HOW TO PITCH A TV SHOW THAT SELLS
My most requested course is back for 2026!
How to Pitch a TV Show that Sells is a 5 week live-on-Zoom course for writers of all levels.
Space is VERY LIMITED.
Class begins on September 29th. Registration Closes Soon!
In the few years I’ve been teaching my pitching course, we’ve had four alums use the pitches they honed in class to sell their shows to major streamers and networks.
This year, it could be you.
“Carole has been game-changing in my pitching process. From helping me refine series concepts, to crystallizing character, to coaching me on a funny, impactful pitch-delivery – she’s been a key part of every sale I’ve made.”
— Vera Santamaria, Showrunner PEN15 & How to Die Alone
SELLING A TV SHOW IS A CAREER GAME CHANGER
But it’s only possible if you know what you’re doing when you pitch.
Network executives have rules, and you need to know them to play their game.
How do I know? I used to be one of them.
Hi, I’m Carole Kirschner.
I’m currently the creator and director of the CBS/Paramount Writers Mentoring Program and the director of the Writers Guild of America Showrunner Training Program.
But not that long ago, I had a different job: meeting with writers and deciding to pass on or buy their pitches. First at CBS, and then as Vice President of Steven Spielberg’s first Amblin Television department.
Now, I work with writers at all levels – from showrunners to Pre-WGA – to take their careers to new heights.
Few things are as satisfying as getting to see a passionate writer confidently pitch their series and get it on the air. That’s why I created “How to Pitch a TV Show that Sells.”
This Course Sells Out Every Year.
Why? Because nothing transforms your career like delivering a killer pitch.
Here’s what you get in How to Pitch a TV Show that Sells:
★ 5 Live-on-Zoom Pitching Classes, including Pitches from Top-Level Writers & A Real Network Buyer sharing secrets for how to sell right now
★ Mini-Pitching Workshops where you’ll get feedback on your pitch from me and your fellow writers (Brand new this year!)
★ 5 Video Training Modules, made up of 20 lessons (Available for 5 years)
★ How to Pitch a TV Show That Sells Workbook
Plus, you’ll also get Valuable Bonuses, including:
★ Email Templates for Cold Query Letters
★The Killer Logline Formula Worksheet
★The Ultimate Guide to Stress Free Networking
★How to Give Great Meetings Video Training
★Zoom Recordings for 1 year
Class size is strictly limited to ensure you get personal attention. Register before enrollment closes!
Course starts on Tuesday, September 29th.
As a development executive, I heard more than 5000 pitches!
Some were fantastic – so good we had to buy them right there in the room. But the majority of them? Forgettable at best. And sadly, some were awful.
I decided to study what made the great pitches great. I realized there were certain elements present in almost every pitch we just HAD to buy. Eventually, I distilled them down to:
The 10 essential elements of a killer pitch
They’re the basis of this course. And now, I’m excited to teach them to you.
I know it's a tough time in Hollywood.
Things are changing quickly, there are fewer jobs, and competition is tougher than ever. But in the 25 years I’ve been in this industry, I've seen downturns before. There’s always a smart way to come out ahead.
The most important thing is that you need to be ready the moment an opportunity comes along. Waiting around for things to get better could mean you miss the chance to open the door.
That's what makes this the perfect time to work on your pitching skills.
If you’ve been struggling with pitches, you’re not alone. Even experienced writers often feel like they’re taking a shot in the dark when they pitch. Very few have ever seen what a good pitch actually looks like!
But here’s something really encouraging: a lot of people think you’re either born good at pitching, or you’re not. I can tell you from experience, that’s just not true.
BECOMING GREAT AT PITCHING IS A SKILL
YOU CAN LEARN.
THERE’S A PROVEN, STEP-BY-STEP METHOD TO CREATE A POWERFUL PITCH AND DELIVER IT CONFIDENTLY. EVERY TIME.
If you learn each of the steps, you will know exactly what you need to do to pitch like a successful writer/creator who’s sold shows and had them on the air.
Knowing how to deliver a killer pitch will not only help you sell a show of your own, but can also help you build fans at studios, networks, and production companies, and even lead to other writing opportunities.
I created How to Pitch a TV Show that Sells for ambitious writers determined to succeed in television.
It truly does unlock the career you’ve been dreaming of.
IMAGINE ENDING A PITCH AND THE EXECUTIVES BUY IT IN THE ROOM!
PITCHING IS THE KEY TO THAT KINGDOM!
Hear how the course changed the way Gossip Girl writer, Elaine Loh, pitches.
