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The Hero Succeeds: The Character-Driven Guide to Writing Your TV Pilot Paperback – April 4, 2016

4.8 out of 5 stars 194 ratings

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In The Hero Succeeds, veteran TV writer Kam Miller shows you exactly how to create your own TV series—from concept to writing a professional pilot script. Drawing from her career as a successful TV pilot writer, Miller shares her hard-earned knowledge about creating TV series that sell to Hollywood. She covers essential elements such as character, world of the show, story engine, tone, and themes for dramas and sitcoms. In this book, Miller introduces the groundbreaking character-driven structure that will help you solve even the most difficult script problems and create structurally sound, emotionally satisfying stories. Miller illustrates the practical application of her character-driven script structure in modern, successful TV shows, including Cinemax's The Knick, NBC's Hannibal, Amazon's Transparent, BBC America's Orphan Black, ABC's Modern Family, FOX's Empire, FXX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, AMC's The Walking Dead, FOX's Brooklyn Nine-Nine, ABC's How To Get Away With Murder, Starz's Outlander, CBS's The Good Wife, Showtime's Episodes, and many others. The Hero Succeeds shares professional screenwriting expertise, tools, and techniques previously available only to Miller's students at USC's School of Cinematic Arts and Boston University's Film & Television program. Whether you write drama or comedy for broadcast, cable, or streaming, The Hero Succeeds is the guide you need to build or expand your TV career.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

The first time I developed a show with Kam Miller, I was stunned by her insight into character, form, and story. She had all the elements down perfectly. Then we pitched it--she is indeed the best pitcher I have ever worked with, bar none. Kam's expertise is reflected in her book. "The Hero Succeeds" is the absolute best bible for anyone who wants to succeed in the TV series business!
Jeffrey Kramer
Executive Producer
CBS Television Studios


As a development executive, I've heard more than 3,000 pitches and developed hundreds of TV pilot scripts. Kam Miller's "The Hero Succeeds" delivers everything it takes to write a killer pilot script. It's knowledge that only someone who's been doing it successfully for years can provide. "The Hero Succeeds" is modern, relevant, and entertaining. I recommend Kam's book to every new--and experienced--writer I work with. "The Hero Succeeds" is a must-read for anyone who aspires to write a professional-level TV pilot that can sell.
Carole Kirschner
WGA Showrunner Training Program Director
CBS Diversity Writers Mentoring Program Director
Entertainment Career Consultant


"The Hero Succeeds" is fantastic! This book has been needed for a long time--so glad it finally exists.
Scott Weinger
Writer/Producer
ABC's "black-ish," "Galavant," "The Muppets"


In "The Hero Succeeds," Kam Miller gives you an inside glimpse of what it is like to write a TV pilot that sells. Because Kam has staffed and sold pilots, she has had the opportunity to develop her craft at a very high level. Her experience adds a tremendous value to the writer. She has an original and thought-provoking voice when it comes to writing the character-driven pilot. Kam has created a unique story system that will help you elevate your game and find success. I highly recommend this book.
Jen Grisanti
Jen Grisanti Consultancy
NBC Writers on the Verge
Story Consultant, Writing Instructor,
International Speaker, Author


"The Hero Succeeds" is a must for your writer's quiver--it's the inside track to writing your TV pilot.
Beau Smith
SyFy's "Wynonna Earp"

"The Hero Succeeds" delivers smart, engaging tools all writers can use. In great tech-industry fashion, Kam Miller has "open-sourced" pilot writing in a way that is not only practical but also lasting. She has laid out simply the complex trail of television development while paying attention to the unconscious biases that slip into the process. You'll notice her clever use of both female and male pronouns throughout implying that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Deconstructing long-standing gender and racial tropes from the very beginning of a writer's journey may be the most powerful and lasting impact of this great how-to guide.
Julie Ann Crommett
Entertainment Industry Educator in Chief
Google

"The Hero Succeeds" is a must-have book for any development executive. It's become my greatest go-to resource when giving notes to writers.
Jennifer Stempel
Director of Development
Juniper Place Productions


This is a great read and a very useful tool for anyone looking to put together a television series. It provides a thorough and understandable roadmap to take you from initial concept to a pitch-ready series package. I always read "The Hero Succeeds" again before I begin a new series project.
Andy Wehrspann
Creative Producer
Facts & Fuel

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ High & Low Media; 1.0 ed. edition (April 4, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 506 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0997188014
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0997188011
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.27 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 194 ratings

About the author

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Kam Miller
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Kam Miller is a TV writer-producer who has created pilots for Fox, CBS, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Television, and Universal Cable Productions. She wrote for Fox's “Killer Instinct” as well as the long-running NBC show “Law & Order: SVU.” Her first feature, “The Iris Effect,” was produced while she was at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Miller is a graduate of the WGA Showrunner Training Program. She has taught TV writing at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and Boston University Department of Film & Television. Her recent book, “The Hero Succeeds: The Character-Driven Guide to Writing Your TV Pilot,” details the proven character-driven structure to create TV dramas and comedies that sell to Hollywood.

