How to write a short drama (vertical drama)

1. Start from a trope that works

Hit series lean on recognized devices: the billionaire CEO, the wronged heroine who rises (revenge glow-up), the hidden identity, the forced marriage, the alpha werewolf. Pick one (or combine two) as your backbone. See the most frequent tropes →

2. Follow the structure: hook, complication, twist

Each 60–90 second episode follows the same skeleton: a hook in the first 10 seconds (a shock, a scandal, a question), a complication in the middle (an obstacle, a reveal), and a twist / cliffhanger at the end that forces the next episode.

3. Match the format

Vertical (9:16), made for the phone. A series usually runs 40 to 100 episodes. The first ones are free; the rest unlock (subscription or “coins”). Your very first episodes must hit hardest: that's where the viewer decides to keep going.

4. No dead time

No filler: one turn per episode, dialogue that gets to the point, strong emotions. The mechanic matters more than the budget — many huge hits are shot simply.

5. Make it

Want to create your own? The Vertical Clap Studio app helps you build your vertical series, from idea to episodes. Create with Vertical Clap Studio →

Already have an independent series? Publish it on the OFF space: the public votes, and it joins the world index.