And here’s what more students thought…
THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU IF YOU…
➤ Are ready to take your pitching – and career – to the next level
➤ Have pitched before, but didn’t get the results you’d hoped for
➤ Have never pitched before
➤ Have representation, but haven’t sold a show yet
➤ Don’t have representation, and know being great at pitching will help you find your perfect manager
➤ Love writing, but hate sales and are worried you’ll blow your pitch
➤ Are committed to your writing career and getting a show on the air
➤ Are a working writer who feels “stuck” working on shows you don’t love
➤ Are outside the business and want to maximize your chances of breaking in and selling a show
➤ Are thinking of giving up on your dream because it just seems too hard or out of reach
“I went into Carole's TV Pitching class feeling fairly mystified about the whole process; what exactly do you say in a pitch? What are the execs expecting? How do you make your project - or your take on their project - stand out? In a few short weeks, Carole has made me feel like an expert. She provided step by step instruction for constructing a dynamic pitch for any TV project, and she brought in numerous top notch guest writers to perform pitches they've sold. I'm very excited to put what I've learned into practice. This is one of the most valuable classes I've taken in Hollywood!”
— Sarah J. Eagen
Ready for all the details?
Enroll in How to Pitch a TV Show That Sells and Here’s What You’ll Learn:
✔A combination of video modules and live-on-zoom classes: You’ll learn lessons at your own pace, and have everything reinforced in weekly q&a sessions.
✔ Actionable information: You’ll go over the core concepts, be given concrete examples, and get specific instruction on how to put the theory into action in your own pitch.
✔Unparalleled Access: You also get to hear 4 top writers deliver the pitches they actually sold. And a senior network buyer who will give you real insight into what is selling and what buyers are looking for in a pitch — right now.
✔ Personal Feedback and Attention: New mini-pitching workshops and a limited class size mean you will get the time, attention, and feedback you need — from me.
✔ Valuable Bonuses: You’ll receive my best resources, including Workbooks, Video Lessons, Cold Query Email templates, and more!
For a Total Value = $5,588
Regular Price:$1997
This Year’s Discount Price: $997
And what’s in each module?
MODULE 1:
Introduction, Inspiration Story, and Hook
In the first module, we’ll talk big picture. What a pitch is designed to do, who specifically it needs to convince, and the overarching 10-part structure of the best pitches.
How your scripted show gets sold
Comedy vs drama (and mistakes to avoid)
An overview of the 10 elements of a killer pitch.
Learning to get up close and personal and grab the buyer’s interest with your inspiration story (and why that is CRUCIAL to a great pitch)
The elements of a killer hook, and how it can launch a great pitch with energy and forward momentum
MODULE 2:
Writing Your Killer Pitch: Part 1.
Our second module takes a careful, methodical look at the first half of your pitch, examining each element — why you need it, how to create it, and where it fits in the overall presentation.
Loglines. Why the best pitches have loglines, what makes them absolutely essential, and a simple formula to make yours incredibly compelling.
Introducing your main character — how to get the listener on your protagonist’s side before the story even begins.
Supporting characters — which ones to introduce, which ones to leave out, and how to make each character interesting and totally memorable. (Hint: it’s not adjectives like “quirky.”)
Tone, how to explain it quickly, and the significant downsides if you don’t.
The World of the Show — how to explain it clearly and vividly, whether your show is a sci-fi space opera or a contemporary romantic comedy.
MODULE 3:
Writing Your Killer Pitch: Part 2.
Now we cover the key components of the second half of a killer pitch:
How to present your show’s “story engine” and episodic structure, whether it’s a 3-camera comedy, a network police procedural or a totally serialized streaming drama.
How to present your pilot story, the longest and maybe most important element of your pitch. What to say, and just as important, what to leave out.
Season Arcs. Nearly every pitch that sells covers something about the future of the show. But what is the right amount? And what it too much?
The magic of a powerful CODA, to land your pitch and get executives ready to BUY.
MODULE 4:
Pulling it All Together
This module talks about how to take the different elements covered so far, and combine them into a singular and polished whole. We also discuss memorization and performance skills that apply to everyone, including writers who consider themselves “shy.”
You’ll learn how to craft your Killer Pitch
You’ll learn the key to mastering the “performance of it all”
We’ll discuss the correct way to practice to elevate your pitch to a Killer Pitch
MODULE 5:
The Ultra-Important Business Side of Things
Now that you know the components of a pitch, and how to practice and deliver it with poise and confidence, the final series of videos guides you on how to actually sell it, including the POV of buyers, and how to navigate the business.
