Soap Opera

[devi (imported)]

I got to thinking and wondering if it were possible to write up and to develop a character for one of the major soap operas on the air like "As The World Turns" or something. (You know those things that you avoid watching for the fear of being sucked into having to watch the next show for the next few years thereafter.

[Gil (imported)]

Don't know if it applies to soap characters or not, but I learned in a writers marketing class I took once that you can obtain from publishers, producers, etc. a writers kit if you're interested in writing for an established TV, movie or novel series. I picked one up for "Start Trek" out of curiosity almost 20 years ago. Very interesting stuff in there. E.g. very detailed character sketches (you know Kirk bedded a different woman every night?), and very explicit lists of what the writer can make the characters do and not do. Like, they don't want Scotty killed off, for example.

The Star Trek kit was pretty cheap, as I recall: about $30 for shipping and processing. I hear some are quite expensive, but reimbursed if your script/story/novel is picked up. You also have to sign an IP non-disclosure agreement.

[Arab Nights (imported)]

The Spanish language telenovelas have great promise for that. Some are a real hoot. And you occassionally see a little ball busting, so in time . . . .