Can't seem to actually sit down and WRITE

Semiazas

Semiazas

I've had a few ideas for a few shorts and one for what I guess could be a feature. If anyone's interested in what they are, let me know ^^

The problem is... I've not written anything. I mean, I have ideas but never how to start them or how to create a good ending.

I'll take one idea I have as an example. It'd most likely be a short, about someone interrogating a serial killer, perhaps with the killings and other things shown via flashback.
I guess for an opening I'd have it as the interrogating walking into the cell the serial killer is in and begin the interrogation, in theory that could work.
But for this one, the problem is the end. I want to create an ending where talking to and trying to enter the mind of a killer leaves an imprint of sorts on the interrogator. I just don't know how to do it.
Help?

I mean, I have the idea but not knowing how to end it, and not knowing how to make dialogue good and not boring as it'd largely be two people sat down talking, seems to be blocking me from actually sitting down and writing it down and getting a script.
 
there are books and what not about story structure. We want to be taken on a trip that has a somewhat predictable structure. I suggest read up, get you some index cards and write out the scenes you need to develop the story and then fire up the script writing program
 
Don't worry about an opening.

At the moment you seem to be thinking like a director rather than an actor. The decision about a strong, visual opening will be made by the filmmaker (even if that's yourself) but doesn't need to be made at the writing stage. To choke your writing process by trying to think up 'an opening' is silly. Get pen to paper, or fingers to keypad, as soon as possible.

Your idea is a good one, probably more feature than short, so start with a scene between the interrogator and killer or perhaps one of the flashbacks. Those are the thinks you know that you want to write about. Maybe later you'll think up a great opening scene, maybe not, that's shouldn't be your biggest concern.
 
Just write! There is nothing that will generate ideas and imagination faster than actually writing. As you write ideas will come. When you write, always ask... What if this? What if that?

If you already have some ideas for killer (no pun intended) scenes, write those scenes and figure out how to connect them later. I have written features based solely on a single scene that popped into my mind. Just remember that the progression has to be logical. It needs to make sense.

It sounds simple but a lot of wannabe writers just don't get that putting your ideas down on paper is the single most important thing you can do. To paraphrase a famous movie line, "Build it and they will come".
 
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Semiazas,

Hopefully my reply can be of some help to you. If not, sorry. I tried.

I'm going to give you a rundown of how my mind works when it comes to writing story. I'm going to take your "serial killer" idea and use it for this example.

So you basically have a story about a serial killer. Somebody comes in an interrogates the serial killer. By conversation the serial killer leaves some kind of imprint on the person and I'm guessing the interrogator now goes out there and kills?

Alright, so you have your idea. Now let's break it down. In the world that we are telling the story, how on Earth is the serial killer going to be able to leave some impression on the interrogator to where he is in a trance and now goes out an kills???

Well, we have to establish this world a little bit. In my opinion we can do this in an indirect kind of way.

Let's clutter the serial killer's jail cell with some spiritual books. Some books on voodoo and dark magic. Something like that. I'm sure you can do your research as a writer and find some books that deal with this kind of stuff. If not, make the books up. People will suspend their disbelief when they go and watch a movie.

So now let's take a look at the story we have.

We have a serial killer, possibly on death row. His jail cell is cluttered with books on voodoo and dark magic. Okay, now we're getting somewhere.

So let's go to step two. If this person is already in a jail cell and has the title of a "Serial Killer" then my guess is that somebody isn't going to come in and interrogate him. Unless there was a break in an old case, or something like that. Soooooo, let's make this person who comes into the jail cell a Priest. Maybe not only is this guy a Priest, but maybe he is the prison psychologist. Let's add one of those white collars on his neck and a patients file folder under his arm.

So now let's take another step back and see what we have now.

We have a "Serial Killer" ( let's add that he is about to be sentenced to death in the next week).... Okay.

So we have a serial killer who is on death row. His jail cell is cluttered with books on the dark arts, black magic and voodoo. The prison Priest/psychologist comes into the cell holding the serial killer's file. He comes in and greets the inmate. The inmate is chained up to a chair, (Dr. Hannibal Lecter style) and is kind of in a daze looking off to the side, not even paying attention.

