When you're staring at a blank page, how do you even begin to format an episode of TV, much less a whole season? I've heard some TV writers talk about formulas and A, B, and C stories, or about themes for seasons, but it does seem like it's a bit like putting a puzzle together. I'm sure the answer is probably also different if you're writing something solo or in a writing room, and I'd be interested to hear about that too!
The first trick is to never have a blank page in the first place. Ideally, when I start writing, I have an outline, at least a rough one. So I already know what scenes I'm supposed to write.
At the very least, I only start writing AFTER I know the basic structure, even if it's just the beginning, middle, and end. So... Who is my protagonist? Where do they start? What is the main problem they're dealing with? How does it get even more complicated? How will it be resolved in the end?
But once I have that, I usually figure out a few more main landmarks along the way. I want to have some big complication or cliffhanger or reveal about every 10 pages for TV (5-6 total), maybe every 10-15 for a feature (10 total), and for a novel about 1 per chapter.
That's often enough for me to start. I'll put all those thoughts into the draft first, then start fleshing them out as I go. If I think of a cool sequence or key scene still to come, I'll put the basic ideas for it into the document wherever it seems to fit. I can always move it later.
The more detailed and complete the outline, the easier it is to write the scenes as I get to them. Outlining really helps, and it's a crucial step that a lot of newer writers often skip. Lack of an outline is a big reason why people start a writing project but never finish. They riff and vamp their way through the beginning, and everything feels good, but then they get to the long mushy undefined middle and get lost and give up.
I highly recommend whenever starting a new project, spend a few days or a week just brainstorming ideas, scenes, key moments, etc. Then put them into an order that makes sense. THEN start writing.
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