Bible (writing)

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A bible for writers is a reference document used for information on a story's characters, settings and other elements.[1] They are commonly used in mediums with multiple writers, such as comic books and television series, where new writers and freelancers are often referred to it when writing scripts for the show to ensure continuity with previous episodes, but are also used by individual writers for books and movies, to keep track of details.

[edit] In television

“ Show bibles ... just aren't as important as you might think to the daily life of the [writing] staff. The truth is that once you're living inside a show, you're swimming as fast as you can from one island to the next, and there is neither the time nor the need to record decisions that have been made (these are in the scripts), or that are in the process of being made (these are in the notes taken in the room as the writers work). ”

—Jane Espenson[2]

Show bibles are an optional part of the television series development process: in some cases they are sales documents, created to help people at a network or studio understand a new show, in some cases they are given to new writers to help them gain that same understanding, and in rare cases, they are meticulously maintained archives of everything known about a show's characters.[2]

The Frasier show bible, for example, was "scrupulously maintained": anything established on air — "the name of Frasier's mother, Niles' favorite professor, Martin's favorite bar...even a list of Maris' [dozens of] food allergies" — was reflected in the bible in order to maintain the show's consistency.[2]

Some shows, particularly science fiction series, often go into great detail describing the capabilities and limits of technology used on the show. According to a producer of the 2004 version of Battlestar Galactica, that show's bible has "lots of detailed explanation for how the ship itself operates, including the function of various features of the hangar deck, and a discussion of the technical language used by the pilots, and even a neat little essay on why it's not plausible for anyone to abscond with a viper."[2]

Often in lieu of a show bible, the script coordinator or writers' assistants serve as "walking bibles."[2]

In the United States, writing the show bible of a produced series earns that writer the 24 units of credit necessary to qualify for membership in, and be required to join, the Writers Guild of America.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Bible" in this context is typically an abbreviation for more specific terms such as "story bible" or "show bible" or similar.
  2. ^ a b c d e How to Give Maris Hives, Alphabetized, an April 2008 blog entry from the writer's blog of Jane Espenson
  3. ^ Writers Guild of America, West. How to Become a Member. Retrieved on 2009-07-06.

[edit] Online examples

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