TV series bible template

# TV series bible

A pitch bible and a working writers' room bible solve different problems. Keep the sales-facing version concise; keep the continuity record specific enough to answer future episode questions.

## 1. Series identity
- Title:
- Format / episode length:
- Genre and tone:
- One-sentence premise:
- The recurring dramatic question:
- What makes an episode of this show recognizably *this show*?

## 2. Series engine
Describe the repeatable source of story. What changes every episode, what persists, and what reliably creates conflict?

- Recurring arena:
- Source of weekly pressure:
- What the central characters must do again and again:
- What prevents the premise from resolving immediately:
- What can evolve without breaking the engine:

## 3. World rules
| Rule | What the audience can expect | Exceptions / edge cases | First established |
|---|---|---|---|
| | | | |

## 4. Character core
### [Character name]
- Role in the ensemble:
- Public goal:
- Private need:
- Contradiction:
- Relationship that creates the most story:
- What this character knows at the start:
- What must remain consistent:
- What is allowed to change:

## 5. Relationship map
| Pair / group | Current relationship | Source of friction | What neither side says | Change to track |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | |

## 6. Season arc
- Opening status quo:
- First irreversible change:
- Mid-season pressure shift:
- Choice that drives the back half:
- Finale confrontation:
- New status quo / question for the next season:

## 7. Episode bank
| Episode idea | A-story choice | B-story pressure | What changes by the end | Continuity dependency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | |

## 8. Continuity ledger
Track facts after they become canon, not while they are still brainstorms.

| Fact / rule | Established in | Changed in | Current truth | Consequences |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | |

## 9. Locations, institutions, and recurring objects
### [Name]
- What it is:
- Why stories happen here / around it:
- Rules or limitations:
- Characters connected to it:
- Continuity notes:

## 10. Open questions
- Unresolved story question:
- Who owns the decision:
- What future episode depends on it:
- Decision deadline:

## Pitch-version trim
For a pitch-facing bible, keep only the material that helps a reader understand the show, characters, engine, and forward story. Move production notes and fine-grained canon tracking into the working bible.