To read the full article in its entirety, visit: https://www.outstandingscreenplays.com/post/10-tips-to-craft-a-winning-1hr-tv-pilot
But for the short version...
1. Deliver the Promise of the Premise - Fast: Consider cutting back on the setup needed
to get your story going.
2. Hook: Cold opens or teasers are effective ways to jump straight into the most compelling part of a story, hooking the viewers straight away.
3. Master Structure: Yes, the three-act structure can still very much apply to tv writing, but using 5-act (and now 6-act) structures are expected.
4. Craft Unique/Relatable Characters: Even if you’ve got a brilliant high-concept idea, don’t scrimp on the character design.
5. Understand Arcs: Unlike in a feature, characters aren’t expected to have conclusive arcs during the pilot episode.
6. Include Subplots: There’s no set amount, but including an A-Story, B-Story, and C-Story is the traditional method that doesn’t over complicate things.
7. World-Build: The great thing about TV is that there’s much more time to develop and explore the story world that you’ve created.
8. Less is More: We don’t need to meet every single character, see every location, begin every subplot, or include every twist in the pilot. Stick to only giving the essentials.
9. Have an original concept: A great idea that has ‘wow’ factor can render average writing forgivable. It’s all about sparking interest and intrigue in the reader.
10. Write with the audience in mind: This doesn’t just apply to the people potentially watching your show; think about who is going to be reading the script too.