What methods do folks use to get stuff done?

Do you say that you have to write x pages a day?  Do you say you have to finish x number of beats a day?  How do you keep yourself going?

For example, if I want to write a 100 page feature, then I can set myself a goal of writing 5-10 pages a day.  This would mean that I could write a script  in 10-20 days, so I can churn one out one a month.  Of course, this leaves only about a week to write the outline, tagline, and treatment.

tweak

I think the main thing right now is to write. When you feel like you need to stop, because your ideas are getting bad, or you're tired, stop, and pick it up again tomorrow.

I try and write at least 5 pages everyday. Sometimes I don't. I don't fret over it though.

Hello tweak,

I think your name sums up the point I'd like to make regarding writing: after you've written billions of words, you're probably starting to see some kind of progress.  You're probably starting to feel it in your bones.

The trick however is, as Mr. Steel pointed out, to keep writing.  Sometimes a person does need to leave something for awhile and come back to it-- especially if you feel you've worked it to death and sucked all of the life out of it.

One does need to stay passionate about one's work, or all is lost; however, at the same time that I say that-- in the same breath-- I have to say also that one needs to push their limits; or at least push their perceived limits.  If we are attempting to work at a professional level, we can't allow ourselves to stop.  That's the job.  Write.  We can't wait for inspiration to hit.  We have to FIND inspiration.

I love this post because it deals with what I struggle with daily.  Especially in the last ten days when I've been trying to churn out 7,000 words a day.  Pushing the story forward regardless of what I chose to "think" about; that is a frightening task.

So as far as methods go... My suggestion is to set yourself crazy goals.  No, not reasonable goals.  Crazy ones.  If you don't make the goals you set for yourself, you can say... yeah well, they were CRAZY anyways.  On the other hand, if you do surprise yourself and find yourself doing what you thought was unattainable, you will also find inspiration in that.  And it's that inspiration, after all, that we are all constantly seeking: it is the fuel that runs our creative vehicles.

Whether or not you hit your target, you can find satisfaction in knowing that you attempted your own wild and maybe even foolish challenge.

Sandra  

I wanted to add that I wrote over 20 pages today. I had what I call "creative diarrhea". I started around 3 and just finished - it's 11.

You can't let your muse find you. You have to write until you find it. I started today's work writing notes. What I wanted to happen, what I thought I could change, and then started on the script. I never stopped.

Just write. It doesn't have to be a screenplay. It can be a journal entry. It can be a short story. Character bios. An outline. Anything to get your mind in the mood.

Writing in front of the TV gets me in the mood. I watched 2 hours of ER today, and that worked. Some days it's Law and Order (the original). For you, it could be Survivor or Grey's Anatomy. Do whatever works for you. Maybe it's music. Or a certain band. Or genre.

I know a guy who only listens to soundtracks when he's working. If he's working on a horror, he'll listen to horror soundtracks. If he's comedy, it's a comedy soundtrack. Maybe that'll work for you. You won't know until you try it.

Just write. It may be bad. It may be stupid. But, it'll get your subconscious going and that's what you want to happen. Your brain doesn't do the work. Your subconscious does.

Good luck.

I don't set myself daily targets. I set myself deadlines for when I want to have completed particular parts though. For example, I'm currently passing my target - I gave myself until the 12th (tomorrow) to complete a certain scene in my current work. I finished it up this morning, made a few alterations around mid-day, and right now I'm working on the following scene. (A lot of other stuff to do today.. so I'm not doing excessive ammounts for fear of allowing other duties to slip past me.)

I think 'x' a day is about presumptuous. Sometimes things happen that you may not account for - like I wasn't expecting that I would be out from around 6 until, well, very late on Friday. So to give yourself deadline dates to reach key points works for me.

And furthermore, if you say, for example, 5 pages in a day - once you reach the 5, you may fall into the trap of thinking - I've met my target, I can stop now. You shouldn't risk doing that. Just keep writing until your fingers bleed or you run out of ideas. That's the only reason for stopping.

I say write everyday, even if it's just a page. Consider if you were aiming to write a 90 page script and you wrote a page everyday, you'd complete the script in roughly three months, which is actually great considering so many people take months to churn out a script writing for hours on end. A page a day is lazy writing though, at least as far as I'm concerned. When I'm writing a feature length, I'll start out writing 5-10 pages a day and slow to 3-4 pages a day around the middle/end of the script as the process starts to wear me out. I'm usually finished writing (the first draft) within three weeks. That works for me.

Still, I'd recommend writing everyday. If you're really disciplined, I'd say you can take a day off every once and a while but after one day, it's always tempting to put off your work then nothing gets done.

