#013: Selina Lim — Writing Authentic Dialogue for TV, Writing about Sex, Love & Drama, and A Peek Into a Writers’ Room

​​In this episode, Selina Lim, BAFTA-nominated screenwriter (Sex Education, Hanna) shares her screenwriting journey from her first BBC script to earning a BAFTA nomination, and how she broke into the industry as an outsider. Selina also gives us a peek at the inner workings of a writers’ room on hit TV shows - including the roles, exercises they use, and how writers collaborate inside it. We deconstruct what it takes to write a great scene, including sex scenes, what it means to write authentic dialogue and the importance of knowing our characters. *ABOUT SELINA LIMSelina is a BAFTA and BIFA nominated screenwriter currently writing on series 3 of Sex Education (Eleven/Netflix) and season 3 of Hanna (Amazon/NBC) and has previously written for Hollyoaks (Lime Pictures/Channel 4) and was in the writers’ room for The Night Manager Series 2 (The Ink Factory/AMC).*SHOW NOTES[02:42] Selina talks about how she became one of the Sex Education writers and her experience of being in an online writers' room[07:22] How she started as a screenwriter[13:24] The dynamics in a writers' room[17:01] How to understand a character's role in your story and why it’s important to know your characters really well[19:45] How a writers’ room function, how writers ideate and collaborate[22:14] Writing a scene and knowing the bigger picture[27:08] Creating a scene's structure,  why she believes you should "write drunk, edit sober", and showing instead of telling[29:32] On writing sex scenes [32:14] What makes good and authentic dialogue?[33:34] Selina shares what helps her understand her character more[36:04] Dealing with self-doubt*QUOTES FROM SELINA LIM“What is the work that the scene is doing? Why is it there? You have to ask so you know what emotional beat you are hitting.” *RESOURCES:Connect with Selina Lim:Website: selinalim.co.ukTwitter: https://twitter.com/muppet0013Instagram: instagram.com/selinalim888Links from the show:Instagram picture we mention at the start of the show TV Shows mentioned:HANNASex EducationSuccessionThe Night ManagerOthersPlaying Ball - a  short written by Selina for BBCPainkiller - a 15-minute short film*For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!