She has been a featured speaker at the CBS Writers Mentoring Program, NBC Writers on the Verge, USC School of Cinematic Arts, UCLA, the Harvard Film Festival, the DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts, WonderCon, the Institute of American Indian Arts, the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications, and the University Film and Video Association, among others.

As a grad student, Miller created the highly successful USC First Pitch, the official pitch festival for the USC School of Cinematic Arts. As an alumna, she co-created USC First Team, a program that shepherded teams of writers, directors, and producers through development and took feature projects out to the industry. One of those features, “Kelly & Cal,” won the SXSW Gamechanger Award in 2014. “Kelly & Cal,” written by Amy Lowe-Starbin and directed by Jen McGowan, stars Juliette Lewis, Jonny Weston, and Cybil Shepherd.

Currently, Miller is developing several TV projects and writing her next book.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
194 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book insightful and helpful, with detailed examples that guide their creativity. They appreciate its character-driven approach to television series development, with one customer noting how it provides a roadmap for storytelling. Customers find the book enjoyable and worth the price, with one mentioning how it takes them inside comedy pilots.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

24 customers mention "Insight"24 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, with detailed examples and guidance for creative writing. One customer mentions how it helps analyze projects, while another notes how it helps organize ideas into cohesive action.

"If you want direction on how to write a pilot get this book! The insights are gold and more importantly actionable...." Read more

"...My feelings, insights and most vividly, Kam's book, chanalled my creative side, while coalescing the business facets in a straight-no-chaser sharp..." Read more

"...She also gives a lot of examples and assignments to keep the progress on your own project going...." Read more

"...It’s 499 pages — so she goes into great detail — like the accomplished, professional writer and educator that has brought her such industry..." Read more

14 customers mention "Use"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful, with one mentioning it provides proven methods to succeed and another noting it's great for refining the writing process.

"...Save The Cat or the Story Circle, Kam Miller’s perspective is incredibly helpful and engaging. 10/10" Read more

"...pilots, Kam walks you though these shows scene by scene, demonstrating what they did right, and how they followed the "hero succeeds,"..." Read more

"...I really enjoyed this book and found it really helpful...." Read more

"This is an excellent book that gets very detailed and is very practical and how to write a character driven story...." Read more

10 customers mention "Character driven story"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's focus on character-driven television series, with one customer noting it provides a strong foundation in storytelling.

"...These books will give you a strong foundation in character driven story telling...." Read more

"..."The Hero Succeeds" offers a unique, detailed, character-driven map to follow...." Read more

"...It has saved me! I am now making it into an actual “character-driven” script (and novel)! I have read many books...." Read more

"...book that gets very detailed and is very practical and how to write a character driven story...." Read more

9 customers mention "Enjoyment"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and engaging, with one mentioning how it takes readers inside comedy pilots.

"...the Story Circle, Kam Miller’s perspective is incredibly helpful and engaging. 10/10" Read more

"...Not only does she take you into the structure of a good drama pilot, she also takes you inside of comedy pilots as well--and streaming and cable..." Read more

"...on your level, understand how the writing world works, and makes it fun to read...." Read more

"...The author's voice is supportive, engaging and informal. It's as if your kindly, intelligent friend were guiding you through the process...." Read more

6 customers mention "Series development"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate how the book helps develop TV series, with one customer noting it builds a foundation for success, while another mentions it's better than their first pilot.

"...The best shows did!..." Read more

"This book has become my go-to bible for writing pilots, creating a series overall, and for putting together that all important treatment..." Read more

"...'s book is the definitive text on how to write a TV Pilot and arc your series. This isn't a quick book of shortcuts...." Read more

"...and applying what I learned, I can already tell it will be better than my first pilot. Mastering how to write a pilot script is an art...." Read more

4 customers mention "Value for money"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth its price.

