I have a hard time getting started with projects. At the very, very beginning of the writing process, I rarely have an idea in mind. It's usually more like a bunch of fragments of ideas. I have trouble sorting through the fragments, and picking one thing to focus on. This drastically slows down my writing, and it's a problem that I need to solve. Preferably yesterday. Can anyone share their process for coming up with story ideas? Thanks.Â
Screenwriting : Fragments of Ideas by Jacob Buterbaugh
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I start with a conflict my lead character is facing, it could PTSD like in my soldier story, or a caring for a sick parent while hiding a big secret (being raped by a stepfather) "GRAY". Play with these problems or others and magnified them. Sometimes your own conflicts serve as the jumping board to get you going. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck and keep me posted.
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For me, I never start writing until:
1. I've written a log line.
2. Can watch the trailer in my head. (Or portions, anyway.)
Things inevitably evolve, but I the sort of writer who can't put pen to paper unless I have a strong understanding of the movie I'm writing.
Hell, I'm about to start a new script, and in this case I couldn't get a handle on it until I cast my male lead. I sat down with IMDb browsing actors about the right age until I said, "oh, yeah, that's the star. Now I can visualize it and now I can proceed."
That's me, of course.
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Sometimes I come up with a single visual that would make a good ending. I then look for a beginning that may be the antithesis of the ending (providing character arc, story arc), then figure out how to connect the two. When I think I've got something, I'll work on the logline to hone my focus. But realize that everyone works differently.
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The most recent project I wrote started with the last scene in my mind. The challenge was to create a strong story to justify that ending. I like to think about the main character, build her/him with all of the issues they might have and start from there.
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I read, watch and steal from movies I like and write a similar premise with my point of view and imagination.
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I take a walk. It's simple, but it helps me piece fragments together. More so than agonizing over my laptop for hours.
I have no idea if that's the kind of suggestion you were looking for, so I apologize if it's not.
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Write a story about a writer who can only write in fragments. :)
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Hey, everyone! Thanks for the help. :)
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I suffer the same problem. I normally pick the three ideas that stick in my head the most and work on them separately until I can't then work on the next.
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I dig MaxXx's comment. I'm not out to reinvent the wheel. God damn, MaxXx Man should be a mod.