The will to write, and the empty mind

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SeanEmer

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I can write, and I can write well - or so I would like to believe of myself. The problem is that I can only write well when I have a certain, burning desire to create something with words. I'm sure that some of you here may know the feeling I'm talking about.

So here's the thing. I can feel that burning desire, and I can feel my motivation meter flickering its way past the red mark, and yet my mind is completely devoid of ideas, characters, plots, settings, genres, everything!

I want to write very badly, but I can't seem to conjure up a basis on which to continue. How does one come up with the ideas that they can mold into words? I've heard of a multitude of techniques, ranging from the ever popular 'get drunk' to the more somber 'take a walk by the lake', but as for me... well I haven't found that perfect little stimulating activity that gets my mind flowing.

So what do you guys do to get the proverbial juices flowing?
 
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Write what 'matters' to you. What inspires you. What you are passionate about.

If you still don't know what to write about, drop the pen, sit back and think about your life, what you've been thru, what keynote moments you've had, what studies you enjoyed, what books made you a better person, etc.
 
SeanEmer said:
I want to write very badly
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No problem. There's evidently lots of opportunities for people who want to write very badly, especially in television.

Just kidding.

Find the stories that you *have* to tell - the stories that you would wade through boiling oil, roll on a fire-ant hill, and suck molten lead through an iron straw, to get the chance to tell. That will motivate you.

Any story that you find less motivating, is likely a waste of your time. And your audience's, too.

Do you generally read a lot?
 
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When i am trying to come up with ideas i listen to alot of music and i really listen to the lyrics, you would be surprised you can sometimes find inspiration from just a few lyrics in a song.

I also will look at news headlines and the like to see if i can find any tidbit in the papers to inspire a story.

I also like to watch ALOT of movies because you can find inspiration within a movie, obviously you dont want to copy a story thats already been done in a film but you can sometimes get inspired by a certain personality trait of a character or something said or done by a character.

But honestly the best method i have found is simply take a long hot shower.... i know that sounds really weird but i always get my best thinking done in the shower and when i am working on an idea or a script i take about 3 showers a day....no joke.

Hope these pointers help.
 
One exercise I use on occasion is to write what I'm thinking, almost stream-of-consciousness; whatever thoughts pop into my mind. Often, after a few minutes of that, I realize neither my pen nor my keyboard skills can keep up with my thoughts. At first it may not seem very productive, but eventually, usually after 10-15 mins, I've found my thoughts tend to drift towards the topic I want/need to write about. I've even started out with lines like this:
"I need to write about x, but at the moment nothing comes to mind. I guess eventually soemthing will, but all I can think of right now is that x is this. It isn't alive, it doesn't breathe, and I am the only one who knows whta I thnk about it. Now, what do I want others to know about it? Well, ..."

I occasionally write reviews of products, software, and services, and try to build stories of my experience with each into the review. For those subjects, I first write the obvious, almost as in a list, e.g. color, height, weight, price, etc., and as I do that, I begin to realize what I do/don't like about each. Once I start expounding on the intricacies and details of why I do/don't like a feature, I find I can't stop. A few tiems I've been lucky enough to be "on a roll" and wound up realizing that I had been writing for 2 or more hrs without food, drink, or bathroom break. I've only ever earned pennies for anything I've written, most of which is for a consumer product review web site, but I've never submitted anything for publication. So, while, like you, I like to think I'm a decent writer, I have no by-lines, (or money earned), to offer as proof.

Often, the idea is to GET STARTED...write ANYTHING,...and DO IT OFTEN. Even things that may seem silly, or why you had a good or bad day, of what you had for lunch or dinner. This may sound simple, but it was recommended by a college professor who liked my work enough to eventually encourage me to pursue writing. (Her advice: if you want to be a writer, do 2 things: write, and call yourself a writer). The idea is to start getting words on paper or screen, almost as if it's a habit about which you don't have to think. And DON'T STOP TO CORRECT MISATKES (that was on purpose; the others weren't)...that's editing, not writing. You can always polish things afterward. Get into the habit of writing without thinking about the words. Use your first impulse and refine/polish it later. Don't expect to be satisfied with your first draft. The few writers I know despise deadlines and are notorious for wanting to polish again and again.

