How do you write a TV script that is original and creative?

1 Know your genre and format

Before you start writing, you need to know what kind of TV script you are writing. Is it a comedy, drama, thriller, or something else? Is it a pilot, a spec, or a pitch? Is it a half-hour, an hour, or a mini-series? Each genre and format has its own rules, expectations, and structure that you need to follow and respect. You also need to research and study the existing shows and scripts in your chosen genre and format, and analyze what makes them work and what you can learn from them.

3 Create your characters and outline

The next step is to create your characters and outline. Your characters are the heart and soul of your show, and you need to make them believable, relatable, and engaging. You need to give them names, backgrounds, personalities, goals, flaws, and arcs. You also need to create relationships and conflicts between them, and make sure they have a clear role and function in your story. Your outline is the skeleton of your script, and you need to map out the main scenes, beats, and actions that move your story forward. You need to follow the structure and pacing of your genre and format, and make sure each scene has a purpose, a conflict, and a resolution.

4 Write your dialogue and action

After you have your characters and outline, you can start writing your dialogue and action. Your dialogue is the voice of your characters, and you need to make it natural, realistic, and distinctive. You need to avoid exposition, clichés, and filler words, and use subtext, humor, and emotion to convey your characters' thoughts and feelings. Your action is the description of what your characters do and what happens in your scenes, and you need to make it clear, concise, and visual. You need to avoid overwriting, directing, and commenting, and use active verbs, sensory details, and transitions to create a vivid picture of your scenes.

5 Revise and polish your script

The final step is to revise and polish your script. Your script is not finished until you have checked it for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting errors, and made sure it follows the industry standards and guidelines. You also need to review your script for content, structure, and style, and make sure it is consistent, coherent, and compelling. You need to cut out anything that is unnecessary, redundant, or boring, and add anything that is missing, unclear, or weak. You need to read your script aloud, get feedback from others, and rewrite it until it is the best it can be.