Starting Your Series Journey
The 5 Foundation Stones
Every great television series starts with a strong foundation. Whether you're developing the next "Breaking Bad" or "The Crown," understanding and implementing these five core elements will set your series up for success.
1. The Power of Concept
Your series concept is more than just an idea—it's the engine that will drive your entire show. A strong concept should be:
High-concept (easily pitchable)
Unique or with a fresh angle
Rich with potential for multiple seasons
Thematically resonant
Consider "Breaking Bad": "A high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer turns to manufacturing methamphetamine to secure his family's financial future." This concept immediately suggests conflict, moral complexity, and potential for character evolution—all crucial elements for a sustainable series.
2. Your Story Engine
The story engine is what generates your ongoing narrative fuel. It's the mechanism that creates natural conflicts and storylines season after season. A strong story engine should:
Create consistent sources of conflict
Allow for character growth and change
Generate multiple story possibilities
Maintain tension over extended periods
"The Wire" uses Baltimore's institutions (police, drug trade, politics, schools, media) as its story engine, allowing for deep exploration of systemic issues while generating endless potential for character-driven narratives.
3. Genre Framework
Understanding your genre—whether you're working within it traditionally or subverting it—provides crucial structure for your series. Consider:
Core genre conventions and audience expectations
Opportunities for genre blending
How to use or subvert tropes effectively
Genre-specific story patterns and arcs
"The Mandalorian" successfully blends space opera with Western genres, creating something both familiar and fresh.
4. Character Architecture
Characters are the heart of your series. Your character framework should establish:
Complex, evolving protagonists
Compelling antagonists
Dynamic supporting cast
Clear character relationships and dynamics
"Game of Thrones" excels at creating a web of complex characters whose interactions and conflicts drive the narrative forward.
5. World Rules
Whether you're creating a fantasy realm or a contemporary setting, establishing clear world rules is crucial:
Define the boundaries and limitations
Establish consistent internal logic
Create clear stakes and consequences
Build room for exploration and expansion
"The Handmaid's Tale" meticulously establishes the rules of Gilead, creating a framework that generates both story possibilities and thematic resonance.
Putting It Into Practice
Take your series concept and examine it through each of these foundation stones. Ask yourself:
Does your concept have enough depth to sustain multiple seasons?
What is your primary story engine, and can it generate varied conflicts?
How are you working with or against genre conventions?
Are your characters complex enough to support long-form storytelling?
Have you established clear, consistent rules for your world?
Exercise: The Foundation Assessment
Open a new document and create five sections, one for each foundation stone. Under each section, answer these questions:
Concept:
Can you state your series concept in one sentence?
What makes it unique?
What themes does it explore?
How could it sustain multiple seasons?
Story Engine:
What is your primary source of conflict?
How will it generate ongoing stories?
What types of stories can it produce?
How can it evolve over time?
Genre:
What is your primary genre?
What genre conventions are you using or subverting?
Are you blending multiple genres? How?
What genre expectations will your audience have?
Characters:
Who is your protagonist and what drives them?
Who are your main antagonistic forces?
What key relationships form your character web?
How can these characters evolve over time?
World:
What are the fundamental rules of your world?
What are its limitations and constraints?
What makes it unique or interesting?
How much room exists for expansion?
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
As you develop these foundations, watch out for:
The One-Season Wonder: A concept that's exciting but can't sustain beyond a single season.
Solution: Build in layers of complexity and room for expansion.
The Static Engine: A story engine that generates similar conflicts repeatedly.
Solution: Create multiple sources of conflict and allow for evolution.
The Genre Trap: Adhering too rigidly to genre conventions without finding your unique angle.
Solution: Look for fresh approaches while respecting what works.
The Flat Arc: Characters without enough room for growth or change.
Solution: Give characters complex motivations and internal conflicts.
The Inconsistent World: World rules that shift to serve the plot.
Solution: Establish clear boundaries and stick to them.
Your Turn
Share in the comments:
Which foundation stone do you find most challenging?
What successful series do you think excels at all five elements?
What questions do you have about any of these foundations?
Remember, these foundations aren't rigid rules but rather flexible frameworks to help you develop a strong, sustainable series. Take time to work through the assessment exercise - it's often in the details that we find our most interesting opportunities for development.