You’ll understand what buyers are looking for
You’ll learn the secret of how to “give great meeting”
You’ll discover how to get your foot in the door
You’ll learn how a writer and their project get to a studio executive
Plus, FIVE Live-on-Zoom Classes
—Four weeks with Top-Level Writers & Showrunners
The video modules give you the theory you need to know how to pitch. But theory only becomes valuable in practice. That’s why I designed the course so you can also watch great writers deliver great pitches, and get their personal insights on how to write and deliver your own.
I’ve hand-picked an awesome group of successful writers and showrunners, each of whom has sold a series, many of which have run for multiple seasons. In each session, one of our guest speakers will deliver their pitch, showing you what actually works to sell shows to networks and streamers in the real world. They’ll also answer your questions and offer their thoughts, insights, and personal tips and tricks on how to make your pitches stand out from the crowd.
—A FIFTH session with a Senior-Level NETWORK buyer
Ever wonder what goes through a senior-level executive’s mind when they’re hearing a pitch, deciding whether to PASS or BUY? Now, you can get the answers!
One of the most unique and exciting pieces of the course, this session alone might be worth the price of admission. You’ll get to hear a working senior-level executive share what makes a great pitch from her perspective, offering you her best advice, her pet peeves, and what she thinks buyers are looking for right now. This insight can take your pitch from “very good” to KILLER, and help you avoid secret pitfalls that you just can’t learn about without this kind of exclusive access.
—And the all new Mini-Pitching WORKSHOP Sessions
Students have been asking me for more time to work on their own pitches together. And I heard them! You’ll get direct feedback from me on the pitch you’re developing.
The mini-pitching workshop gives everyone the chance to pitch 5 minute highlights from their own show and get 10 minutes of feedback from me and the other writers in the course. You’ll learn what works and what doesn’t in practice, and build community with the other writers.
JOIN THE RANKS OF TV WRITER/CREATORS WHO PITCH THEIR TV SHOWS CONFIDENTLY EVERY TIME
Option One
Pay in Full
$997
Option Two
2 Monthly Payments of
$547
Frequently Asked Questions
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Absolutely not. I’ve gone out of my way to make this program helpful for writers at all levels, from outside the business to showrunner.
It’s interesting: there are thousands of books on screenwriting, and almost nothing good on pitching. For this reason, almost everyone seems to be some version of ‘self taught’ when it comes to selling shows. And very few writers, even those who have pitched a lot, have seen things from the buyer’s perspective — or even seen pitches given by other writers.
I’ll put it this way: if you feel like you’re already incredible at pitching, and feel like you know exactly what you’re doing when you go in to pitch a TV show, skip it. If you’re open to learning and hearing new ideas that might be helpful and raise your game? I’d love to have you!
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Absolutely, yes. If you’re just taking your first steps toward a career in this industry, this is a great place to start. The techniques you’ll learn in this class are universal, and will serve you from the start of your journey to the end. Becoming great at pitching will launch you forward and put you ahead of the game, making you much more attractive to potential representation — especially potential managers, who are always looking for clients who know how to sell.
Learning to pitch is learning to connect, and that’s a skill that will serve you at every stage of your career.
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No! In fact, it can be a great idea to build a show from scratch in the class, so you’re using what you learn to craft a pitch that is geared to sell.
But it can help to come with some ideas in mind, so you can dive right in.
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Absolutely not. I'm teaching you how to give awesome pitches, not desperate ones — and there's no way to give a killer pitch in anyone's voice but your own. Executives know BS when they hear it.
You're a storyteller. That's what you do. I'm just here to show you how to use that talent to get your stories on TV.
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This is exactly why I added mini-pitching workshops to the course. I wanted to make sure that everyone who wants to has a chance to pitch live and get feedback directly from me.
You’ll get 15 minutes of focused time for your project: 5 minutes to deliver highlights of your pitch and 10 minutes for feedback from me and your fellow students.
And the best part is, you'll hear your classmates pitch too — because I know you’ll learn almost as much watching what works and doesn’t for someone else as you do from your own notes. Plus, as you help each other, you’ll be fostering a real community with the other writers in the class – that’s always one of my students’ favorite parts of the experience, and something that can last well beyond the 5 weeks of the course. -
The course normally costs $1997, but this year I’m discounting it to $997 to make it as accessible as possible.
You can pay in full or pay in two installments of $547.
100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
I want you to feel confident and be completely satisfied with the course, so there is a 14-day, 100% money-back,
no-questions-asked guarantee.