The Successful Screenwriter with Geoffrey D Calhoun: Screenwriting Podcast

Ep. 284 – Making a Good Script Great with Linda Seger

Sep 1, 2025

Join renowned script consultant Linda Seger, a pioneer in the art of screenwriting, as she discusses her vast experience consulting on over 2,000 scripts. She dives into the power of visual storytelling and the importance of cohesive scene sequences. Linda explains how subplots add depth to narratives and emphasizes the need for a strong central theme. Also, get insights from her new book on crafting great dialogue, and discover how great screenwriters explore the complexities of the human condition.

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INSIGHT

Theme Centers On Identity

Theme explores values and the human condition, with identity as the most common cinematic theme.
Asking what your script says about identity gives you a strong starting point to focus the story.

ADVICE

Define The Central Question

Define a central question your story will answer to keep the plot focused and prevent wandering.
Use that question to shape your second act's methods and maintain story momentum.

INSIGHT

Subplots Add Dimension And Need Mapping

Subplots add dimension and must relate to and influence the main plot to avoid drifting.
Color-coding plotlines visually reveals where subplots drop out or overburden the main story.

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In this lost episode from the archives, I sit down with the legendary screenwriting guru Linda Seger, author of Making a Good Script Great and a true pioneer of the script consulting profession. We dive deep into her decades of experience shaping stories, her approach to theme, structure, subplots, and images, and why great screenwriters are seekers of the human condition. Linda also shares insights on her new book How to Write Great Dialogue and what continues to inspire her after consulting on thousands of scripts.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How Linda Seger created the career of script consulting in Hollywood
The importance of images and visual thinking in screenwriting
Why subplots give your story dimension and depth
How to approach rewrites with purpose and focus
Tips for mastering dialogue and emotional shifts in scenes

Key Moments:

(00:23) Linda’s groundbreaking journey into script consulting
(03:16) The power of images in storytelling
(06:39) Scene sequences vs. random scenes
(08:44) Why theme and central questions matter
(15:26) Breaking down the value of subplots

About the Guest:
Linda Seger is one of the world’s foremost script consultants, credited with creating the profession itself. She has consulted on over 2,000 scripts, worked with A-list directors like Ron Howard, and written numerous influential books on screenwriting, including Making a Good Script Great and How to Write Great Dialogue.

About the Host:
With films on network television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and a passionate mentor in the industry. He hosts The Successful Screenwriter podcast to empower writers and filmmakers at every level. Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

Making a Good Script Great by Linda Seger
How to Write Great Dialogue by Linda Seger & John Winston Rainey
Seger Notes (film breakdown articles)

Connect with Linda Seger:

Website: lindaseger.com

Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun:

If you enjoyed this lost episode with Linda Seger, please like, share, and review the show. Don’t forget to subscribe for more industry insights and inspiration.

#Screenwriting #LindaSeger #ScriptConsulting #WritingTips #TheSuccessfulScreenwriter

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