Customer Reviews

Making A Good Script Great

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

As an actor and playwright, I found much of what Linda Seger wrote to be useful. It's actually the sort of thing I wish that I had available when I started. I can only give it three stars as it does not quite adequately enough address the needs of the experienced script writer. It's, nonetheless, good, and I don't quite understand the suspicious negative postings on this page. After all, it is well-enough written, and objective, and Ms. Seger's credentials seem to be good.

Linda Seger's how-to book on the basics of screenwriting is very useful. For writers who are beginning to learn the craft of screenwriting, it offers practical advice and good examples to illustrate what she means, plus it delivers its message in clear, simple, easy-to-grasp prose.

I've read some of the touchstones of screenwriting, including Syd Field Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting and Robert McKee Story and am working through Blake Snyder, Save the Cat!: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need. As yet, I haven't gotten to Michael Hauge, though I plan to soon. I found Field a bit too reactionary (If its not Hollywood, its junk) and McKee a little too philisophical (I like thinking about the nature of things, but I need to know the mechanics, too). Seger corrects some of the shortcomings of Field and McKee. However, since none of these gurus are 100% perfect (who is?), they are best read together. McKee's chapter on the universal need within humans to be entertained by dramatic narratives was truly inspiring; it sent a chill down my spine. But after being thrilled by the lofty thoughts, I craved a clear lesson on technique. Seger delivered.

Seger's book comprises 14 chapters in total but the first few alone are worth the price of the book. They are:

1. Gather Ideas...(OK, not great)
2. The Three-Act Structure...(The best on the subject I've read so far)
3. What Do Subplots Do?...(Also the best, so far)
4. Act Two...(Again, the best, so far)

Seger's discussion on 'Act Two - How to Keep it Moving' was superb. I underlined almost the entire chapter. What is most valuable for a student needing basic training is her discussion of the elements of the story. For a newbie, like me, it's pure gold. She teaches what works and why--without going on and on and on (sorry, McKee, who is a wonderful wordsmith but sometimes fails to teach basic skills). The elements she teaches are:

a. Action Points
b. Using the Implied Scene
c. The Obstacle
d. How Many Obstacles are Too Many?
e. The Complication
f. The Reversal
g. The Twist
h. Structuring and Shaping the Scene
i. Creating a Scene Sequence

Each one yielded valuable lessons that I immediately understood (not because I'm smart but because she writes clearly) and began applying in my own script. The crowning achievement was 'Creating a Scene Sequence.' After reading it, I immediately told my wife, who is studying the craft, too, 'I finally get what everyone else is trying to teach.' Don't get me wrong, Field and McKee teach the same stuff but just not as effectively.

The first four chapters of Seger's book give the beginner excellent practical counsel on the craft of writing dramatic narrative. But for a well-rounded understanding of the craft of screenwriting, read a few other experts, too.

No, you don't have to be writing screenplays to appreciate and get useful information from this book. This is one of my favorite books on plotting, and I recommend it every time I give a workshop on the subject. In general, screen writing books are good resources for plotting, but this my favorite. Ms. Seger covers Story Structure, Idea Development, and Character Development, then shows how it all comes together with a case study of the movie, Witness. It's a really well written book, choked full of information. Again, it's one I pull out often.

... is more an appropriate title of the book.

While the book necessarily reiterates the important aspect of structured screenwriting, it really offers very little else. It's a book for beginners and just retreads all the cliches. Be careful. Your unique script might end up looking like a TV Movie of the Week teleplay.

And the section on "How to Make Your Script Commercial" really made one wonder about the observation of the author. Does she really think that high box-office movies really depend on structure?

I bought this book because it was required for a course I was taking on screenwriting. By about the fourth chapter I had found at least 5 blatant spelling/grammar errors. Everyone makes errors, yes, but it's hard to take a writer who is giving advice seriously when she can't even get her books edited correctly.

This wasn't the only problem with the book, which seemed at times to exist to kiss up to other screenwriters. Linda used examples to illustrate her points, but her views were too narrow. Witness might have been a good movie, but did it deserve over two chapters of commentary and worship? I think not.

If you are a serious screenwriter that hasn't read the book, get it. If you are an aspiring wannabe you start with one of Syd Field's books on screenwriting. He will give you the important basics on structure, elements of a screenplay and plot points. However, when you have finished your script and you want to make sure you have finished the best revision you are capable of; read Linda Seger's book: Making a good script Great.

This book is exactly what the title implies. Linda's book will take your basic idea and mold it into the best script you can write. This is advanced screenwriting lessons.

If you're looking for a beginning guide, this probably isn't the book for you (tho' probably put it at #2 or 3 on your list), as it has no information about formatting, etc.

However, if you're stuck on a re-write, or feel that the screenplay you're currently working on is getting bogged down with too much detail/exposition and too many tangents in the subplotting, this book might just help.

The focus here is on structure. Seger discusses pretty much every element involved in creating the structure of a screenplay. She starts with the macrocosm, discussing the three-act structure itself, then delves into smaller issues related to creating that three-act structure: subplots, character development, unification elements, etc., etc.

Throughout, the writing is clear and informative. And don't let the title deceive you. I'm using information from this book to restructure my current project before it hits the page--to pleasing effect.

If books that focus too much on formulas, or give big do/don't lists, or tell you that you need something big to happen on page 10 (without telling you how to get there) annoy you, this may be the perfect book for you. Highly recommended.

Linda is a genius! I know that from this book, and I also know it from hiring her as a script consultant on two different occasions.

This is an extraordinary book, loaded with useful info. While I respect that it reflects Linda Seger's attitude that you make a good story great by revision, this could also be written as a fantastic book on the art and elements of story creation. Of the books I've read so far, only McKee and Field are as comprehensive in their approach (though I also like the more focused approaches of others.)

Linda's book offers such a wealth of information, it's hard to imagine getting serious about the craft of STORY creation without reading it.

I am in the process of organizing a conference, StoryCon, on the Art, Science and Application of Story, and so, have been researching dozens of books on story creation, screen writing, crating fiction, the novel, etc. I've acquired over 50 books, so far, for the purpose of identifying potential speakers for the meeting and this book is one of the best. (You see the link to the website in my about me area at amazon.) One thing I've found, in my research, which has included speaking with many of the authors of these books, is that Linda is probably the most well connected of them all, ie., she knows and or has worked with them.

When I had dinner with her this summer, I was mesmerized by the knowledge and wisdom on story which she shares so easily. It's like that in the book too. I've gone ahead and bought most of her other books too, and look forward to digesting them.

Since I read the books I am nost avid to finish while working out on the treadmill, I give this book a five gallon rating-- for having been sweated over like the best.

Other authors/ books on story worth reading include:
Anything by Syd Field
Robert McKee's Story
Chris Vogler's Writer's Journey
Carol Bly's two books on writing: Writing the Passionate Accurate Story and Beyond the Writer's Workshop
James Bonnet's Stealing Fire From The Gods
Janet Burroway's book on writing
Jame's Frey's books on writing
Sol Stein's books on writing

Michael Hauge's Writing Screenplays that Sell
Robert Burdette Sweet's Writing Towards Wisdom; The Writer As Shaman

This is one of the best books on craft out there. Read it and remember it writing your next draft.