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!

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.

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!

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.

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


Phil

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!  

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

  

Chris- thanks! awesome site, I already have a couple picked out!

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 :)

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


Phil

Haha, just keep away from the dead gumtrees and you'll be fine.

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.

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,

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.  

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.

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.