A good friend recently introduced me to a show called Gilmore Girls. I know, I know. I’m late to this particular party. But better late than never, right?I’m just starting season four, and I have to tell you, this show is a great study for fiction writers. Because it has….
A cast of quirky characters
From Sookie the chef, to Jackson the produce guy, to Babette the cat-loving neighbor, to Kirk who pretty much works everywhere. This show is teaming with a cast of quirky and lovable characters. Each character is different and completely memorable.
- Application for writers: What quirks can you give your characters to set them apart and make them more memorable for your readers?
Witty dialogue
This show has witty, fast-paced dialogue down to an art form. In fact, it’s dished out so quickly that I find myself paying extra careful attention so I don’t miss anything. Not only are these exchanges entertaining, they do so much to flesh out each of the quirky characters.
- Application for writers: Are you giving the dialogue in your story the attention it deserves? Are you bringing your characters to life through dialogue?
Two steps forward, one step back
Lorelai’s relationship with her parents. Lorelai’s relationship with Luke. As viewers, we’re hoping for progress. We want Lorelai and her parents to have a breakthrough. We want Lorelai and Luke to admit they love each other. Each episode gives us little glimpses, tantalizing tastes. And then something happens to thwart the progress, leaving us hungry for more.
Too much satisfaction leads to boredom. Too much tension leads to frustration. But a good balance between the two leads to hooked viewers.
- Application for writers: Are you maintaining the delicate balance between tension and satisfaction in your story? Or are the scales tipped to heavily to one side?
Charming setting
Luke’s Diner, Lorelai and Rory’s home away from home. Miss Patty’s Dance Studio, where the hilarious town meetings take place. Taylor’s grocery store, where Rory and Dean first kissed. The setting is just as much a character in this show as the people. Stars Hollow is charming and quirky and somewhere I’d love to visit.
- Application for writers: Are you giving the setting in your novel a distinct personality?
I could keep going. Because the show has other things too. Like dynamic relationships. Interesting subplots. And all kinds of romance. But for the sake of brevity, I’ll stop with these take-away tips. Quirky characters, witty dialogue, a healthy tension/satisfaction ratio, and a charming setting.
Let’s Talk: What shows do you like? What have these shows taught you about writing?
I find myself taking lessons in story telling all the time from tv and movies. Whether it’s how to keep the tension alive, or just picking up on great dialogue, like you mentioned, I find that it’s a super helpful medium to study as a writer. And since writers have to compete these days with movies and such for a reader’s attention, its important to study how things are done on the screen.
That’s a great point. We’re competing with every other type of entertainment, not just books.
Do you have a favorite movie or show you think is a great study in story telling?
I’ve recently discovered the show Lie to Me. Late to the party too, as the show just went off the air.
Sigh.
Love the whole unusual premise of the TV show — a guy who reads body language and helps unravel crimes and whatnot. But, oh, such quirky characters. And how do you have any type of relationship with someone when you can read them all the time? And they know it?
Great set up for tension and conflict.
I remember seeing previews for that awhile ago, but I never watched. Was it not on air for very long?
i’ve never gotten into gilmore girls. but it sounds like a delightful show! you know i’m hooked on TVD and True Blood, but i’m totally into Castle, Rizzoli and Isles, The Mentalist, Body of Prood, Grimm, Glee, and Once Upon A Time. i realize that they are almost all police shows. hmm.
I haven’t even heard of half of these! Ha!
Although I remember hearing about Once Upon a Time. Is it good?
I’ll be honest, I hardly watch TV. The only shows I currently watch are The Vampire Diaries (best ever!) and Gilmore Girls (which is on DVD, so I get to skip commercials)
Thanks to Netflix, my hubby and I watch a mix of mysteries, period pieces, dramas, and–you knew it was coming–romances. We have fun analyzing the various elements of a show. He has no idea how much I enjoy hearing him discuss the believability of a plot point or the excellent job a screenwriter did with characterization. Such talk is more satisfying than shortbread. (Yeah, that’s one of my weaknesses. =)
Since I’m such a word person and prefer seeing words to merely hearing them, my hubby indulges me, and we watch most shows with the subtitles on. This enables me to focus on the dialogue. I’ve learned a great deal this way about how to make every spoken word count.
Keli – you watch TV with subtitles! That is awesome. In fact, that is totally quirky. I love it!
I’ve never seen The Gilmore Girls… I’ll have to check it out. Dialogue is my biggest struggle, and I’m always interested in watching a movie or a show—or reading a book where it’s well done so that I can study it, so thanks for the recommendation. And I totally agree with your second point about needing a good balance between tension and frustration. I’d think it’d be hard to stretch that balance out over multiple episodes, but then again, maybe with more time, you can weave it into the plot more subtlety.