This is, of course, what you probably want to shoot for. What actually happens when you're writing isn't always what you planned.

I think it's good to have a goal set for something like five pages a day. Or if it's a novel, write three pages a day. And if you get into it on a certain day and write ten pages, awesome. But make yourself still write five pages the next day anyway. In other words, you can't do ten pages and say you're going to take tomorrow off since you got double the work done. Because, like James said, it'll be tempting to put off your work.

-Chris

Every writer has to find what works best for himself.  The advice I usually give is to write something every single day.  Rain or shine, night or day, even if it’s half a page, get something down.  As for myself, every day I do something that brings me closer to my goal.  Even if it’s just notes, I get something done.  If I’m working on a first draft (usually handwritten), I’ll typically spend 3-4 hours a day cranking out pages.  It’s not unusual for me to complete that first draft in about a week.  I’ve been at this a while, so that’s the groove I’ve made for myself.  Again, do what works for you.  

Also, I don’t necessarily believe in setting a page-per-day quota.  If I tell myself, “Today you will write fifteen pages,” and then I only write four, am I supposed to feel bad?  No way.  Don’t do that to yourself.  Getting a script written can be difficult enough, so don’t make it worse than it has to be.  So I’d advise you not to set quotas.  Just write something every day until you get it done.  That, friends, should be your only mindset: getting it done.  Every day.  Bit by bit.  

During times of literary intervals, I find myself reworking\polishing various parts of the script rather than waiting to complete it. Is this good practice, or should I complete the script first, then work on rewrites?

Quoted from vince65 During times of literary intervals, I find myself reworking\polishing various parts of the script rather than waiting to complete it. Is this good practice, or should I complete the script first, then work on rewrites?

Hey Vince; yeah, I do that too...However, I'm trying to get into the habit of writing through to the end and get the whole enchilada done from start to finish, printed out and on the desk, then circle back and polish up...The reason is I'll have better idea of how my story went, what worked and what didn't, and if I accomplished every thing I wanted to. If yes, then great, if no, then I will have a more solid framework and ultimatly a better understanding of my story and what needs to be revised.

Whatever works for you though is cool, and Good Luck!

Joe

I say write when you get the urge and it comes naturally, forcing yourself to try and meet some ridiculous quota will do nothing but wear you out creatively and turn you sour on the whole process.

Quoted from Blakkwolfe However, I'm trying to get into the habit of writing through to the end and get the whole enchilada done from start to finish, printed out and on the desk, then circle back and polish up...The reason is I'll have better idea of how my story went, what worked and what didn't, and if I accomplished every thing I wanted to. If yes, then great, if no, then I will have a more solid framework and ultimatly a better understanding of my story and what needs to be revised.

That is how I have been writing lately and I find it a lot more rewarding. I now write a basic treatment and then write it into a rough draft - paying more attention to some parts and less to others that I know will probably not fit in the finished script.
Once the rough draft is completed, I can read through it on paper and see where it is going wrong and what really works - if anything.
It can be annoying when Im writing something I just dont feel in the mood to write at that time - like a load of dialouge between characters that I just dont want to deal with at that moment - so I try not to force it knowing I will come back to it and read it, then fix it. I'll write a little dialouge that centers on what the convo is all about ( real basic stuff ) and work on it on when I feel that it is right.

But I would say I tend to some days write a couple of pages, the next I will go on a marathon. The problem with that is with me, it is usually alcohol enduced and I end up reading what I wrote thinking " What the hell is this all about?" I end up putting in other ideas ontop of what the initial idea was and it can either make things go great or it can just complicate or ridicule the whole plan.

I think it depends on the individual and what targets you set for the project you are working on.

Scoob, you have good insight.

There is no right or wrong way to do it.  One might work one way this year, and next year, they've found their strategies have changed.

Reworking is fundamental; whether you do it in stages after taking turns between works, or whether you work solidly on one piece for a year, it doesn't matter.  It only matters that you recognize that if something doesn't seem to be working, try something else.  Try everything you feel compelled by, but try and maintain a sense of focus for what it is you are trying to do.

Maybe you are focusing on becoming less focussed.  That's ok too.  You need to get out and see people.  You need to be a writer, not a machine.

My suggestion to anyone including myself is: If you feel stale, switch it up.  Ask yourself:  How can you do it differently?

Sandra

I try to finish 3 pages per day, but since I started major home renovations in October I have hit a wall.  I guess ripping up floors and handing over numerous checks to other people has put a clamp on my brain.

Just wondering If It anyone find themselves In the position of writing more than one screenplay at a time? Is this something that is done or should this really be a one screenplay at a time discipline?