"...(the sample treatments alone are worth the price of the book)...." Read more

"...to write a sample treatment for the television show with a price by piece breakdown...." Read more

"...For any writer, I guarantee you, this will be your best-spent money ever. Chris Mukkuli" Read more

"Worth it...." Read more

Purchased at Barnes and Noble. Get it wherever you can.
5 out of 5 stars
Purchased at Barnes and Noble. Get it wherever you can.
I decided to take a crack at writing and just happened to cross paths with this book in the many I was reading for insight and direction. It just so happened to be "the one." It is excellent in breaking down the process of writing from beginning to end with all the steps in between. I actually now see the breakdown in the shows and movies I watch and catch myself calling out the steps of the process and character driven structure. It makes so much sense now. If I could recommend just one book to learn to write for tv and even movies it would be this one.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2022
    If you want direction on how to write a pilot get this book! The insights are gold and more importantly actionable. I have a subscription to Hulu that I never used prior to reading this book. By the time I was a quarter of the way through I was curious to see if Kamm Miller's tv structure was true. Lo and behold after watching at least 20 pilots on Hulu both comedy and drama wouldn't you know it she was spot on.
    Soon I got a new found appreciation for tv shows because now I knew how they worked! I got excited to watch new shows or old shows I had never seen just to see how closely they abided by the character version structure! The best shows did! Even the bad ones.
    What this book does is take the mystery out of tv writing and gives you the confidence that you can do what the pros do!
    I do recommend other books to read to help expand your skills set such as making a scene by Jordan rosenfels, conflict thesaurus, wound thesaurus, occupation thesaurus, scene and sequels, mastering plot Twists. These books will give you a strong foundation in character driven story telling. There are many other books out there but if tv is what you want to write definitely get Kamm Miller's and go from there!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2023
    At first I thought, oh my....not another one of those books to master the elusive art of screenwriting; but slanted for the TV novice looking to break in. Way different. My feelings, insights and most vividly, Kam's book, chanalled my creative side, while coalescing the business facets in a straight-no-chaser sharp style. The free association aspects shook off the fears stifling me before and probed my mind from a seed of an idea, into a one hour serial with legs. For a book to knock me out is rare (unless being fixated on savvy Hollywood literature gurus is standard). Anyone stirring in a plethora of unhatched, unimagined ideas , delve in and digest The Hero Succeeds! ---- See what doors open for you.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2024
    If you’re working on a pilot script this book is an excellent resource and streamlines the process of going from idea to polished script. Even if you’ve had success with other methods like Save The Cat or the Story Circle, Kam Miller’s perspective is incredibly helpful and engaging. 10/10
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2016
    This book has become my go-to bible for writing pilots, creating a series overall, and for putting together that all important treatment (the sample treatments alone are worth the price of the book). By using numerous set-by-step examples of successful pilots, Kam walks you though these shows scene by scene, demonstrating what they did right, and how they followed the "hero succeeds," character landmarks.

    But "The Hero Succeeds" is not just for pilots - there are examples of how to apply the character landmarks to features as well. With so much of the biz looking for something different than the plot driven Syd Field, Save the Cat, or the Hero's Journey formulaic story, "The Hero Succeeds" offers a unique, detailed, character-driven map to follow. This is definitely NOT a rehashing of already existing books on TV writing.

    I do wish there had been a detailed index in the back as I refer back to the book often. Maybe an updated version of the book will have one?
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2023
    I decided to try my hand at screenwriting and book after book most of them only focused on feature films or just storytelling in general. When I heard this book mentioned on a podcast I immediately put it in my cart. A book that solely focuses on writing a pilot is exactly what I'd been looking for.

    I'm about halfway through and this book has taught me so much. Kam breaks things down into pieces so it's manageable and isn't overwhelming. She also gives a lot of examples and assignments to keep the progress on your own project going. The more I read the book the more my own script gets closer to being complete.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2018
    There are plenty of terrific screenwriting books out there. But a terrific book on TV writing? There aren't many go-to tomes that are agreed upon classics.

    And maybe that's because the rise of Peak TV has been a relatively recent phenomenon.

    Writing a TV show in 2018 is really different than writing one in 2000. TV shows are regularly more sophisticated than most everything you see on the big screen. And, most books about TV writing, that I've encountered, focus on writing specs for existing shows. Very little attention has been paid to original TV pilots.

    That's why Kam's book is so helpful. Not only does she take you into the structure of a good drama pilot, she also takes you inside of comedy pilots as well--and streaming and cable options, too.

    As you work through the book, you'll learn how you can build a structure that can survive season after season (if that's what you want to do). But, more importantly, I think, you'll also learn the structure of an episode. How to put together the scenes to create an effective TV pilot.

