If you're a new writer your big break will inevitably come at the worst possible time and you will have to create plots at speed, a difficult skill. These 'coffee break exercises' are to give you some practice in this vital trick of the trade.
The exercise below will probably take a few coffee breaks, but have a go. Don't panic if you're finding it hard. It is hard! It's all about practice and keeping calm as you brainstorm every decision.
The Exercise
Take your favourite TV series, current or defunct. Choose one character. You are going to create a ‘C’ story for this character.
Create 6 step linear story (with a beginning middle and end) for this character. Make it fit with the show (light-hearted, hard- hitting whatever) and, crucially, use a storyline that fits with the character and shows that person reacting to the situation in the way typical of them. Hence, in The Simpsons, Homer will react to a situation in a way that's typically Homer; Marge will react in a way that's typically Marge. This skill - creating a storyline to illustrate a character, exploiting all the possibilities of the show - is what producers look for, so don't forget it. It might help to list the personality traits of your chosen character so you can focus on what specific storyline would best suit them.
Remember too, each story step needs to progress the story (harder than it sounds). Make sure you brainstorm before making any decision using the motto 'it has to be "real but unusual"'. And don't forget to give yourself permission to come up with cliches and dud ideas at first. Just list them to get them out of your system and keep thinking of more. Good ideas will come.
( So what is a ‘C’ story? A ‘C ‘ story is a a short storyline that is interwoven between the A story (eg in a doctor’s show ‘disease of the week’, in a lawyers’ show ‘case of the week’ ) and the B story (usually serial content) C stories are usually short and they might thematically connected with the A and B stories or completely unconnected. In shows that have a lot of serial content, the C story is serial material.)
The exercise below will probably take a few coffee breaks, but have a go. Don't panic if you're finding it hard. It is hard! It's all about practice and keeping calm as you brainstorm every decision.
The Exercise
Take your favourite TV series, current or defunct. Choose one character. You are going to create a ‘C’ story for this character.
Create 6 step linear story (with a beginning middle and end) for this character. Make it fit with the show (light-hearted, hard- hitting whatever) and, crucially, use a storyline that fits with the character and shows that person reacting to the situation in the way typical of them. Hence, in The Simpsons, Homer will react to a situation in a way that's typically Homer; Marge will react in a way that's typically Marge. This skill - creating a storyline to illustrate a character, exploiting all the possibilities of the show - is what producers look for, so don't forget it. It might help to list the personality traits of your chosen character so you can focus on what specific storyline would best suit them.
Remember too, each story step needs to progress the story (harder than it sounds). Make sure you brainstorm before making any decision using the motto 'it has to be "real but unusual"'. And don't forget to give yourself permission to come up with cliches and dud ideas at first. Just list them to get them out of your system and keep thinking of more. Good ideas will come.
( So what is a ‘C’ story? A ‘C ‘ story is a a short storyline that is interwoven between the A story (eg in a doctor’s show ‘disease of the week’, in a lawyers’ show ‘case of the week’ ) and the B story (usually serial content) C stories are usually short and they might thematically connected with the A and B stories or completely unconnected. In shows that have a lot of serial content, the C story is serial material.)
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