Writers Block

[JimtheJib]

i have written 50 pages of a script. It is my first script. It was all going well until...i got stuck. I know what i want to happen but im not sure how to proceed.

any advice would be GREATly appreciated.

[kimko]

Feed Back From Friends Let Them Talk About Ideas It Works For Me. And The Funny Thing Is I'll Think Of Something Totally Different Than What They'll Say

[GenJerDan]

Have you written yourself into a corner? Or are you just stuck on that particular scene?

If the latter, skip to the part where you know what to write. Then go back later and fill in the missing chunk.

[Isaac_Brody]

Reread what you've written to get re-energized. When in doubt go back to your outline.

Sometimes it helps to skip around as well. For example, try writing your ending and then write backwards until the point that your stuck. It's a good way to reverse engineer a story.

And just keep writing. Even if you think it's crap I've found that the best way to work through a block is to just keep pushing.

[Luis Caffesse]

Did you start from page one, or are you working off an outline?
Some info on your workflow would be helpful to be able to offer suggestions.

You say you know what you want to happen next, but you don't know how to proceed?
What do you mean exactly?

Do you know your ending?
I find it helpful to work backwards when I get stuck. Go to your ending...how did you get there? What has to happen to get you where you need to be? Sketch out an outline of the EVENTS that need to happen (not the scenes, but just the events). Then brainstorm from there on the most interesting way to present the information.


EDITED TO ADD:
Damn you Issac!
Not only do we apparently have the same advice...but we decide to type and post at the same time too.
:)

[CallaghanFilms]

Try writing long hand for a while. As said by Isaac, "keep pushing." Force your hand to write for a solid hour at a time. Try to stay on target, but if your mind begins to drift so be it...as long as you keep plugging away. Don't stop for anything or anyone. Releave your mind of duty, and let your heart go on watch for awhile. You'll find that the heart is quite the bard...let it tell the story through you. It'll happen for you.

Oh, and then of course there's always booze.

[kimko]

Yeah Mon, And A Nice Long Draw On Your Favorite Cigar, Calming The Senses

[Chris Messineo]

I get writer's block all the time and I find it very depressing.

I agree with the advice offered above. Just keep writing, even if you think it is crap. Get past that bad place and then come back to it on another day with fresher eyes.

Chris

[GenJerDan]

Yeah, you can't dwell on things... I often find myself staring at the page, trying to get a line of dialog...

Better to just write

JOHN
Blah bah yadda yadda patootie quark.

And drive on.

Of course, you have to remember to go back later and put a real line in...

[mmm]

Don't worried about writing a crap scene...just remember to change it later... :)

[ExtremeSleuth]

I always go back and reread what I've already written. I know yours is 50 pages so just go back a few scenes and read until you come to where you stopped and hopefully you'll be able to continue where you left off. Good luck!

[JimtheJib]

Did you start from page one, or are you working off an outline?
Some info on your workflow would be helpful to be able to offer suggestions.

You say you know what you want to happen next, but you don't know how to proceed?
What do you mean exactly?

Do you know your ending?
I find it helpful to work backwards when I get stuck. Go to your ending...how did you get there? What has to happen to get you where you need to be? Sketch out an outline of the EVENTS that need to happen (not the scenes, but just the events). Then brainstorm from there on the most interesting way to present the information.


EDITED TO ADD:
Damn you Issac!
Not only do we apparently have the same advice...but we decide to type and post at the same time too.
:)

what i mean was that i know how i want the movie to end up but in this particular scene i don't know what to do. With out this scene (which is crucial) i can't really proceed because what happens in this one affects the ending.

thanks for all of the help.

[JimtheJib]

another reason ive gotten stuck is that i was planning on making this movie myself and with a friend. My friend was going to help me produce it once i wrote it but he just dropped out saying it would be too hard to do. (that really pissed me off!!!) It is also growing in terms of how much it would cost to make. All of these factors have coontributed to "bum me out" so to speak and thats why i have lost some of my energy and drive. Has this happened to anybody before? i know i shouldn't be this pessimistic but....

thanks again

[GaryinCalifornia]

Jimthejib,

I know how you feel about partners... sometimes I'm starting to wish I could clone myself... but again... one of the clones might want to take over also...

