About the Book:

The small screen is getting bigger all the time, making it the perfect avenue to find an audience for your scripts. The TV movie is a staple for television networks and streamers like Hallmark, Lifetime, and Netflix and is actually the bread and butter for many screenwriters – seasoned and emerging. From female protagonist thrillers to ripped-from-the-headlines stories and SyFy creature movies, the odds of selling a TV script far outweigh the feature film genre. But how do they differ?

Writing a TV Movie is a screenwriting how-to book that reveals the structure and content differences between feature films and TV movies. Written by award-winning screenwriter Roslyn Muir, this book offers clear and simple advice for beginners and experts alike on how to master the unique nine-act structure of the popular TV movie thriller and rom-com genres. It gives excellent tips on how to write and pitch a TV Movie script to producers and is an exceptional resource for screenwriters, teachers in screenwriting classes and workshops, and industry professionals alike.

Writing a TV Movie: An Insider's Guide to Launching a Screenwriting Career also features interviews with professional screenwriters: Melissa Cassera, Carley Smale, Kraig Wenman, Keith Shaw, plus Kelly Peters and Amy Taylor.

What people say:

"As an industry insider, I highly recommend this book. It is an up-to-date, comprehensive manual for writing one of the most popular genres today. Any emerging screenwriter is lucky to have the benefit of Muir's experience and advice." — Daria Ellerman, Editor (Meditation Park, Virgin River)

"Roslyn Muir's Writing a TV Movie is a must-read for anyone looking to write their first MOW. With our busy lives the short, easy-to-read chapters makes absorbing the material super easy. And Muir covers everything from the different types of genres to writing a synopsis to breaking down the full script and then how to pitch it. She really takes you from how to get an idea to how to make a sale! And she asks some of North America's top screenwriters to share their best tips for breaking in – honestly, that alone is a reason to buy this book." — Heather Hawthorn Doyle, Director (A Little Daytime Drama, A Godwink Christmas)

"If you're a writer who is interested in breaking into TV movie writing, this is the indispensable guide for you. Muir breaks down the structure of the genre in a way that is both practical and entertaining. As a television and feature film screenwriter who has worked in a number of structures, I found this guide so helpful. Muir has done the research, so you don't have to! Highly recommended, for both novices and professionals alike." — Karen Lam, Screenwriter and Director (The Curse of Willow Song, Van Helsing)

"A one-of-a-kind comprehensive reference for writing and selling a TV movie. Learn the detailed requirements for story, genre, structure, and character development and you are off to the races to become a screenwriter." — Penelope Buitenhuis, Screenwriter and Director (Death of a Vegas Showgirl, Mistress Hunter)

"Having worked with Roslyn to create Stranger in the House, indeed, a television movie, I can attest to the fact that she's extremely knowledgeable on the subject. If you'd like to learn the 'ins and outs' of how to put a contemporary television movie screenplay together, this book should be of enormous benefit to you." — Allan Harmon, Director of over 20 Television Movies

About the Author:

Roslyn Muir is an award-winning Canadian screenwriter and novelist who writes thrillers, family drama, and young adult fiction. Her TV movies have aired around the world.