One thing that always would hold me back on writing a screenplay would be always going back and checking and double checking I wouldn't really get anywhere with my screenplays and really the best thing to do about that is just write from the heart don't pay too much attention thats why its a first draft just hammer out really the basic blue print of your script and then go back and do re-writes and add things in the ultimate cure for writers block is just simply not criticizing yourself so much
How to get a script actually written
- Thread starter AWALKERFILMS
- Start date
Good post... I would add the following...
Truly KNOW your characters. I honestly believe writer's block comes from NOT knowing your characters well enough. They need to make decisions throughout the course of your story. If they can't make decisions, you simply don't know them as well as you think you did.
So you start over... Create some backstory on them. Give them a history. Every extra little thing you know about them either from having made it up, stealing it from somebody you know, whatever -- serves to flesh out your characters more and more so that when it's time for them to make a decision, THEY MAKE IT and you just serve as the writing implement.
On top of that... THEME. You don't have to know your theme perfectly but having some idea of your theme will help keep you on course. Your characters have their own ideas about YOUR theme. Their decisions are based on those ideas and of course their backstory.
filmy
Truly KNOW your characters. I honestly believe writer's block comes from NOT knowing your characters well enough. They need to make decisions throughout the course of your story. If they can't make decisions, you simply don't know them as well as you think you did.
So you start over... Create some backstory on them. Give them a history. Every extra little thing you know about them either from having made it up, stealing it from somebody you know, whatever -- serves to flesh out your characters more and more so that when it's time for them to make a decision, THEY MAKE IT and you just serve as the writing implement.
On top of that... THEME. You don't have to know your theme perfectly but having some idea of your theme will help keep you on course. Your characters have their own ideas about YOUR theme. Their decisions are based on those ideas and of course their backstory.
filmy
Another thing I'd add to your post: Punctuation.
Aside from that, I agree with your post to an extent. Stephen King does something similar: he doesn't do his research and then write, he writes and then does his research, and finally uses that to do a rewrite. However, I find sometimes that the act of researching something, such as a particular location or branch of science involved in your screenplay, can help you to find something interesting to do next.
Aside from that, I agree with your post to an extent. Stephen King does something similar: he doesn't do his research and then write, he writes and then does his research, and finally uses that to do a rewrite. However, I find sometimes that the act of researching something, such as a particular location or branch of science involved in your screenplay, can help you to find something interesting to do next.
Yep, best screenwriting tip I ever got. Don't rewrite anything you've written on the first draft, just keep plowing ahead until it's done. That's what rewrites are for.
A fine post.
I hope in the future you take a few minutes of your time to
add some punctuation. I know in these days of "textspeak"
punctuation isn't used much and posting on a message
board isn't exactly a producers office or a classroom. But
most people appreciate when a little care is taken with how
you present your thought. Especially your fellow writers.
I hope in the future you take a few minutes of your time to
add some punctuation. I know in these days of "textspeak"
punctuation isn't used much and posting on a message
board isn't exactly a producers office or a classroom. But
most people appreciate when a little care is taken with how
you present your thought. Especially your fellow writers.
While we're on the topic directorik, I just want to say that I have always appreciated how you format your posts. The forced line breaks really help my eyes zip downwards when reading your writing, rather than left-to-right. It's less of a message board format and more like a screenplay... rather fitting!
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