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Motivation lost

D

dvdguy

hey filmmakers!

I'm writing a comedy and I experienced a lack of motivation, I seem to be lost a little. Does anyone have any magic pills or recommendations on how to boost my motivation for the script? :rolleyes:

You should know that Im also doing another project and am focusing on both. That could be the reason, what do you guys think? :)
 
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If there were a magic pill, everyone would be on it. People handle it differently. Some people have to get outside, take a walk, breathe fresh air and peoplewatch... not me. If I do anything else, I get more and more distracted until the project fades into complete obscurity. I lock myself in a room with enough beer and frozen pizzas to barely keep me alive until I force myself out of my creative block. But the old adage applies here: "you don't get better at writing by thinking about writing, you get better at writing by writing!"

My two cents: just START. It'll be total shit, and you might delete it again, but if it gets you out of writer's block and into that flow/sweet spot (even for one scene), then it's damn well worth it.
 
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Hmm... it's a tricky one and, as LastChancey says, there's no magic solution.

One of the things I've done in the past is to start dictating to myself when I'm low on motivation. If you've got an audio recorder and a headphone/mic set up you can go for walks, get out and about, drive, swim (not recommended)...etc whilst still 'writing' your screenplay. Sure you'll have to type it up later but that sort of robotic typing is 100 times easier.

That's just what I've found. It may simply be that you need to take a couple of days off or get some fresh air.
 
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LastChancey said:
If there were a magic pill, everyone would be on it. People handle it differently. Some people have to get outside, take a walk, breathe fresh air and peoplewatch... not me. If I do anything else, I get more and more distracted until the project fades into complete obscurity. I lock myself in a room with enough beer and frozen pizzas to barely keep me alive until I force myself out of my creative block. But the old adage applies here: "you don't get better at writing by thinking about writing, you get better at writing by writing!"

My two cents: just START. It'll be total shit, and you might delete it again, but if it gets you out of writer's block and into that flow/sweet spot (even for one scene), then it's damn well worth it.
Click to expand...

Now THAT is a great reply! :) Thank you! Anyway, yeah, that writer's block is annoying sometimes. By the way, do you think reviewing the entire script helps to find that sweet spot again too?
 
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NickClapper said:
Hmm... it's a tricky one and, as LastChancey says, there's no magic solution.

One of the things I've done in the past is to start dictating to myself when I'm low on motivation. If you've got an audio recorder and a headphone/mic set up you can go for walks, get out and about, drive, swim (not recommended)...etc whilst still 'writing' your screenplay. Sure you'll have to type it up later but that sort of robotic typing is 100 times easier.

That's just what I've found. It may simply be that you need to take a couple of days off or get some fresh air.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'll consider that too! I have been on it every single day for a month now lol.
 
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dvdguy said:
Now THAT is a great reply! :) Thank you! Anyway, yeah, that writer's block is annoying sometimes. By the way, do you think reviewing the entire script helps to find that sweet spot again too?
Click to expand...

As I said, it's completely different for everyone. But for myself, I guess I have pride issues. I tend to canonize all the work I've done earlier (after revisions and tweaking) to the point that when I go back to write more, I'm thinking more about maintaining the momentum of the piece than just PLODDING THROUGH. Sometime you have to write shit in order to let the story go on. You can polish your stuff later, just get yourself inspired. However you can.

But that's me. It can be completely different for you. Just experiment until you find yourself inspired. :)
 
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Some rules I use:
1) You are only allowed to re-read what you've written today. (Don't get stuck revising the first scene a million times.)
2) Write the most interesting scenes first (not in order)
3) Write only 5 days a week; you need time to recover.
4) Don't get attached to anything; ruthlessly remove scenes that do not serve the story.
5) Stop outlining: it locks the story down when it might want to go in another direction, and it keeps your characters from surprising you.
6) Just get it out there. Once you've written it, you can fix the spelling, the flow, the voice, whatever. But you have to write it first.
7) If you miss a day, start up the next day. Don't let lost motivation snowball until you give up.
8) Have a routine, and reward yourself for good work.

Writing is really hard, man. Believe me. But if it were easy, our ability to succeed would not be special.
 