Like someone said go back a few scenes... read it...

If I'm not sure about the way I want something to go... I've written out the different ways the scene should go...

But again... I've been one to work with no outlines... make it up as I go along... then in rewriting is where are holes are filled or changed...

[JimtheJib]

i hate partners more than anything. First they are all exited, then slowly they make up excuses and then finally they just leave. Either that or at the end they complain that you took over. Its a lose-lose situation. I took you advice and re-read some scenes and it seems to have worked. I've written a couple more pages and we'll see how it goes from there.

i used an outline but it was very general, so in some regards i am inventing as i go along aswell. im not sure which i like better. Maybe a mixture of the two?



thanks

[mmm]

It is also growing in terms of how much it would cost to make. All of these factors have coontributed to "bum me out" so to speak and thats why i have lost some of my energy and drive. Has this happened to anybody before? ...


Er... has anyone ever had this NOT happen to them. For me it seems absolutely standard. Just battle on and think positive. :thumbsup:

[Luis Caffesse]

what i mean was that i know how i want the movie to end up but in this particular scene i don't know what to do. With out this scene (which is crucial) i can't really proceed because what happens in this one affects the ending.
thanks for all of the help.

It sounds like you know WHAT needs to happen in the scene you're having trouble with, you just aren't sure HOW it's going to happen.

My advice would be to make note of what happens in the scene...what information is revealed, what action needs to happen, etc...and then move on to the next scene (as others have already suggested).

A few scenes down the line it might all become clearer for you.
The important thing is that you keep up the habit of writing... it's really easy to let something just fizzle out and die. While you have the momentum, keep writing.

Don't worry if it's not perfect... you can always rewrite a bad script...but you can't do that unless you finish it first.

[Zordon Film]

Stop your writing, hold an auditon, pick out a small easy scene that you've already written, and have your actors run the scene. You, as the writer/director, pick up your camera and shoot the scene like you were in production. Ex. shoot your master, then your singles etc, cut the scene together. It'll either motivate you to keep going or you'll soon find out that the scene (or worse) the movie you've writtern is not working. This technique helps me determine if what I'm trying to create is working or not.

[brianluce]

just keep writing, get something in the can then go back and rewrite it. just keep moving...like a shark...

[Gopher_Greene]

Have you tried Syd Fields writting method, very structured but seems to keep me out of blocks.

[JimtheJib]

what is syd fields writting method?

[JimtheJib]

Stop your writing, hold an auditon, pick out a small easy scene that you've already written, and have your actors run the scene. You, as the writer/director, pick up your camera and shoot the scene like you were in production. Ex. shoot your master, then your singles etc, cut the scene together. It'll either motivate you to keep going or you'll soon find out that the scene (or worse) the movie you've writtern is not working. This technique helps me determine if what I'm trying to create is working or not.
zarod, this is a little off topic, but in my last film i shot i used multiple cameras, is there a method or structure for shooting a film with only one camera? (i think you began above, "master, single, ect..."

[Zordon Film]

There is no rule on single or multiple camera use. Whatever you're comfortable with. I personally like to shoot single camera. I could never do mulitple camera. Main reason is I only have or could get access to one camera. Some people prefer mulitple. When I was camera assisting on a t.v. show, we only used one camera for every single set up, (except when stunts was invloved then 2nd unit would join us) I guess it stuck with me. For me, using multiple cameras would be too overwhelming, and since I operate as well as direct, it only makes sense to use one camera. To answer your question on method and structure, the best and easy way I could put it is start on your master, run the whole scene from beggining to end, then do a single on each actor, again run the scene from beginning to end. Then cut the scene as you like in post.

[Noel Evans]

Personally I would go with Isaac Brody stated. And if you dont already have a script plan or solid outline I would stop writing the script and do that. Then all you have to do is complete the path ways to each location.. difficult to navigate when your destination is not clear.

