Screenwriting : Writer's Block by Bill Lonero

Bill Lonero

Writer's Block

What do you do when you have writer's block? Any tips or suggestions you can share?

Phil Parker

One thing that really helps grease my wheels is a "walk and talk", i.e. I go for a long walk in a quiet neighborhood or park and use a voice recording app on my phone to dictate notes. I usually start the walk by listening to part of a podcast to ease my brain into it, though. I've outlined entire scenes/sequences/Acts/scripts this way. Plus it's healthy :)

Bill Lonero

Phil Parker Very nice!

Kieran O'Mullane

Perhaps don't even name "writer's block" as a thing. Difficult periods are part of the process, that's all. Keep slugging away, even if you're just staring into space. If I'm really stuck, one thing I like to do is change writing location. Instead of the usual public library where I always work, I go to a different library. Sometimes, I even take a short train trip to nearby city, and go to that library. I find this helps. Good luck.

Jenny Masterton

Take a random picture, write the scene. Helps my mind declutter.

Doug Nelson

Nap works for me.

Jess Waters

Listen to music, and imagine what type of scene would match the music. This always help me be easily creative, and it's fun.

John Ellis

I don't get blocked. :) Sorry, but it's true. I do so much prep (outlines, beat sheets, story points, character bg and so on) that once I get to the script, it goes well. Sometimes the flow will decrease, and that tells me something is off with the story or character or dialogue or something, but because I have so much foundational info, I always refer back, see where I've drifted or made bad decisions or whatever, and can fix it. Prep is everything!

Raymond Zachariasse

Drink coffeef, go outside, talk with people, take a small vacation

Steven Michael

It depends on where exactly I'm blocked. Could be at the beginning research stage, the middle of act II, or anywhere in the process. My second act blocks have always been solved by returning to my characters and more deeply exploring them - especially protags and antags because they drive the action.

When more is learned about the characters, it's then just a creativity process. Learn, understand, ask 'what-if', and create.

Rob "Rob G" Gosbee

Unfortunately, there have been all too many times I have turned to alcohol and drugs... It works every once in a while, but more often then not, it closes the door on creativity all together.

David E. Gates

I write. Anything. Something. Just start typing...

Callum McKay

I tend to write material based on true stories. If I'm in a rut of writer's block I tend to watch documentaries or go back over my old research to remind myself why I wanted to tell the story in the first place. That often does the trick.

Felix Agyeman Boahen

Sorry to interrupt, Guys... Uhhmm, does anyone has the movie script of Dwayne Johnson's Hercules 2014 or has a link where I can download from, Plz...

Raleigh Marcell

I read the collected Prefaces to his novels by Henry James & The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri. It works every time for me. And I usually don't have to read very far into them before the creativity bubbles up.

Joleene DesRosiers

Kieran O'Mullane , I like it. I don't think I've ever had "writer's block." I may have had some stuck points that I managed to get through - but I don't think I was ever crippled at any point in my story where I couldn't write.

After I push through, I walk, put it away for a few days, think about things, and then come back to it. It always comes out better the second time.

Beth Fox Heisinger

I don’t really have “writer’s block” either. But... what I do have is distractions and time management issues. Lol! I juggle a lot in my life. So I tend to work out much of the story in my head first which helps when I do sit down to work. I’m now taking notes as I go and I work in little 15 minute bursts when and where I can which has helped with being more productive and consistent. “Writer’s block,” to me, signals there may be something else going on like self-doubt or just good ol’ procrastination, certainly when faced with a big project like writing a script. Usually, the best approach is simply to focus on the work. Perhaps try working in smaller bursts or smaller steps. Whatever helps to keep you focused and on task. I hope that helps! Good luck!

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