-driven and rely on solid screenwriting. Write a sitcom if humor is your forte. Agents typically require several samples to demonstrate your ability to adapt to various genres.
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Watch multiple episodes of the series and read character biographies on the network's official website. Observe and make note of the principal characters' backstories. Pay close attention to any distinctive dialogue, speech patterns, behaviors and personality traits to help you capture each character's distinctive tone.
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Create your own character breakdowns for each of the TV show's main characters. Write down your interpretation of each character's general disposition, mood and behavior. Include their motives and reactions to situations and other characters.
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Note any storytelling devices featured in existing episodes of the TV show, such as voice over narration or flashbacks. Note how the story unfolds, the perspective from which it is told and the overall story arc. The story arc is the ongoing story of the characters that unfolds over multiple episodes.
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Observe the number and pacing of scenes, and number and type of settings utilized in an episode. Focus on dialogue, story and character interaction in your spec script -- do not include technical details or specific directions unless they are pivotal to the story; these are added later in the shooting script. Shooting scripts feature instructions about camera angles, details about props, atmosphere and lighting.
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Download scriptwriting software to properly format your spec script, or familiarize yourself with the basic format and use a word processing program to create your own template. Slug lines tell the location and time of the scene and are aligned to the left. Action descriptions are also aligned to the left, while the character names and dialogue are centered. All scripts should be written in Courier font, 12-point and 10-pitch, without any bold or italic lettering.
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Write your script based on the observations you have made about the backstories, dialogue, setting and directing of prior episodes. Each page of script generally equals one minute of screen time; a 30-minute TV show requires about 22 pages to accommodate commercials.
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