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Ideas for Breaking through Writer's Block
by Linda Seger, PhD
A phone conversation with Linda Seger on the subject of Writer's Block ~~
‘What happens with a lot of people is that they stay within their safety zone, always doing things where they're safe and secure. So I say go and do something where you don't feel safe or secure and see how you feel. See what you learn. So if you've never been to a Country & Western bar, go. Or take a flying lesson. Or take the train down to San Diego to see what it feels like to be on the train, who you see, what kind of people they are. You're learning how to be a sponge, to get more material, but you're also learning to be bold, to be constantly with your antennae out.
Also, you're learning feelings. In so many scripts I read, nobody feels anything. No one reacts to what is going on around them. If a person is not reacting, either she's emotionally dead, or you, as a writer, have not been putting yourself into situations that are forcing an emotional reaction from yourself.
Push your boundaries. Keep a journal and write about what you feel. What will happen is that you'll find your writing has become very lively because it's very immediate and connected to the present, your gut and your heart.’
As a script consultant, Linda Seger has worked with more than 2000 scripts, from ‘The NeverEnding Story II’ to ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.’ Linda has also extensively studied the creative process, working with writers to jump-start their brains and emotions. From her office in Colorado, Linda says she works with clients from all over the world, from Academy Award® winners to first-timers.
Dr. Linda Seger is the author of five popular books on screenwriting and filmmaking, including the two perennial favorites 'Making a Good Script Great' and 'Creating Unforgettable Characters.' Seger created and defined the job of script consultant in 1981 and, since that time, has consulted on more than 2000 film and television scripts and presented seminars for ABC, CBS and NBC Networks, Disney, the Turner Network, the Motion Picture Academy, the Directors Guild, the Writers Guild, the American Film Institute, UCLA and USC, as well as for companies around the world.
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