"I wish I could read speculative DZ scripts, but the liabilities and risks are just too great," the exec told fans. "However, I remain dedicated to helping new writers get access to this town. So let me make the following offer here for the first time: if you are willing to write a full Dead Zone script, and you let us know that it is done and ready to be seen, I will arrange that it be read by a legitimate literary agent in Los Angeles. If they like it, you can form your own relationship with that agent, who can introduce you to us as they would introduce us to any writer they genuinely like."

Piller has arranged for the show's official web site to provide an avenue for writers to take him up on his offer. All the information, as well as an updated season two writer's guide for the series, is available at this page. Piller stresses that the offer is only good for full teleplays and not treatments, ideas or stories.

The STAR TREK veteran also addressed questions about recent episodes of THE DEAD ZONE, like this past Sunday's "The Outsider," which had Johnny trying to stop a company from releasing a product he saw would cause devastating birth defects in the future. One fan asked about a final vision Johnny had in the episode, tying up the storyline of the week's guest characters.

"First of all, let me say that was not originally in the script - if you check the script we posted on the Web site, you'll see that," Piller said, reminding fans that the series' teleplays are still being made available on the official web site. "However, I felt during the last scene in the underground parking garage that I missed the resolution of Thomas and Claire's story. So we showed you a revised version of the future based on the changes that Johnny had caused."

The relationship between 'Johnny' (Anthony Michael Hall) and Nicole deBoer's 'Sarah' was central early in the new season of the show, which began on January 5th, but Piller says fans can look forward to a few more adventure stories as the rest of the second season unfolds.

"I think for the rest of this season we'll do more adventure stories," he revealed. "However we'll be keeping the relationships active, and you'll see Greg Stillson a few times. I have a strong feeling that we should try to make the show unique and special every week as these character arcs continue."

He also expressed delight at one fan's observant question about Johnny's cane, which he seemed to have lost in a previous episode.

"He has several canes to choose from," Piller answered expertly. "I want to add how pleased I am that fans have embraced the cane, because there was great concern in the early days of our series as to whether he should keep the cane or not. I always believed it would become a signature of the show, and it has."

For more of Michael Piller's chat transcript, in which he talks about upcoming story premises and other DEAD ZONE secrets, visit this page. THE DEAD ZONE airs on USA Network Sundays at 10 PM.