Download Making a Good Script Great 3rd Ed Linda Seger Books

Product details Paperback 242 pages Publisher Silman-James Press; 3rd edition (February 15, 2010) Language English ISBN-10 1935247018

Making a Good Script Great 3rd Ed Linda Seger Books Reviews

• I am about halfway through this book, but I think it is the best introductory book on screenwriting I have read so far. Dr. Seger is very thorough in her analysis of the various parts of a screenplay, and she includes some wonderful exercises at the end of each chapter. She has suggested a number of items I hadn't thought of before, so I have really been impressed with her teaching.
  The only complaint I have--which is a very minor one--is that sometimes she puts things in a different order than I would. For example, in some paragraphs and sentences, she saves the best part for the last, whereas I would notice these things more if she put them at the beginning, instead. But, that is just a personal peeve, which in no way detracts from her excellent advice.
  Overall, I think a reader/student of screenplay writing should start with this book. Then, I would suggest Syd Field's book The Screenwriter's Problem Solver, followed by Michael Hauge's How To Write A Screenplay That Sells. Each of these two other books has invaluable information in it, but I think Dr. Seger's book might be a better place to start.
  Again, Dr. Seger writes very readably and offers her wonderful advice in understandable language, with good examples to illustrate whatever point she is trying to make.
  This book is a must!
• On the high end
  This is exactly what every professional needs in the arsenal. It really is a thorough dismantel of the script. Linda discusses common mistakes and remedies them. Reading and applying the knowledge in this book should improve any screenwriter. Give Linda your money now.
  
  On the low
  - I wouldn't recommend this for a beginner. There's a lot of nitpicking. It will probably have most of you worrying so much that you will never finish your script. Write your script first, then rewrite it a few times, then read Linda's book, then rewrite it 6 more times. )
  
  - A lot of it feels like common sense to me and I get tired of the example movies, especially if I haven't seen the movie. Zzzzz..... I get the urge to skip over several paragraphs in each chapter to make it move faster and I find myself telling to the author "Yeah, I get it."
  
  - I think that a lot of what is in this book can be driven out of oneself with the proper attitude... something along the lines of "Appreciate your readers time."
  
  Pair this with a basic book on formatting and your screenwriting library should be near complete. Beyond that, read and write screenplays until you can write a great screenplay yourself. Then call Linda up so she can tell you what to fix in yours!
• The book is a requirment for any writer. I have the very first one, and now the latest. I also gifted it to my staff and others--and will continue to do so! God bless Linda for her magical guidance.
• It's a good book, but I do believe that it teaches you how to write a good script, not necessarily a great script. It contains the fundamentals from a methodical point of view, but in terms of insight and fundamentals it comes nowhere near to Linda Seger's very own book "Creating Unforgettable Characters". In terms of screenwriting fundamentals, you can buy this book. You could also buy Screenplay by Syd Field. These two books are very much alike.
• I've read several screenwriting books, and I found this among the best. The book really emphasis structure, something I find many get away from, myself included. I would highly recommend reading the entire book, and refer back to it as you write and rewrite.
• I was required to take this for my college courses at UTA Arlington and it wasn't a let-down; the author manages to use references to other movies (well-known or not) without distracting from the creative flow she's trying to invoke upon her readers and it adds to one's own awareness of what they use to carve out their own story.
  
  To be frank, anyone can write, just like anyone can act, drive a car or any other function but with writing, there's no telling what you're good at or interesting in writing about until you learn some simple yet effective shortcuts from this helpful book.
• Something was not quite right with my latest script. I just could not figure it out. My online purchase of this book arrived. I read it in one swoop. As I was making my way through it, my error became glaringly obvious. In the book, the sections on plot suddenly showed up where I was failing the protagonist and not following the plotlines through. I am now going through the 2nd read of the book for 2nd helpings!
• These book covers the basics of screenwriting that writers often tend to forget, so I highly recommend keeping this book on your shelf, both when writing your first screenplay and your hundredth. She knows what she is talking about.