Lastly, READ. Anything is usually better than nothing, but books are best, as book editors are more likely to leave in the punctuation you want. And pay attention to style (though I hate that term being applied to writing). If you like a book, try to figure out why; if you don't, why not? (I read an editorial the other day that lamented the disappearing comma, because editors want to save print space, especially in newspapers and magazines. I'd be lost without commas, as I'm guilty too often of writing long, complex sentences. My college professors liked that, but few others have the patience or attention span for it outside of a book.

Good luck.
x
 
SeanEmer said:
The problem is that I can only write well when I have a certain, burning desire to create something words.

I want to write very badly,
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Woah...you're already there.
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...So what do you guys do to get the proverbial juices flowing?
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I remember reading somewhere that some writers get up in the morning and write for an hour. Even if they have nothing to write, they just do it. Everyday. It helps clear the mind, remove blockage, etc. It also helps build the discipline to write.

I've never been able to do it. Just not my style...but that might explain why I'm taking so long to devlope a script four months after the treatment was optioned. If not for e-mail, I wouldn't have written anything these last few weeks, so I kind of know what you mean.

You do seem motivated, so maybe you just need a change of environment. If you usually write at home, try writing at a cafe (cliche), or the library. Change things up a bit.
 
I get this every day. There's nothing else to get the juices flowingother than just to sit down and write. Some days it happens, some days it doesn't. But even if you don't write, it's good to make sure you do something that will aid in your story telling.

Man, I have so many things to write right now...
 
those are some great tips guys! Hopefully I'll be able to come up with something good by the time I'm back in school. These dumb film classes give you a week to prepare a script, and I completely blacked out the first time around. I'm hoping that if I go into the semester with some rough ideas and outlines, I might be able to focus on production a bit more when it actually comes time to... produce.
 
Ahhh...film school shoots.

I've been there, buddy. Don't worry, something will pop into your head. It sometimes helps if you don't try and think of an idea.

I wrote my final film project in 20 minutes after coming home from getting some stitches removed earlier that day. I had a 2 hour window bewteen the procedure and class, and was a bit late, but the idea did come.

In the two weeks before, when we were given time to think and research, etc., I pretty much had nothing, and was sweating it the whole time.

Don't sweat it.
 
You must just sit down and write. If you force yourself to just sit there at the desk for the purpose of writing, something will come along. If its not good enough, write something else or rewrite it. You must just do it!
 
I've been having the same problems... an extreme will to write but nothing...

Then I started thinking of weird and crazy characters...coming up with awesome names for them, and then putting them in interesting situations. I've found fresh ideas have come out of this....and reading the newspaper! I've been cranking out really old newspapers and I've found this to be pretty helpful.

Also, like others have said -- just write! Get up and write a whole page without really thinking about it. See what happens, if only gibberish comes out. Think up some witty dialogue...maybe think of an awkward situation, or a "what if". Combine sets of different things to make a new idea. Borrow and steal.

Chris
 
Building on some of the previous suggestions:

Give yourself some "generally specific" titles and try to write a prose short story, 1-2 paragraphs (i.e. "Two Nights Only", "Bye-Bye Glasses", or whatever). Try not to edit yourself too much, but generally speaking, your 2nd idea is better than your 1st. Throw out the "obvious" route. You'd be surprised what you can come up with these 5 minute stories. Some are fully beginning-middle-end, others you'll only get a line of dialogue, but at least you're writing.

Also, read poetry and listen to music that evokes. Fiction/non-fiction is good, but poetry is kind of backdoor subconscious stuff. Maybe some Kerouac and Tom Waits, Bukowski and Johnny Cash, you know...pregnant stuff.

Good Luck...
 
So a lot of people have been recommending a 'stream of consciousness' kind of technique, which I have never tried before. I sat down and decided to give it a shot, and it was complete gibberish in the beginning but as I kept going all my thoughts seemed to circle around one subject, and in an hour I had a 3 and half page complete script! I was amazed at how well that worked!

Thanks for all the tips guys... this was a great resource for me to get started writing again!
 
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