Ayr Writers’ Club members were treated to another great evening, as Helena Sheridan introduced us to, what was for many, the totally unknown territory of writing for television. As the S.A.W. drama competition this year is for a 30-minute pilot programme for a TV series, Helena has given us a head start. She has written scripts for stage, radio and TV though, as she pointed out, requirements and attitudes frequently change. What was once acceptable, may now not be deemed politically correct.
Dialogue is obviously a key element, and Helena stressed the importance of giving
characters an individual voice. Perhaps give them a few verbal tics, mannerisms or frequently used phrases. Think how catch phrases help to identify well known characters – ‘Oooh, Betty,’ or ‘SHUT UP!’ for instance (familiar to those of a certain age!) Remember that people speak in brief snatches, not long speeches.
With a visual medium, setting is particularly important and could perhaps, be regarded as a character in its own right, helping to establish mood, location and era.
A strong theme (not to be confused with plot) is essential. The theme is the driver of the characters’ actions. The theme might be love, hate, revenge, betrayal or ambition, for instance. The plot shows us what happens; the theme is the reason why.
As with all stories, there must be conflict, either from external factors or the character’s inner struggle. Remember, no conflict – no story. As we are hoping this will be the start of a series, there must be enough characters and complex inter-relationships to carry the interest through a long series of events. These inter-relationships will be revealed as the saga progresses, but some questions and possibilities hinted at early on will add intrigue. 
What genre will you choose? It might be comedy, drama, crime, historical, contemporary, sci-fi, horror, or perhaps a combination of these. It could be drama with a comedic twist, historical crime, comedy fantasy, or dramatization of actual events.
Then there’s ‘the hook.’ Oh, that was fun! Helena gave us an exercise to work on individually, or in small groups, to write a brief introductory scene that will draw in the viewer, introduce the main character, hero or villain, and set the tone. Up to and including the tea break, the room was a buzz of creative activity as plots were hatched! We had a fair crop of bodies, some contemporary psycho-drama and serious drama, one with a pun in the title, that perhaps had more of a leaning towards comedy.
All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative evening, appreciated by the large turn-out, which included many new faces. It was good to see so many younger people in the mix.
Right, I’m away now to begin my magnum opus (?) I think Ayr Writers might very well figure largely in S.A.W.s drama competition next year! Thank you, Helena.
By Maggie Bolton