A, B & C story: There should be at least two plot threads in your pilot—these are referred to as your “A” and “B” stories. It’s up to you if you want to add a C, D or more. Each “story” represents a line of action, which is a character pursuing a goal with a beginning, middle and end.

Hint at Central Conflict (“The Compelling Crisis”): Give us a taste of the ongoing dramatic dilemma of this series.

The protagonist is thrown into a meaningful skirmish (First Trial) that produces some kind of failure or victim (First Casualty), which can be themselves, another character or a figurative death, like a loss of innocence.

Make sure you build contrast and conflict into each one.

Show us who we will be following for 100 hours, in an active, unique way that says something about this person and their current, or soon-to-be, place in the world.

No matter how clever or outlandish your scenario, it will not be compelling to an audience without characters we can invest in and root for.

External and Internal Goal:

a shocking yet inevitable turn

Theme can act as a “control” to focus your stories.