6 Ways Netflix Can Make You a Better Writer

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

It might seem odd to watch TV to improve your writing, but Netflix* is a fantastic tool for writers. Not only does it give us a way to escape when we need a break, but it allows us to see complex stories unfold in a way that easy to study them. Binge watching packs a lot of storytelling examples into a weekend.

Even better, since much of the original programing has only ten to twelve episodes a season, they’re written more like a novel than a TV show. Netflix expects viewers to binge, so a series often plays out as one long movie, not a series of loosely connected episodes. And for most people, it’s less time consuming to watch ten episodes than to read ten novels—and much easier to return to a scene you want to study further, or pause the show to take notes.

Of course, writing for TV is different from writing a novel, so you wouldn’t want to follow the exact format or structure, but it’s close enough to learn a few things to improve your own storytelling.

Studying a story on Netflix allows you to:

1. Spot tropes and overdone cliches in your given genre

Watch a season of any genre of show. Sitcoms, dramas, procedurals, comedies—they all have their tropes and cliches. The bad ones usually use them right away, but the better ones frequently use them in the third or fourth season after they run out of the really good ideas (or the original writers leave).

This also holds true for movies. Spend a weekend binging on romantic comedies or action thrillers, and you’ll see the similarities, both good and bad. Even if all you do is watch trailers all afternoon, you’ll see what’s common to that genre.

(Here’s a funny (and revealing) look at the problem with cliches)

2. Learn how to effectively weave plots and subplots

The short-season shows are great for seeing how a story unfolds in all its layered complexity. Each episode is almost a mini-arc by itself, with subplots within each arc that span single episodes to entire seasons. For many shows, the episode turning points fall similarly to the traditional story structure we use in our novels.

But the subplots are where binge watching really pays off. Since the main plot (the core conflict if you will) needs to cover at least the season, creators have the fill the show with other things to hold viewers’ attention (like a subplot). A bad or mishandled subplot sticks out much worse in a TV show than a novel, because it’s compacted over a shorter time frame. A good subplot slips in and out of the story and you marvel at how well it all ties together. You can also see when, where, and how a subplot is woven into the main storyline, and how much “page time” it gets versus the main plot.

(Here’s more on what Scandal can teach us about plotting and tension)

3. See a character arc unfold

Watching a show on a weekly basis gives you a week to forget the minute details of that show. Watching ten episodes in a row makes it clear how a character changes (or not) in that show. Even with a regular syndicated sitcom, the differences between the characters in season one and the final season are usually noticeable. In a drama, they can seem like different people if the arc is strong enough.

With a well-developed character arc, you can usually spot the moments that created that growth. Some are larger scenes that also advanced the plot, others are decisions that had unexpected consequence. For the really good arcs, tiny moments turn out to be major events later in the story.

(Here’s more on creating strong character arcs)

4. Hear different character voices

Some shows (and movies) have very distinct voices, but in the overall sound of the show and the individual characters. If you can’t remember the names of half the characters on a show, there’s a good chance that character wasn’t unique enough to be worth remembering. Those you do remember, likely had unique voices and personalities.

(Here’s more on creating character voices)

5. Learn how to create interesting characters

Some of the most memorable characters are on TV, and there’s something about watching a live person versus reading about one that often makes them feel more real. It’s the mannerisms and ticks, the small things that people do that set them apart from others, and those come through on the screen more easily than they do on a page—because the actors can’t help but do the unconscious things people do (and the good actors do this consciously).

(Here’s more on what Stranger Things can teach us about flashbacks)

6. Learn how to create and sustain a series

Keeping an idea going year after year after year is no small feat, and TV writers get a ton of practice at this. If you’re developing your own series idea, watch some of the long-running series and pay attention to where and how those larger story arcs unfold. Many of them (especially the genre shows) have a per-season conflict just like a novel, with a series-arcing conflict tying it all together. You can get a good sense of how many subplots might be needed, or how slowly a character arc needs to unfold, or when to reveal important information.

(Here’s more on writing a series)

Storytelling at its core is the same no matter what medium you use to tell that story. If it’s easier for you to watch away a weekend and pick up tips, Netflix offers many great opportunities to learn.

For those looking for some well-written shows, try any of these:

• Scandal (The first season is some of the best plotting I’ve seen)
• Stranger Things (Excellent plotting, character development, use of flashbacks)
• Daredevil (It’s worth watching season one just to see how they handled the antagonist, Kingpin)
• Scrubs, Justified, The West Wing (All three have excellent voices and memorable characters)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Fantastic characters arcs and voices)
• Orange is the New Black (Great use of an ensemble cast and multiple storylines)
• Sherlock (Great example of plotting a mystery)
• House of Cards, Dexter (Great example of how to make unlikable characters compelling to watch)

There are so many more to choose (and learn) from, so have fun exploring your options.

What TV shows or movies have helped your writing?

*I use Netflix here, but any of the streaming services work just as well.  

Find out more about characters and point of view in my book, Fixing Your Character & Point-of-View Problems.

Go step-by-step through revising character and character-related issues, such as two-dimensional characters, inconsistent points of view, too-much backstory, stale dialogue, didactic internalization, and lack of voice. Learn how to analyze your draft, spot any problems or weak areas, and fix those problems.

With clear and easy-to-understand examples, Fixing Your Character & Point-of-View Problems offers five self-guided workshops that target the common issues that make readers stop reading. It will help you:

• Flesh out weak characters and build strong character arcs
• Find the right amount of backstory to enhance, not bog down, your story
• Determine the best point(s) of view and how to use them to your advantage
• Eliminate empty dialogue and rambling internalization
• Develop character voices and craft unique, individual characters 

Fixing Your Character & Point-of-View Problems starts every workshop with an analysis to pinpoint problem areas and offers multiple revision options in each area. You choose the options that best fit your writing process. It's an easy-to-follow guide to crafting compelling characters, solid points of view, and strong character voices readers will love.

Available in paperback and ebook formats.

Janice Hardy is the award-winning author of the teen fantasy trilogy The Healing Wars, including The Shifter, Blue Fire, and Darkfall from Balzer+Bray/Harper Collins. The Shifter, was chosen for the 2014 list of "Ten Books All Young Georgians Should Read" from the Georgia Center for the Book.

She also writes the Grace Harper urban fantasy series for adults under the name, J.T. Hardy.

When she's not writing novels, she's teaching other writers how to improve their craft. She's the founder of Fiction University and has written multiple books on writing.

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