Three Ways to Generate Episode Ideas for a Series

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So you’ve begun a TV or web series and you’re desperate to write episodes that aren’t derivative crap.

As classic as certain sitcoms and animated series are, you’d like something that doesn’t involve an evil twin, a switcheroo or an incident of amnesia.

Or maybe you’re open to these things but you just don’t want it to be cliché.

Writer rooms are a haven for people to bounce ideas off of one another until they come up with something the showrunner or producers like.

If you really want to wow your colleagues, actors or your audience, a fresh approach to unlocking episode ideas is crucial. Here are three ways.

1. Examine various plot types

From adventure to metamorphosis, and discovery to descension, all plots are not made equal. Some plots will unearth certain challenges, adversaries, solutions and heroes. Certain plots call for certain actions and consequences, and are tailored for certain characters.

Plot types are often observed in movies and classic literature, but there’s no doubt you can use them for your episode ideas. As a matter of fact, you probably are using them and don’t know it.