What gives you inspiration to write?

[Quarry]

I really don't believe writing is a business. It's art. It's worth to die in order to write a good script or, generally, make a good art, almost like Heath Ledger did. It's really disgusting to see scriptwriters carring only about how they'll get paid.

What is your inspiration to write really intensive, emotional or violent scenes? Mine are metal music and too much alcohol.

Today morning, I was drunk and heard to this song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u0hD6drLq4

I saw it says about a girlfriend and a piano. So I didn't and I don't wanna hear anything else from the lyrics. What I wanted to think is that it says about a man killing his beloved girlfriend while she plays the piano and he just describes the scene, singing. Of course, the song is not about that, but I didn't know it since it's in german and I refused to read the other lyrics. So I wanted to think this and it gave me inspiration to write seven pages with really small font size.

 

[directorik]

I really don't believe writing is a business. It's art.

In a way I envy you. You have another way to earn a living so writing can be
art to you. I, however, do not earn a living if I don't write so my choices are
limited.

It's really disgusting to see scriptwriters carring only about how they'll get paid.

What a horrible thing to say to people who earn their living writing screenplays.
Sometimes the ONLY way to get through an assignment is to think how the
money will pay for clothing and food and shelter for your family. Not all working
writers have the choice to write only what they care about, what they consider
art because not all working writers are famous and wealthy. Most working writers
are human beings who work hard are not wealthy and do not choose what write.

And you find that "really disgusting".

 

[Quarry]

In a way I envy you. You have another way to earn a living so writing can be
art to you. I, however, do not earn a living if I don't write so my choices are
limited.



What a horrible thing to say to people who earn their living writing screenplays.
Sometimes the ONLY way to get through an assignment is to think how the
money will pay for clothing and food and shelter for your family. Not all working
writers have the choice to write only what they care about, what they consider
art because not all working writers are famous and wealthy. Most working writers
are human beings who work hard are not wealthy and do not choose what write.

And you find that "really disgusting".

I don't have another way for living. My future is really clouded and I have a family too. But I could do anything to make it through, except of giving up my art. Maybe you think like that because you never had an inspiration you thought it was worthy of everything you are. No offense. I'm not saying you are not a good writer. But, if you are a good writer, you must know that having a good inspiration isn't always about being good at writing.

I'm probably much younger than you though, so I don't know if I'll change my mind in the future, because of the difficulties of life.

 

[2001 Productions]

I really don't believe writing is a business. It's art. It's worth to die in order to write a good script or, generally, make a good art, almost like Heath Ledger did. It's really disgusting to see scriptwriters carring only about how they'll get paid.

You're entitled to your opinion.

If you're content to write solely as a "hobby", without regard to whether or not the script ever gets bought, then more power to you. I hope, in that case, you are either independently wealthy or otherwise employed doing something you enjoy.

Some of us approach writing as a job by which we eventually hope to earn a living. I have any number of stories I'd love to pursue because they speak to me on a personal level, but right now I only work on those projects that my manager believes are marketable.

Sorry if I disgust you.

 

[Quarry]

You're entitled to your opinion.

If you're content to write solely as a "hobby", without regard to whether or not the script ever gets bought, then more power to you. I hope, in that case, you are either independently wealthy or otherwise employed doing something you enjoy.

Some of us approach writing as a job by which we eventually hope to earn a living. I have any number of stories I'd love to pursue because they speak to me on a personal level, but right now I only work on those projects that my manager believes are marketable.

Sorry if I disgust you.

When I said writers that go only for money disgust me, I meant the ones that have failed in finding jobs or anything else and just hope that they'll make money out of writing or the ones that already have money and yet do whatever is marketable to make even more money and don't even care about making art. By the way, I don't have a job too.

There are two things I hate in art: Hoping you'll be rewarded from it JUST because you have failed in everything else (it's not bad to fail in everything else, since today's world can't really judge someone's worth) and greed.

 

[directorik]

Maybe you think like that because you never had an inspiration you thought it was worthy of everything you are. No offense.

I never take offense, but your judgment of me is pretty awful.

I'm not saying you are not a good writer.

No. You are saying that what I do is "really disgusting". I agree with 2001; you are
entitled to your opinion. Now I know how you feel about me and writers like me.

 

[2001 Productions]

When I said writers that go only for money disgust me, I meant the ones that have failed in finding jobs or anything else and just hope that they'll make money out of writing or the ones that already have money and yet do whatever is marketable to make even more money and don't even care about making art.

Someone who has either failed in everything else or grown wealthy doing something else, then is suddenly able to turn around and successfully write and sell screenplays, has clearly found his calling. Most of us toil for years, if not decades, to write one lousy script that sells. If there were a recipe for "selling out", and thus guaranteeing a sale, I would follow it in a heartbeat!

If you know any examples of this type of screenwriter, please share them.

 

[Quarry]

I never take offense, but your judgment of me is pretty awful.


No. You are saying that what I do is "really disgusting". I agree with 2001; you are
entitled to your opinion. Now I know how you feel about me and writers like me.

Right. Would you die for your art? I'll probably will...

What do I hate? "I didn't finish school (no problem with that). I couldn't find a job (no problem with that). They fired me in my job (no problem with that). So I'll write just to make money." Or... "I have enough money from writing. I have been recognized as a writer. But I'll just follow the system and make what the managers want."

