Think about your favorite television show. 

I'm willing to bet that it started off a little slow, then hooked you. It had a great season in the middle of its run, then ended in a way that was wholly satisfying. 

This is how episodic writing creates a great long-term story. My favorite show right now, hands down, is Ted Lasso, the sports dramedy on Apple TV. And I'm hooked, not only to see what happens from week to week, but also in anticipation of a satisfying ending.

Now, what if I told you that building a startup, by its very nature, follows the same episodic storyline.

Every scripted television series follows three main arcs.

The A-story arc is each episode. It's what is happening in front of you right now. Almost all the episodes are self-contained, and each A-story can be enjoyed on its own. However, there are always plot lines that don't get wrapped up at the end of each episode, because they point to a larger story arc.

The B-story arc is each season. It has its own expanded plot, new twists, maybe even new characters. The B-story usually has its own beginning and end, but new seasons don't completely start over from scratch. Rather, a new season picks up where the last season left off, and it ends with the expectation of a new B-story next season.

The C-story arc is the overarching story of the entire series. The C-Story plot might progress a little bit this week or may not move forward at all. But a good series keeps us interested in the ultimate end game with every single episode.