    I really enjoyed this book and found it really helpful. If you're interested in not just writing TV but specifically creating your own original TV pilot, you need to check out this book.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2020
    WHAT A GREAT BOOK! Going through “The TV Series Treatment” ten steps (especially writing the logline, world of show, characters, story engine, themes and tone) has put some much needed focus and intentionality to my ideas! Finally, I can see the way through the quagmire of my content! I was sinking in the “structure swamp” and reading this pulled me out and got me to dry land! It has saved me! I am now making it into an actual “character-driven” script (and novel)! I have read many books. I have watched more online videos than I should’ve— especially on my iPhone! But nothing has helped me like Kam Miller’s book! It’s 499 pages — so she goes into great detail — like the accomplished, professional writer and educator that has brought her such industry success!
    You need this book! There is something in it to help your writing — whether the project is a book, novel, feature movie or TV pilot and series! It is an investment to make your dreams come true!
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Shan Masters
    5.0 out of 5 stars Reframe the narrative
    Reviewed in Canada on February 10, 2023
    With its step by step guidance, relevant examples and fresh take, The Hero Succeeds will either add to what you already know about writing a pilot, or lay the groundwork for your very first attempt. This book is a must for everyone who aspires to create riveting television.
  • Kamyar Sadeghi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hilfreich
    Reviewed in Germany on December 3, 2021
    Das hat mir echt geholfen, mein Pilot Episode zu schreiben. Gut daran ist, dass Kam vieles über dir Industrie weiß. Das empfehle ich der Leute, die schon Autor sind, und wollen ein Pilot schreiben!
    Report
  • J Roland
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for anyone wanting to write for TV - be it broadcast television, streaming services...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 11, 2022
    What I really liked about this book is: (i) that Kam Miller has written it in a style designed to encourage you; (ii) her analyses of various TV pilots from a range of genres show concrete examples of how to apply what she's writing about in practice; (iii) that it focuses on the writing of a pilot script. That may sound obvious, but as Kam illustrates, there's a big difference between writing a movie-script and the pilot of a TV show - with the latter having to do so much more heavy-lifting in a shorter space of time. This book breaks down what a pilot has to do and explains why it has to do it. There are not that many books out there that focus on writing for television, and in particular writing pilots, so if this is something you're attempting, or thinking of attempting, then I'd suggest that this book should be on your shelf. What also sets this book apart from other 'how to write' books is that its author, Kam Miller, has actually written pilots for major Hollywood studios and for a major US TV series. Who better, then, to get advice from?

    I'm based in the UK and I've found this book really useful for my own writing - both in terms of inspiration/motivation to write and for the sound, practical advice it contains. I highly recommend it.
  • F
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is the book you are looking for. Seriously, this is the one.
    Reviewed in Italy on September 18, 2019
    I've read many books and manuals about screenwriting, some are good, few are excellent, and just a couple are worth every millisecond you dedicate to it. The Hero Succeeds is one of them. Reading it feels like attending an actual lesson, and by that I mean it feels like having a coach next to you that explains you every concept, trick or assignment.
    It not only provides many examples and magnificently analyzes them, but furthermore, it guides you through it so that you can do it over and over again on your own.
    It guides you step by step, concept by concept throughout everything is needed to nail the creation of a tv pilot. If I had to describe it with an adjective other than awesome, I'd say dense. Like in a good script nothing is wasted. Every paragraph, every single line has a purpose in this book. Nothing is ever unnecessarily repeated, everything gives you something more. It is 482 pages and each of them is significant.
    I loved that the authoress gave the opportunity to ask for extra materials. I loved the little insights, jargon explanations, and jokes that kept the study light and enjoyable every single page. I liked the idea of the spoiler alerts, even though I'm not bothered by them. I thought it was nice because it shows attention to the reader. Even if it's not requested or necessary.
    In the end, I honestly think this is the book you are looking for if you typed tv writing in the search box. This manual probably get as close to a mentor as a book can get, I only wish I had found it before.
    To the authoress Kam Miller, if for some reason you are reading this, thank you very much, this book meant a lot to me.
  • Nicolas Poncet
    5.0 out of 5 stars Top !
    Reviewed in France on July 8, 2022
    Super intéressant. L'auteur explore notamment les composants essentiels du "Series Treatment" qui s'apparente à ce qui est demandé en France pour convaincre les productions. Puis elle détaille les différents points de façon à chaque fois très instructive et concrète. Elle fournit également une méthode d'analyse des épisodes qu'elle détaille pas à pas sur de nombreux exemples, ainsi que des synthèses des structures d'épisodes. L'auteur est aussi très disponible pour envoyer d'autres "Story grids" si on les lui demande. Merci à elle ! Je recommande.