Just wanted to say hello to everyone here!!! Looking forward to learning alot here! :)
New to screenwriting... have started many screenplays but get terrible writer's block and lose interest in my story! So trying a new approach.. any suggestions?

Quoted from JaneInNY have started many screenplays but get terrible writer's block and lose interest in my story!

People lose interest in their scripts cos they don't fully believe in their stories... Anyone can have a great idea, but turning that great idea into something captivating is a bit harder to do.  This is why Stephen Spielberg and 95% of Hollywood hires more capable people to writer their material for them.

Good advice -- Like Pia said above... Know the ending.

Treat writing as if it is a trip to the store. You know, ultimately, where you are going to end up. Writing is no different than that. You know you have to do this and this and that and this before you get there, but you know when you get back from there you got most of what you needed to get, if not all of it.

I almost never have a solid frame by frame plan when I write... I have my characters, beginning, middle and end and start writing. Life isn't about thrill ride after thrill ride and neither should any self respecting movie.  Story should always come before giant explosion.

G'luck.

Welcome to SS, Jane.

The two best ways to improve your craft - for me - are to read lots of screenplays, and just keep writing. Personally, reading produced screenplays is a great help, 'cos you gain a good sense of structure etc., but, of course, reading unproduced screenplays is a great learning curve with the sharing of ideas.

Look forward to reading your work.

Andrew

Quoted from JaneInNY have started many screenplays but get terrible writer's block and lose interest in my story! So trying a new approach.. any suggestions?

Hello Jane. I used to have the same problem. I found the best way for me is just to write something, anything. I was surprised at what came out. Once you have something you can change it. At least now you have something to work with. Good luck with it.

Welcome Jane to SS.

We're mostly a friendly bunch here who mostly help each other out.

Welcome Jane. Like everyone said before me, know the end first. And do shorts. They're the best exercise to improve. And of course, we're all here to help you, like they did to me.

Michel 8)

Thanks so much everyone! The advice is going to help alot!  Got lots to do lol!

Welcome to SS. Have a great time and happy writing.

:D

My advice is to seat yourself in an electric chair and make yourself comfortable :D

Welcome aboard, Jane!

My advice is a bit different...

Learn screenwriting format.  Understand the why's and how's.

Then, watch alot of movies, and look at them from a screenwriting eye.  Figure out what works and what doesn't work onscreen.

Take this knowledge into your own story, and set it up with some sort of outline and/or character analysis - know your characters...know your story set up.

I do not personally agree that you need to know your ending before you get going.  Many times, the story will write itself and things will come to you, based on what's happening in your script.

Finally, read your script through...over and over.  Edit it over and over.

And of course, be passionate about what you're writing.  Take pride in it and make it as solid as you can.

It's a great site.  Enjoy yourself here.

Welcome Jane
First, Believe in what you write, or don't post it here. People here will test you, tell you what they really think, and disect every particle of your writing.

This is a good thing for someone who truly wants to learn from there mistakes and won't take it to heart that the comments are truely meant to help.

If you can stand behind what you have written, and learn from it, you will grow. If not, you will move on.

Welcome to the board, write hard, and for gods sakes break the rules.

Shawn.....><