The Art and Craft and Creativity of Screenwriting
May 2003 HODRW Meeting Recap
by Jennifer Schendel
"How is screenwriting different from other forms of writing? What do writers need to know about the art of screenwriting? What do they need to know about the craft of screenwriting? What are the elements that make a good script a great script? On Saturday May 17, 2003, the guest speaker was Dr. Linda Seger, a script consultant and author. Dr. Seger has consulted on over 2,000 scripts since 1981, including several for television and movie productions. She has also written seven books. Six are about screenwriting and her latest, Web-Thinking: Connecting, Not Competing for Success, discusses moving away from linear thinking to a more collaborative way of thinking.
Her talk focused on getting the creative juices flowing. Dr. Seger opened with the suggestion that a writer start by finding their voice. To do this, she recommends making a list of your ten favorite books/movies and look for a theme amongst them. Why do these particular stories make your top ten list? Then ask yourself questions such as: Am I an optimist? A realist? A pessimist? Find out what is important to you, what matters, and how it affects who you are.
These themes will continue to pop up throughout your work and can help define your voice.
Write what is inside you.
According to Dr. Seger there are four steps to creativity:
These steps are often described as conception, gestation, and birth. Dr. Seger suggests asking yourself a question and then let your subconscious answer it. This is the start. She suggested taking a walk or a nap and allowing the idea to develop. When an idea (i.e. the answer) comes to you, start writing.
Pay attention to your idea and allow it to develop. Learn the telling details, the little things, and look for the fresh metaphors that make your story unique.
Dr. Seger then moved on to discuss craft. In screenwriting stories are primarily plot driven, in comparison to romance novels that are often character driven. In a plot-driven story, there is often a three act structure consisting of a catalyst, development, and a conclusion. If a question is asked in the catalyst section, it must be answered in the conclusion.
This closure must also be present in a novel, but in a novel, the writer can use tools that are ineffective in screenwriting. Internal conflict is integral to many stories, but while a movie can only reveal it through character interaction, the novel format allows the writer to get inside a character's head. This is one reason that good books do not always make the best movies. But despite some of the differences between novel writing and screenwriting, an understanding of screenwriting with its "show, don't tell" nature can help an author become a better novelist. We are grateful to Dr. Seger for sharing her expertise with us.