It would be super challenging to write a show, wouldn’t it? I’d be terrified of running out of ideas!
Oh, I miss GG!! My daughter and I used to watch it together. Miss those times too now that she’s away at college!! I think it’s really only the past year that I’ve realized how much we as writers CAN learn from GOOD television. As you know, my current fave is now Downton Abbey. I love great dialogue, and have to say that, thankfully, that’s never been difficult for me. Plot structure however, now that’s my downfall. The ‘always keep them guessing’ concept is one I really struggle to do well.
You are drinking the Downtown Abbey Kool-Aid, huh? I think everyone and their mother is watching that show and raving about it. I need to hop on that bandwagon.
You are really good at dialogue, Cathy. That’s one of the first things I noticed when I read Yesterday’s Tomorrow!
Aw, thanks!! YES – you NEED to watch Downton Abbey!! You will LOVE it. Actually Rachelle got me hooked – I downloaded the first episode of Season 1 – promptly became obsessed and spent a week watching the entire first season so I could start watching Season 2. And she wants us to write books…ha. No, seriously, it’s awesome!
You’re absolutely right about all these things! Gilmore Girls was a good show. I like the early seasons best. I bet the writers had such a good time creating the scripts for this show!
I was watching the special features and the writer was saying how the scripts for each show were super long. Way longer than the average show script, because there is so many fast-paced exchanged with dialogue. She said it was super fun to write, but challenging. I can imagine!
I love Gilmore Girls!! I’ve seen them all more than once, but always have several episodes on my dvr at all times. I love interesting, quirky characters–and small towns.
Hey – you know my debut is set in a small town, right?
Wow! Shameless plug! Please ignore it!
I watched all seven seasons of GG in like a span of two months a few years ago. Yeah, my husband didn’t like that too much. Ha. He kept commenting on how awful Dean’s hair was, of all things. LOL
I really like the show Psych. Sean and Gus have this deep friendship where they are constantly squabbling because they’re so different, and yet, they know each other so well. They have that whole sidekick thing going on. I think a lot of times it’s fun to have those sidekick or quirky best friends who support the MC.
That is hilarious, because not so nice opinions about Dean’s hair have run through my mind as I watch!
I’ve never even heard of Psych. I’m a fan of quirky side kicks/best friends too!
I love this show. I got my sister hooked on this one a couple of years ago and now she’s seen all the seasons (thought I haven’t quite yet). I’ve definitely used this show for inspiration, particularly setting. Love it!
As I said on your facebook page, GG is my all time favorite show. I also really enjoyed Everwood, for the setting it’s also a very unique small town with interesting (though not quirky, they are complex) characters.
Currently I love Castle, the main is a mystery writer and so I find I learn a lot from the show, and he is so stinking clever he makes me laugh out loud. I really like Heart of Dixie on CW for a lot of the reasons I love GG and EW and find the romance triangles especially inspiring. While, it’s far from Christian and the plot is ridiculously sinful, I find myself captivated by Revenge, I’m learning a lot about the dark nuances of a character, how to develop those, and they excel in revealing new information in each episode without being obvious or redundant.
Return to Me is my favorite all time movie, I love the characters, dialogue, and heart of the movie. But I especially learn a lot about how backup characters can help drive a plot line, or build extra drama/entertainment when the main characters are busy!
What a great post today Katie!
Oh, and I wanted to add that I think I’d be really inspired and think I’d really love writing for a television show. I’m extremely character driven as a writer and often struggle with the conflict necessary to drive a novel forward but think I’d find it comforting to stay focused on the same characters for a long period of time, developing them through the circumstance surrounding their every day normal lives. I think of sitcoms when I say this, Friends, Sienfeld, Home Improvement, Everybody Loves Raymond Etc.
I love Return to Me too! I balled!
Hey, you know that takes place in CT, right?
I completely agree with the witty dialogue. It draws me to the show whenever it’s on.
~ Wendy
I think you know how I feel about GG! Loved your post today.
I also loved West Wing, ironically, for some of the same reasons.
I don’t necessarily always agree with the politics, but it was such a smart show and the dialogue was amazing, character development (and with a large cast, too) was pretty phenomenal. And I’ve loved Aaron Sorkin’s stuff since Sports Night.
Oh, and of course, TVD.
I think you know how awesome it is that you introduced me to it!
Great takeaways, Katie! I’ve seen a few of these episodes and agree on the snappy dialogue. This post makes me want to study the show some more…
I’ve heard so many good things about this show, but I’ve never watched it. Great tips!
I think my favorite show these days has to be Justified. It has the wittiest dialogue I’ve ever heard. The characters are completely quirky. And the conflict? Crazy!!
I haven’t watched Gilmore Girls. I should!
I haven’t even heard of that, Heather! So many shows I’ve never heard of!