 

[directorik]

What do I hate? "I didn't finish school (no problem with that). I couldn't find a job (no problem with that). They fired me in my job (no problem with that). So I'll write just to make money."

I got it. You hate me because I dropped out of high school, couldn't find a
"real" job and when that first TV gig became available I took it for the money.
And you hate me because I write screenplays I don't even like so I can earn
a living.

I get it. And that's why I am, in a way, envious of you. You can write what you
love but others hate and in a way that's must be quite nice.

And no, I would not die for any "art". I write so I can live.

But I get it. You're a closed-minded, elitist, judgmental person. No offense.

 

[Quarry]

I got it. You hate me because I dropped out of high school, couldn't find a
"real" job and when that first TV gig became available I took it for the money.
And you hate me because I write screenplays I don't even like so I can earn
a living.

I get it. And that's why I am, in a way, envious of you. You can write what you
love but others hate and in a way that's must be quite nice.

And no, I would not die for any "art". I write so I can live.

But I get it. You're a closed-minded, elitist, judgmental person. No offense.

Well. The way you put it I can't really disagree. Not to the way I won't get the discussion personal at least. And yes, I suppose I am what you said.

 

[directorik]

Well. The way you put it I can't really disagree. Not to the way I won't get the discussion personal at least.

Make it as personal as you want. I take no offense. You made it
clear you hate me and all writers like me. You find me and writers
like me disgusting. You're already making it quite personal.

So what do you do now to earn a living?

 

[Quarry]

Make it as personal as you want. I take no offense. You made it
clear you hate me and all writers like me. You find me and writers
like me disgusting. You're already making it quite personal.

So what do you do now to earn a living?

I can't answer your question. I think you've understood I'm not that of a moral person.

I don't want to make it personal because we'll get out of the subject of the topic, not in order not to offense you. We can continue in personal messages though or you can make another topic. I always have too much to say.

 

[directorik]

I can't answer your question. I think you've understood I'm not that of a moral person.

I don't want to make it personal because we'll get out of the subject of the topic, not in order not to offense you. We can continue in personal messages though or you can make another topic. I always have too much to say.

Now I’m intrigued. You say you have a family and what you do for a living is
so immoral that you can’t mention it here. You say you have no other way
of earning a living except as a writer, but you are clearly doing something to
feed your family. You say you find writers who write just to make money
really disgusting but what you do just for money is so immoral you can’t
mention it in public.

I bet no matter what you do I would not hate you as much as you hate me.
I might find it "really disgusting" but I won't hate you.

No. No need to take this to private message. If you can't say what you want
in public I'm not interested in hearing it. Unless you want to tell me in confidence
what you do for a living...

 

[DesertOkie]

How do you die for your art if you are a writer in the US? Go to China or Iran and talk about dying for your art.

If your in it for the art why are you trying to sell it? I write or try to write because I want to to tell the stories I have in my head. If I can pay the bills that way at some point, I think it would beat plumbing for a living.

 

[Marshall_Tyler]

Christopher Nolan said something great about how he wrote inception... He said that in order to be able to write it his own way, he'd have to do it on spec rather than assignment so he could take as long as he needed. This kind of applies to this argument, I guess? You can write for a living while still working on your dream (heh, inception pun) or what is being referred to as 'art.'

 

[2001 Productions]

Writing on spec when you're Christopher Nolan is a wholly different matter than writing on spec when you're, for example, me. With his track record, every studio in Hollywood will clamor to read anything he writes and pay top dollar to buy and produce it if it's even halfway decent.

On the other hand, my specs have been taken to studios by big-name producers - even by a pair of Best Picture Oscar winners - who wanted to option them. But the studios declined to pony up the cash. If my name had been Chris Nolan, they wouldn't have hesitated one millisecond.

 

[Quarry]

How to die for your art? Drug abuse to give you inspiration. I have alcohol.

About inspiration. Have you ever thought of listening to a good song with a fitting atmosphere of what you are writing or looking at a night sky moon? Can't we just stop speaking about money? I'm sure there will be a way to make money if you create something really good by having such inspirations.

 

[Wolverine237]

The audience is my biggest inspiration. I want to make them laugh, make them cry, make them come back for more.

 

[myownself]

Well, I'm just getting started in this business, but my goal in the future and what I know is going to keep me driven is to write stuff that will change the way people think. I don't want to make movies that are mindless, full of sex, drugs, and pointless swearing.

I also find inspiration from music and dwelling on my past, but not in a way that's depressing.

 

[DesertOkie]

How to die for your art? Drug abuse to give you inspiration. I have alcohol.

About inspiration. Have you ever thought of listening to a good song with a fitting atmosphere of what you are writing or looking at a night sky moon? Can't we just stop speaking about money? I'm sure there will be a way to make money if you create something really good by having such inspirations.

Ahhhhhhhhh one of those "I gotta be the cliche" writers. You should get some books on writing by some authors you like. I will summarize what most say.

Quite being a pussy and write. Waiting for your muse is like a 15 year old locked up in his room all day reading porn crying about not getting laid. It ain't gonna happen if your not in the position for it to happen.

http://www.sfwriter.com/ow05.htm