SimplyScripts Discussion Board
Blog Home - Produced Movie Script Library - TV Scripts - Unproduced Scripts - Contact - Site Map
ScriptSearch
Welcome, Guest.
It is April 29th, 2024, 11:03am
Please login or register.
Was Portal Recent Posts Home Help Calendar Search Register Login
Please do read the guidelines that govern behavior on the discussion board. It will make for a much more pleasant experience for everyone. A word about SimplyScripts and Censorship


Produced Script Database (Updated!)

Short Script of the Day | Featured Script of the Month | Featured Short Scripts Available for Production
Submit Your Script

How do I get my film's link and banner here?
All screenplays on the simplyscripts.com and simplyscripts.net domain are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. This screenplaymay not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.
Forum Login
Username: Create a new Account
Password:     Forgot Password

SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    Screenwriting Discussion    Screenwriting Class  ›  Help- need to refocus! Moderators: George Willson
Users Browsing Forum
No Members and 14 Guests

 Pages: 1, 2 : All
Recommend Print
  Author    Help- need to refocus!  (currently 1683 views)
Stephanie
Posted: July 2nd, 2008, 3:15pm Report to Moderator
New



Posts
21
Posts Per Day
0.00
Hello everyone!
I am having a bit of writer's block.. anyone have any tips to get me out of this slump.  It upsets me b/c i am only 40 pages in, and already I'm stuck.  This is my first script, so I am sure these things happen, its just discouraging!
Hope someone can help!


Dats my name

Logged Offline
Private Message
Shelton
Posted: July 2nd, 2008, 3:17pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients



Location
Chicago
Posts
3292
Posts Per Day
0.49
Read scripts/watch some movies that you like and fit in with the general theme of what you're working on.

It always helps me when I stumble or lack motivation.


Shelton's IMDb Profile

"I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper." - Steve Martin
Logged Offline
Private Message AIM Reply: 1 - 15
Stephanie
Posted: July 2nd, 2008, 3:19pm Report to Moderator
New



Posts
21
Posts Per Day
0.00
Thanks, I feel like my mind is wandering, like I am getting other ideas for other scripts while I am trying to focus, I feel like I worked so hard so far, and I am not being fair to this script. UGH.. My mind is all over the place!


Dats my name

Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 2 - 15
Old Time Wesley
Posted: July 2nd, 2008, 3:54pm Report to Moderator
Old Timer


Location
Ontario, Canada
Posts
2908
Posts Per Day
0.38
I think you just need to push on through and get it done before you actually put any serious thought into those other ideas. You can always rewrite it if parts turn out bad.

On the other hand you could write a short to refocus yourself on what really matters.

In my opinion it works best to distract yourself with other things.


Practice safe lunch: Use a condiment.
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 3 - 15
dogglebe
Posted: July 2nd, 2008, 4:39pm Report to Moderator
Guest User



Delete the last five pages of your script and then write them again.  You'll find the writer's block gone.


Phil
Logged
e-mail Reply: 4 - 15
Stephanie
Posted: July 2nd, 2008, 4:52pm Report to Moderator
New



Posts
21
Posts Per Day
0.00
Thanks so much, I think I am just going to push on through like you said, I mean I know what is going to happen in the story, its just that "what comes next" that kills me..lol.. Thank you all again!  


Dats my name

Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 5 - 15
Takeshi
Posted: July 2nd, 2008, 5:02pm Report to Moderator
Guest User



I agree with Shelton about watching movies you like. There's nothing more inspiring than watching your favourite movies.

Also, here are 101 tips to help get you writing:

http://www.writingontherun.com/writingtips.html

  
Logged
e-mail Reply: 6 - 15
Stephanie
Posted: July 2nd, 2008, 5:12pm Report to Moderator
New



Posts
21
Posts Per Day
0.00
Chris- thanks! awesome site, I already have a couple picked out!


Dats my name

Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 7 - 15
JD_OK
Posted: July 2nd, 2008, 5:56pm Report to Moderator
New


Newton's Cradle will make you a believer.

Location
Tulsa,OK
Posts
314
Posts Per Day
0.05
You should always have ur outline writen of whats goin to happen in your story before you start. So writer block never comes during the script writing process



Newton's Cradle - action/fantasy, 10th draft 109pgs pdf

IN QUEUE - Comedy - Coming soon!


Logged
Private Message AIM YIM Reply: 8 - 15
dogglebe
Posted: July 2nd, 2008, 6:34pm Report to Moderator
Guest User



You could always travel through the remote Australian countryside in search for inspiration.... but I hear that doesn't always work out.


Phil
Logged
e-mail Reply: 9 - 15
Dreamlogic
Posted: July 2nd, 2008, 6:52pm Report to Moderator
New


Posts
37
Posts Per Day
0.01
Haha, just keep away from the dead gumtrees and you'll be fine.