The Priest/doctor tries to talk to the inmate. Perhaps you can sprinkle some exposition here since the inmate isn't being receptive to the conversation. Maybe the doctor can say something like, "You only have one more week left until you walk the hallway, is that what you want to happen!?"

The inmate, who looks like he is shot up with a tranquilizer dart, mutters something. The Preist/doctor can't quite make out what he is saying so he gets up out of his chair, and walks over closer to the inmate. The inmate mumbles something again but still, the Priest/Doctor can't hear. The priest/doctor gets really close now. SURPRISE!!!! The inmate springs up and grabs the Priest/doctor. His eyes roll in the back of his head and he mutters some kind of voodoo mumbo jumbo. The Priest/doctor yells for the guard. The guard comes in and cracks the serial killer with a night stick, knocking him out....

The Guard looks to the Priest/Doctor and says something along the lines of, "Doc, there's no use. You're never going to get into his head the way you want to".

The Priest/Doctor can reply with something like, "Yes, I suppose you're right".

The Priest/Doctor character leaves the cell with the guard. The guard locks up and returns to his post. The Priest/Doctor walks away down the hall.

As the Priest/Doctor character is walking away, he rips the white priest collar off of his shirt and throws it to the ground. His eyes turn white and he has a grin on his face that stretches from ear to ear...

THE END!

I dunno, something like that. I came up with this stuff as I typed it out and literally put zero thought into it. So if it sucks, don't hold it against me. But you can get an idea how to develop story, characters and the reasoning behind things.

Hope I helped a little bit, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

(Also, please excuse any spelling/grammar errors. I wrote this pretty quickly and didn't proof read! :) )

Best,
 
I like some of what you've done with the idea. Particularly the death row idea.
Although the spirituality idea, I don't feel suits what I feel like the premise should be. I'd obviously add more dialogue and things.
I imagine it'd be a psychologist instead of priest and the psychologist tries to get into the killers mindset as the killer begins preparations for his death row appointment.
 
Semiazas said:
I like some of what you've done with the idea. Particularly the death row idea.
Although the spirituality idea, I don't feel suits what I feel like the premise should be. I'd obviously add more dialogue and things.
I imagine it'd be a psychologist instead of priest and the psychologist tries to get into the killers mindset as the killer begins preparations for his death row appointment.
Click to expand...

Get off this forum and write!
 
I actually wrote an idea for the start. Just something improvised to get the ball rolling maybe

The setting is an interior, all in one room, a prison cell.
The characters have no names yet so they will be KILLER and PSYCHOLOGIST (I use caps as I got into a habit of doing it after reading play scripts)

The format won't be right, of course, it'll be a bit more like a play script.

PSYCHOLOGIST enters the cell. KILLER is sat across from him, bound to his chair. A table separates the two of them, with a chair for PSYCHOLOGIST

KILLER : Why have they sent you?

PSYCHOLOGIST : Your death sentence has finally caught up with you. You'll be walking the last mile a week from today.

KILLER (no emotion in his face or voice) : Why have they sent a psychologist?

PSYCHOLOGIST : They want me to analyse what you're going through, psychologically, now that you know you're going to die.

KILLER : I always knew I was going to die. It was just a matter of when. (pause) Why do you want to get inside my mind then?

PSYCHOLOGIST : To see what it's like being you knowing the end is finally on the horizon.

KILLER : You want to know what it's like to be me? I could tell you a thing or two about being like me.. (smiles)

Just a short improvised passage to maybe get the idea going.
What d'you think?
 
How bout this? I took some liberties, hope you don't mind. I personally think less is more. Especially when it comes to killers. The less they say, the spookier they become. This isn't anywhere near perfect... jut off the top of my head.


PSYCHOLOGIST enters the cell. KILLER sets bound to his chair. A table separates the two of them.

PSYCHOLOGIST

Your sins have finally found you out. In seven days you will eat your last meal and you will breathe your last breath.​
What it's like knowing the exact minute you will die? How does it feel? What is it like to be you?

KILLER
You want to know what it's like to be me?​
I can tell tell you how to be me. It's not difficult; we're not that different.​
 
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You could write while not sitting then. Saying this as sorta a joke and well really you could too.

How about getting a digital tape recorder and putting that in your pocket. Then when you get ideas where ever you are you can record and listen to it later. Then you could download into your computer and store them for future use. Maybe one of those USB digital recorders would do you good.
 
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