[cunyx]

Sometimes you have to put it down and forget it for a period of time and write something else. Then you can come back to it with a fresh pair of eyes.

[massmusic]

What I was taught in film school is before you even think about starting a script, you should first write a treatment. A treatment can be plot point or story point centered. I like the story point treament. It is as if you are telling a story from start to finish without dialog:

"Jack woke up and found a pool of blood in his bed where his wife was supposed to be. In panic he jumped up to find a knife beside him, he picked it up and looked at it at that time the police busted the door down and entered his house to see him holding the blood drenched knife..."

Using this technique you will be able to move the story along through the plot points knowing where you should go before you start the dialog. Story point treaments are written in paragrpah form so format is not an issue.

[Isaac_Brody]

Sometimes you have to put it down and forget it for a period of time and write something else. Then you can come back to it with a fresh pair of eyes.

I wouldn't do this. Not without finishing a rough draft. I have a pile of unfinished work that I decided fresh eyes would help. I think fresh eyes are only useful after you've finished a rough draft. Keep on writing. Even if you think it's crap don't stop until you have a finished draft, even if it sucks. I find that it's very difficult to get that excitement back after coming back to an unfinished work. You may find that you've moved on and not feel any connection to finish it. I find it much harder to ignore a piece of work that is complete, even if it's rough.

[oigflabble]

I was just there myself.

I'll parrot McKee here... time to do more research.

Research a real-life example (or near proximity) of one or more of characters you are developing. You'll identify telling details and reams of material you didn't know of before --- and wouldn't have become aware of in any other way.

[JimtheJib]

i find that very useful. infact i think thats where it all stems from any way.. real life experiences

[shihan]

I am the last one to give advice in this area. Every script I have ever written has had a time consuming block. I have one now. In the past I have called friends (ones that remind me of the characters), called old military buddies, broke out photo albums and I even sat in front of a bar for hours watching the drunks stagger out - until the police made me leave. Ironically the police scene was all I needed to get going again. Think outside of the box, go to the beach in freezing weather, sit on a park bench, go to church and interview cops.

Carry 3x5 cards around with you and write down anything that comes to mind. Put it in an outline form and go for it.

Now that I think of it - this post helped me. I hope it helps you.

[EJ Pennypacker]

If it has already not been said, just move onto the next scene(s) and write that. Come back to your troubled area at a later date.

EJ

[etrizz]

whenever i'm completely stuck, i find that having a few drinks and talking with friends is what helps me out the most. some of the funniest things i've ever written spawned from being tanked and just bouncing ideas around.

[JimtheJib]

well i'm proud to finally say that i've broken the writers block... took me long enough!?!?!. what i did was a just sat down and said to my self.. "write and just do it" so i did and i'm writing now. i just kept procrastinating and the problem or the hardest part is just getting the first draft done (which i'm far from) and making yourself do it

thanks for the suggestions and advice!!!

[Blaine]

Writing a novel you have room to move around and work through things as you write. But with a screenplay you don't have that luxury. Everything in your script needs to move your story towards its ending, otherwise you'll waste time shooting things that you'll end up cutting out later. What I find helps me is to KNOW my story. I spend a lot of time getting ready to write. I make sure I know what my ending is then I figure out my plot points for each of my acts. Next I start laying down "bullet points" that move toward those plot points. I did a lot of experimenting to come up with a method that works for me and it may very well not work for someone else since writing is such an individual endeavor. When I have my bullet points complete I begin to write. At this point it is a pretty quick process getting the first draft done, usually six to fifteen days. I know that probably sounds unrealistic but by the time I actually start writing the script I probably have a month of intense story/character construction complete. Once it's time to write I have my bullet sheet next to me and I push myself through it, moving from one bullet to the next. I find that when I have done the proper preparation I don't have problems with "writer's block." Of course, I love the whole process of movie making, it's the writing that I love the most because it is the one place where I feel that I'm in control. At least for the first draft. It also helps to know what you're going to have available to you so you can write to budget. It may take some creativity to make up for what you may lack in budget. Just my two cents.