THE LONG ROAD NORTH
A bestselling author makes a chilling discovery as he searches for inspiration.

http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-short/m-1213640432/
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 10 - 15
mcornetto
Posted: July 2nd, 2008, 7:07pm Report to Moderator
Guest User



Take all the other ideas that are floating around your head and write them down.  I find that once I write my thoughts down they no longer need to interrupt my concentration.  I can work them out later without having to think about them now.
Logged
e-mail Reply: 11 - 15
Lightfoot
Posted: July 8th, 2008, 1:22am Report to Moderator
New


Location
London, Ontario
Posts
379
Posts Per Day
0.07

Quoted from Stephanie
Hello everyone!
I am having a bit of writer's block..


Here's what I do when i write a script. Instead of starting from the beginning i start from the end then work my way down till the starting with a proccess called reverse cause.

what is the point, what do you want to happen at the end of the script?
This is called the OBJECT then work your way backwards till the start.

Next you want FINAL EFFECT, what happened to cause your story to end?  For ex. in INDEPEDNACE DAY the OBJECT was for  mankind to destroyed the alien race who was trying to exterminate them---theFINAL EFFECT was a world-wide co-ordinated attack with the addition of a computer virus.

Next is IMMEDIATE CAUSE what immediately caused the humans to attack the aliens? It was because of the discovery that they can take down their shields.

and from then till the beginning it's just simply what was the main cause?

for ex.  (Independence Day)

Object- For humans to be victorious and destroy the alien invaders.

Final Effect- world wide assault, steve miller and David Levinson pull off a trogan horse and manage to get inside the mother ship and give it a pc virus which takes down their shields.

immediate cause- realization that they can take down the alien's shields.

cause- (what caused them to realize that they can take down the shields?)David does an experiment with a pop can, first shot dings off, second shot with a virus put in hit the pop can.

cause- (what caised David to conduct the experiment?) father has a private word with him and asks if he caught a virus.

cause- why was davids father talking to him in private?) because david flipped out and he was concerened about his son.

and so on and so forth until you reach the single cause which has sparked this all, which would be the aliens invaded earth. excellent movie also.

This is what i do and it works great for me, this way you can tell between what's neccassary and uneccessary in your story because all these events are connected and push the story forwards.

Good luck,
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 12 - 15
eric11
Posted: July 13th, 2008, 12:28pm Report to Moderator
New


Posts
49
Posts Per Day
0.01

Quoted from Stephanie
Hello everyone!
I am having a bit of writer's block.. anyone have any tips to get me out of this slump.  It upsets me b/c i am only 40 pages in, and already I'm stuck.  This is my first script, so I am sure these things happen, its just discouraging!
Hope someone can help!
Usually I go for a walk, or read a book. Sometimes I lie on the floor and listen to music. I hit writers bloc when I lose touch with my characters. It happens often, but I've learn how to deal with writers block.

Writers block occures when your mentally drained. Thus I do everything I can do get reinspired.

If you write a script from the outside in, writers block occures less frequently. Yet the work itself is not your best work. If you write a script from the inside out, you will hit it more often, but that will generate your best work.

The fastest way to get over writers block is to lock yourself in your room and talk out your problems out loud. It feels silly at first but believe me it works.  

Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 13 - 15
George Willson
Posted: July 14th, 2008, 9:37am Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


Doctor who? Yes, quite right.

Location
Broken Arrow
Posts
3591
Posts Per Day
0.51
I sit back and ask what I would do next if I were in the character's position. Every story should be what amounts to a character analysis running on the track of a well defined plot. Hence, every action should be caused by the action of a character. Well, ponder what every character might do next, and you'll probably figure something out.


Logged Offline
Site Private Message Reply: 14 - 15
Higgonaitor
Posted: July 14th, 2008, 12:50pm Report to Moderator
Been Around



Location
(40.717261, -73.600087)
Posts
934
Posts Per Day
0.13

Quoted from dogglebe
Delete the last five pages of your script and then write them again.  You'll find the writer's block gone.


Phil


Definitely do this, usually when I get writers block its because I'm subconsciously hating something I've already written, and am having trouble getting past it.


NEW!Everquenching Lemonade:Thirsty for a comedy short?
And the Rest!

Watch Squirt! (My web-series!)
Logged
Site Private Message AIM Reply: 15 - 15
 Pages: 1, 2 : All
Recommend Print

Locked Board Board Index    Screenwriting Class  [ previous | next ] Switch to:
Was Portal Recent Posts Home Help Calendar Search Register Login

Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post polls
You may not post attachments
HTML is on
Blah Code is on
Smilies are on


Powered by E-Blah Platinum 9.71B © 2001-2006