Writer/producer Lisa Klink regularly posts great advice for aspiring TV writers on her blog. Today she’s talking about writing the episodic spec script:
Your first spec or two should demonstrate that you know how to
follow the rules, and imitate the format and voice of a show. Your
“why not” script should show off your voice.
She also shares a very instructive anecdote:
I heard a great story from a fellow drama/sci-fi writer: she wrote
a “Lost” spec about Vincent. Yes, Vincent, the dog – complete with a
flashback to his life before the crash. Wouldn’t you immediately grab
that off the pile and read it? A lot of people did. My friend got a
slew of meetings off her spec and, more importantly, a job. She also
had a “West Wing” spec, but it was the “Lost” which really launched
her. As we were talking about this, she said something particularly
smart about sending out a spec: “You don’t need everyone to like it.
You need someone to love it.” Exactly.
Lisa is also a recent JEOPARDY champion, surviving for a full week before getting bounced on a question about….writers. That had to hurt.