And So It Begins...

Hello! The purpose of this blog is to document the journey of a Baby Writer, writing an original TV pilot. Armed only with my Writing (Blog) Mentor Jane Espenson (please visit her blog often at www.janeespenson.com ), an idea, and a writing schedule I shall attempt the Grand Daddy of writing projects: An Original Pilot Script (second only to the Great Granddaddy of writing projects known as The Feature Film...but that's another blog).

For those of you new to TV land, please allow Wikipedia to explain:

"A television pilot is a test episode of an intended television series. It may be slightly longer than a normal episode (sometimes it may approach twice the length so if sold, it will later be broken down into two episodes) and is intended to get network programming executives, and later the public, interested in the series. However, pilots are rarely fair examples of what a "normal episode" of a series is like, since they usually set the general background and tell the origin story for the series (e.g., if the series is about two angry roommates, the pilot will probably show how they met).

While many pilots are shot, few make it to the screen, and even fewer go on to become full-fledged television series. "

That last bit stings a little. Very few pilots go on to become full-fledged TV series. Okay, so it's not easy. I get it. Here's what's great: I don't have to get my pilot made into an actual TV show...my goal is to be hired onto an EXISTING show. And these days, the best way to do that is to create a show of your own as a writing sample. So that takes the pressure off. Sort of. I still need to hit it out of the park. Big time. There are a lot of really, really great writers out there with CREDITS. That's the rub. While I fancy myself as clever (in moments), at the end of the day, my resume has a lot of bare space. Like, mostly bare. Fine, it's totally naked. But, get this: I'm so new at the professional side of this that I have NO IDEA what isn't possible! As far as I'm concerned I could spend all summer writing my TV Pilot, it could be a smashing success and I could be sitting around a writers table with IBS and dry mouth by next year! Dare to dream!

So, tomorrow the journey begins. I will use this blog to document the ups and downs (hopefully mostly ups) of creating a TV show from scratch. And you are invited. Welcome to my world.

The pilot is about angels...so let's assume this journey will be blessed.

*Jane Espenson always ends her blog with what she had for lunch that day which is both quirky AND interesting. (It'd just be weird if I copied her.) I'm going to end each blog with:

Words I Wish I Had Written: "Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting…’Holy shit! What a ride!"