The length should be no more than 1-2 sentences. The intention is to spark interest - that’s it. Here are some simple guidelines to write your own. It’s about knowing what to include, what to remove, and testing it with people until their eyebrows perk up. Writing a killer logline is difficult and takes time. Refining your logline is an excellent way of distilling your concept into its most easy-to-understand form. Where they really help is in the first draft stage. Including a logline can come across as rather academic in today’s day and age, but they are used in pitching documents regularly. Words are just fine, but a little extra effort and creativity can go a long way when applied intentionally.ĭoes every bible need a logline? In my opinion, no. You don’t always have to design your bible this way. You want a producer to finish your writeup and be so excited that they need to call you.Īt the same time, the bible clearly shows the Duffer brothers had a very clear vision of the show’s DNA. Not only did the concise writing convey the concept, but the style of the bible hints at the show’s unique selling point.Īnd at a succinct 23 pages, the bible is a breeze to read and fun. They also included images from similar toned movies such as E.T, Poltergeist and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. They designed their bible in the form of a 1980s Stephen King-esque paperback. The Duffer Brothers, creators of Stranger Things, achieved this with minimal words. Get straight to the “hook” of your show and why it will be exciting/funny/horrifying/dramatic/thrilling. Remember: You want the reader to be so intrigued that they turn the page and finish the bible. The goal is clarity, hooking your reader’s attention, and helping them understand your show. Resist the urge to start at the most exciting moment or halfway through the story. You’ve been living with this idea for months or even years, but your reader hasn’t. The death of every bible happens when you assume the reader knows what you know. After all, your idea is genius!! But please…pull back. Now, as a writer, I understand it may be attractive to layout EVERYTHING that happens. The intention is to hook the reader into your show by keeping it brief and simple. It details the main storyline, characters, and the genre. Most bibles begin with a short and concise one-page synopsis about the central concept of the show. You’ve just increased your chances of a sale. While titles can change all the time in the development process - Stranger Things was initially called Montauk - it never hurts to show you’ve put effort into the title so it works for whoever you’re pitching to.Īt the end of the day, if your title can compel your reader to think, smile or raise an eyebrow, you’ve stood out from the noise. Make your title unique, attention-grabbing and clear.Ĭan you create a sense of intrigue, excitement or humour with the title? Does the title infer what the show is about without being too boring? Does it fit into the genre and also stand out? If the title is unclear, esoteric, boring, or reminiscent of any other show, your pitch may take a hit even before the reader gets to the first page. The title of your show is the first impression. You’re going for effectiveness here, not epic-ness. Tip: The more concise and easier to read your bible is, the better. Some bibles can rack up to 30-40 pages, but this is usually AFTER the show has been sold and the creators are in the development stage. With all of these elements combined, your bible should roughly be between 10-25 pages. I’ve collated 16 of the best TV bible examples I could find at the end of this post. But hold up, how do you write a TV bible? Every TV show has a bible, a holy document that details everything that is, and will happen, on a show.Ī bible is a useful tool to encapsulate your idea into a sellable package that can be sent to networks/producers, as well as a calling card to your unique storytelling abilities.Īnd most importantly, knowing how to write an effective bible is a powerful way to pitch and get your show made in the first place. With a free downloadable “beat sheet” template and TV pilot scripts to analyse.If you want to write for TV, knowing how to create an awesome bible should be at the top of your list. The ultimate guide to writing a TV pilot for new and experienced writers.
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