Rod Serling on Writing: Part 9

Part 9 of a 16-part series featuring the master storyteller on video.

Ever since I launched Go Into The Story, I have regularly gone down the Internet’s rabbit hole in search of unique video clips featuring renowned writers. In 2010, I hit the Mother Lode: A series of 16 clips featuring Rod Serling chatting with what appear to be college students circa 1970.

Most well-known for the long-running TV anthology series “The Twilight Zone” (148 episodes, 1959–1964), Serling has over 70 writing credits including the screenplays for movies such as Seven Days in May and the original Planet of the Apes.

Back in 2010, I went through each clip and extracted some key quotes from Serling. Then as is often the case with the Internet, the videos disappeared.

However, they have emerged once again, a big hat tip to Doc Kane for surfacing them. As long as they are up, I will reprise the series.

Today Serling discusses how he reacts when someone sends him an idea for Serling to write:

“I wish more good writers would put themselves and their own works to a test… I too often here from students for example… I get this in mail via correspondence in sizable, voluminous amounts, ‘I’m not a writer, but I’ve got this idea. And if you could just write it.’ Well, that’s not the key question. The key question is can you sit down and write it? Would you try? And of course they’re hung on by style and technique. They’re hung up by how do I split a page for television script… which is hardly of the essence, it’s the story that counts.”

For Part 1 of the series, go here.

Part 2, here.

Part 3, here.

Part 4, here.

Part 5, here.

Part 6, here.

Part 7, here.

Part 8, here.

Tomorrow: Another installment in this series featuring Rod Serling.