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superamazing said:
Some rules I use:
1) You are only allowed to re-read what you've written today. (Don't get stuck revising the first scene a million times.)
2) Write the most interesting scenes first (not in order)
3) Write only 5 days a week; you need time to recover.
4) Don't get attached to anything; ruthlessly remove scenes that do not serve the story.
5) Stop outlining: it locks the story down when it might want to go in another direction, and it keeps your characters from surprising you.
6) Just get it out there. Once you've written it, you can fix the spelling, the flow, the voice, whatever. But you have to write it first.
7) If you miss a day, start up the next day. Don't let lost motivation snowball until you give up.
8) Have a routine, and reward yourself for good work.

Writing is really hard, man. Believe me. But if it were easy, our ability to succeed would not be special.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Another appreciation for a wonderful reply. Interesting, I wasnt even aware of it, but I'm actually applying many of these VERY useful rules. Very good rules I gotta say. Hope you dont mind me copying em? :)

P.s: Pretty hard, yeah. I just love those moments when I "get into the flow" of writing. Thats the best feeling.
 
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dvdguy said:
I'm writing a comedy and I experienced a lack of motivation, I seem to be lost a little. Does anyone have any magic pills or recommendations on how to boost my motivation for the script?
You should know that Im also doing another project and am focusing on both. That could be the reason, what do you guys think? :)
Click to expand...

Magic pill can come from plenty of caffeine or pseudoephedrine.
Try some 12hr extended release allergy meds, you little tweaker. Just joking.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudoephedrine

Maybe you drink too much or not enough or the wrong sh!t.
Maybe your AAD is kicking in.
Maybe you're depressed or affected by seasonal affectiveness disorder.
Maybe you're bipolar.
Maybe you need viagra.
See your doctor.

Maybe you need a new girl or a new dog, but not a new girl dog because that's just kinda gross and weird in a suggestive way - but may be more fodder for your comedy.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/3275927178_5e1c984dc0.jpg
Eww. Nice shade of lipstick, BTW.
Have you considered transgender surgery yet?
Everyone's doing it.
I have. Twice. Wanna see my scars?!
Before: http://www.geekologie.com/2008/04/16/tree-man-2.jpg
After: http://www.rense.com/general31/michaelj.jpg
After after: http://www.uncovertheinternet.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/hill-billy-clinton.jpg

Maybe your comedy isn't funny and there's that niggling little thing in the back of your mind telling you you ain't got sh!t, Buckaroo.
Or maybe you're having auditory hallucinations, in which case, go see your doctor again.

Maybe you need to finish the other thing first then get back to your comedy.
Maybe the other thing is too not-comedy and is jerking your comedy thing through too much baggy cr@p.

What kind of comedy is it? Pre-school comedy? Elementary school comedy? Disney? Adult Swim? Political satire? A musical? A farce? A musical farce, not to be confused with a musical fart, in which case, go see your doctor.
Butt that also may be indicative of your diet.
Are you eating right? Too much sugar and starch? Not enough protein?
Any new diet wackiness?
How's your sleep?
How're your finances? Do you need a buck or two? http://www.flickr.com/photos/mforrester/1676031305/

Maybe you're not funny.
I'm not, therefor neither is anyone else?

We could pray for your motivation.
Lettuce pray...

Okay, I'm done.
Why are your lips moving?

Does this font make my @ss look fat?

GL & GB

Ray

PS Maybe Dr Evil took your mojovation.
austin_powers2_04_mojo.jpg


PPS Thinking makes my head hurt.
 
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You need a Deadline. Find a contest that you wanna enter it into. Or, are you producing it yourself? If so, get the ball rolling on production. Set up a date (but give yourself sufficient time) to do a readthrough, so that you can take notes on what to revise in the 2nd draft. BTW, the scheduling of a readthrough should be done even if you're not producing it yourself.

You can DO EEEEEEET!!!!
 
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@rayw - erm...what? LOL

@CrackerFunk yeah no worries I have it all scheduled :) maybe its just too much work and no play. But good news is I found my motivation again. Peace.
 
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A few things that work for me, and this goes for any kind of writing I do:
-Watching a movie I love.
-Going for a walk.
-Working on a different writing project. One that has no other motive but to simply be writing for the sake of writing.
-Listening to whatever kind of music has been inspiring me in that moment.
-Talking to someone whose conversation I genuinely enjoy. It certainly doesn't have to be about writing.

That's about it. I realize those aren't terribly complicated or elaborate, but they tend to work for me.
 
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