Motivation Tips?

E

Evan Sherlock

Member
Man, I just cannot keep motivated to right a full length script. I guess some of my main problems are trying to re-write scenes, scrubbing ideas, creating new ideas, creating more ideas, then scrubbing some more ideas. And this is just a constant, vicious cycle. I keep telling myself that at one point in time, when I came up with this description or line(s) of dialogue, that I thought it was "good". I guess every new writer suffers from this, but it really is just pain in ass. Now, every time I try to sit down and write, whether its by hand or on my laptop, I just end up doing something else because I know whats going to happen the second I look at previously written work. I know I am just blabbering on and I don't really expect a clear-cut answer, but are there any tips or ways you guys/gals have trained yourself to stop doing this. Maybe it would help if was getting paid for writing...:beer:
 
Push-on and finish the first draft. I'm experiencing the same thing right now. I'm looking at scenes and realizing that this scene doesn't make sense in this context or "realistically" this shouldn't be happening, and the urge to rewrite is overwhelming. But I'm pushing all that to the back of my mind and just keep putting down whatever comes to my mind along the outline I've made. Fix all that stuff in the second draft.
 
jade8472 said:
Push-on and finish the first draft. I'm experiencing the same thing right now. I'm looking at scenes and realizing that this scene doesn't make sense in this context or "realistically" this shouldn't be happening, and the urge to rewrite is overwhelming. But I'm pushing all that to the back of my mind and just keep putting down whatever comes to my mind along the outline I've made. Fix all that stuff in the second draft.
Click to expand...

I would follow this fellows advice.

Move forward.

Make notes of ideas/things that don't work/dialouge/etc, BUT ALWAYS MOVE FORWARD IF MOVING FORWARD IS A PROBLEM.

On the positives, I take you're not on a deadline for this. So you have time on your hand to go back and re-write.

Good luck and stay FWD.

EJ
 
many writers write for a certain amount of time every day. some for an hour, some for 2 hours, some 4 or more hours every day. i try to keep that up, but family crises have gotten in the way.

that said, writing is a job. you have to treat it like work sometimes. show up, even when you don't want to, and put in your time.
 
I know how you feel. Sometimes I'll come back to a script after a month (or six) and wonder "What the hell was I thinking?". But, as they say, writing is re-writing.

I take it you're not writing from a treatment?

As much as I hate treatments, they are a must. There's no sense getting 60 pages into a script and realizing you're not sure where to go with the story or that some scenes are missing or don't fit. When I write a treatment it's more of a guide than anything.

Also, maybe try writing two or three scripts at once to break the boredom.
 
tmnt said:
I know how you feel. Sometimes I'll come back to a script after a month (or six) and wonder "What the hell was I thinking?". But, as they say, writing is re-writing.

I take it you're not writing from a treatment?

As much as I hate treatments, they are a must. There's no sense getting 60 pages into a script and realizing you're not sure where to go with the story or that some scenes are missing or don't fit. When I write a treatment it's more of a guide than anything.

Also, maybe try writing two or three scripts at once to break the boredom.
Click to expand...

I would say that OUTLINES are a must. But as discusses before, they help some, others prefer to make their own way to the end.

Not sure I'd recomend writing two or three other scripts at once. That sounds like potential for a complete mess.

Sure, RE-WRITE other material perhaps, but I'd try and stay focused on the characters and dialogue and theme and plot of jus ONE STORY, rather than trying to plan and execute all those again with TWO OR THREE OTHER SCRIPTS.

EJ
 
Thanks for everyones replies.

The writing I'm doing is all hobby. I guess I never even thought about doing a treatment first. I'll try writing one and see how that helps. The only thing that was being my guide are a bunch of pages with notes written on them, not very organized at all.

Thanks again!
 
tmnt said:
...there's no sense getting 60 pages into a script and realizing you're not sure where to go with the story or that some scenes are missing or don't fit.
Click to expand...

Now where's the fun in that? :)

Like everyone else has said, just keep moving forward. I'm feeling the exact same as you are, but I just keep going. It's much easier to just go back and tinker with scenes than it is to put down the new stuff, but it must be done. It's not always fun, that's for sure -- but it's a blast when you're done. At least I assume so.
 
will you be directing this movie or is this just a writing project for you... i went through 7 re-writes and still wasn't satisfied until i said what the heck and shot my first scene... only then was i able to think from another perspective and completed my 8th and final draft... the movie took a turn for the better...have everyone read it... you'll get the best ideas from the people that could care less about your movie.
 
mindzeye said:
will you be directing this movie or is this just a writing project for you... i went through 7 re-writes and still wasn't satisfied until i said what the heck and shot my first scene... only then was i able to think from another perspective and completed my 8th and final draft... the movie took a turn for the better...have everyone read it... you'll get the best ideas from the people that could care less about your movie.
Click to expand...

Nahh, its just a personal writing project. Yeah, I can definitely see why shooting something to get the look and feel of the film could help you finish the final script.
 
Perhaps, if you need motivation tips, you are not ready.

When I'm writing, I don't need any movitavtion...I'm compelled to write.
 
Blaine said:
Perhaps, if you need motivation tips, you are not ready.

When I'm writing, I don't need any movitavtion...I'm compelled to write.
Click to expand...

True. Although I should say that I am not necessarily not compelled to write, I'm just not compelled to finish. I seem to have so many ideas for stories and specific scenes that, when I finally do laydown a (sort of) foundation for an idea, I seem to get sidetracked with all of my other ideas as well. Writing a treatment (which I am currently doing) for the story I am working on seems to be motivating me more than I thought it would. Kind of an index of all my thoughts, I guess.
 
Writing is a discipline like any other creative endeavor.

It's great that you have other ideas for other scenes for different scripts, but at this rate you'll never finish a script - ever.

Treatments/outlines are great tools (highly recommended) that should get your juices flowing to write the script you intend to write.

Good luck with your projects.

EJ
 
Set yourself up to look like an idiot if you don't finish your screenplay.
some suggestions...

1. Schedule a public reading of the script. Contact the local library, local bookstore, make it a public event. set a date (2 months in advance), get actors.
2. Take a class where you have to pay and yøu*could get an F if you don't finish
3. Scehdule to shoot the movie! raise money, cast etc.....
 
Write and outline, even if it is very very basic. know where you are starting from, what is the inciting moment/event (that begins the story), the main struggle, and how it will end. Then, just write like a Marine, and don't look back. You may find that by going full steam ahead that you tap into creative resources you never knew you had. Try to hit the points in your outline - while being open for better ideas - and finish the damn thing. Very satisfying in itself. THEN go back and fix the lame ass dialog etc.

My 2 cents. Good luck! :cheesy:
 
PS - I actually thought this thread was going to be about character motivation ... something I'm trying to get a better handle on ...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top