Lately I've been thinking about what my strengths are as a writer.  Inevitably, this eventually got me thinking about my weaknesses as well. It was a good moment of self-reflection, which is why I'm posting this.

Personally, I struggle with several things as  a writer, but there's one thing in particular that rears its ugly head for me quite often: discipline and focus.

I've been writing for quite a while now, and though I've written dozens upon dozens of shorts, I've only ever written 4 full-length features, none of which I'm particularly proud of. I constantly dilly-dally and find ways to distract myself when I hit a stump, or I simply get a better idea that takes me away from my current one. By the time I return to it, the spark is gone or dimmed.

I've tried heavy outlining, basic outlining, auto-writing, vomit-drafting-and-changing-it-all-later... but I just cannot seem to find a consistent pattern that I can ease myself into for features.

Recently, I started a feature and got to 40 pages before I hit a wall. I figured writing a short would alleviate it. Then I wrote another short... and another. A couple more, and I will have written a feature script's worth of shorts! WHAT!?

That's by far my biggest struggle as a writer. The work I do put out there generally gets decent reception. I know I can do it, but actually crafting a good feature is consistently a challenge for me. I know a lot of writers who struggle with that, but I've yet to find a solution that works for me. I think I should've completed three times the features I've completed so far by now.

What are your personal greatest weakness as a writer?

I'm very much the same Julio. However, a few years ago, Breanne told me that she writes an outline for 45 scenes. Like bullet points. I tried it and it worked for me too. That's how I always write features now. My biggest weakness is that once I type FADE OUT: I don't want anything to do with that script again. I'm done with it. Which of course doesn't work since several re-writes will always be needed. If not for that, I can easily write six or so features every year.

Besides the fact that it, on average, takes me about six years to finish a feature? Characters. I will always struggle with that one.

Julio, sounds like your problem is to do with outlining. I would suggest not starting a first draft until you are completely satisfied with your outline. Spend as long as you need on that stage before moving on.

Now, even though I aim to do this every time, I will invariably get to a point in the draft stage where I feel what I've outlined doesn't work. Sometimes this can only be identified when you actually begin writing it. However, these obstacles are usually minor and can be fixed without giving up on the script entirely because the outline will have enough in it to see me through to a complete script. These finer points can then be ironed out during the rewrite stage.

If we say the 3 main stages of writing are outlining-writing-rewriting, stage 2 is a very quick (and most painful) process for me, that fucker is vomited in a 2 week period, no more. The majority of consideration and graft is done in stages 1 and 3 because I enjoy them the most. That is just my process but it goes some way to me not hitting a wall half way through a draft (which sounds so demoralising that far into the process) because I've done the prep work.

Laziness and procrastination are up there for me. Discipline is another one. 99 times out of 100 my scripts are too long. I too often put far more focus on what I want to see on screen rather than think about a general audience. Some will say that's a virtue but it can also be a curse.

Letting negative feedback affect me.

Dialogue. How in the hell do you write good, natural dialogue that isn't too on-the-nose or overly-written?

If you have a weakness, find a way to kill it.

Sean, write a dialogue-free script. Dialogue should underline the plot, not reveal it.

Quoted Text Sean, write a dialogue-free script. Dialogue should underline the plot, not reveal it.

Actually sounds like a really good idea. Also sounds like a good idea to be able to put in dialogue in places where they seem necessary when rewrites come along. But I will try a dialogue free script first!

I would kill myself if I had to write a dialogue-free script. That's the only part of the script I enjoy writing.

3-5 pages, no dialogue. You can add dialogue later to enhance/underline character and plot points.

Always try to find a visual solution for the information you want the viewer to know.

Quoted from Mr. Blonde I would kill myself if I had to write a dialogue-free script. That's the only part of the script I enjoy writing.

Try writing for radio.

Quoted from DustinBowcot 3-5 pages, no dialogue. You can add dialogue later to enhance/underline character and plot points. Always try to find a visual solution for the information you want the viewer to know.

To that second part, I've heard that visuals can say a lot more than dialogue. I'll work on that and leave dialogue as a post-first draft afterthought. I probably should've made my Writers Tournament script dialogue free, or have barely any dialogue, but it is what it is!

Thanks, Dustin!

Quoted from Zombie Sean I've heard that visuals can say a lot more than dialogue.

- Whoa, riddle me this. Mind blown!

Quoted from Colkurtz8 - Whoa, riddle me this. Mind blown!

I always seem to expect too much of the reader to fill in the details of my settings. Need to get better at describing the world without going overboard and getting too wordy.

I guess mine is similar to FrankM, but for some reason I struggle to see my story through the readers eyes. Obviously I know what's going on, and I always think it's clear but then I submit and there is confusion. This is happening less now but when I first started as SS it seemed everything I wrote wasn't clear enough.

An interesting thread. Seems that are two general areas of discussion:

1. What keeps one from writing?
2. What keeps one from writing well.

What keeps one from writing?

- Self loathing of the work. Don't get me wrong - I have a healthy ego, but can't tell you how many times I gave up or paused way too long on a project because of the "woe, that sucks" in my head rather than just keep plugging along and fixing it later. The old perfection is the enemy of the good scenario. It's so easy to get bored with your own work - even develop a loathing for it as if it were the enemy of your peace of mind.

- Choice. Most of us don't have to write so distractions from that are easy targets for me.  I can dilly dally for ever on a script that is something that is in the hobby category - but when given a deadline (e.g., like an OWC, a revision requested from a producer, etc) I am 100% more focused on getting the task done and wala - product is produced. Maybe sheet - but it's done.

What keeps one from writing well.

Going to mull this over - just got distracted by something else

Quoted from eldave1 It's so easy to get bored with your own work

I've been seeing statements like this lately and I seem to have the opposite problem. I get so caught up in my work—or at least certain scenes—that I focus too much on those and less on the rest of the story to have a complete project. Then writer's block develops and THEN I start loathing my work

Quoted Text - Choice. Most of us don't have to write so distractions from that are easy targets for me.  I can dilly dally for ever on a script that is something that is in the hobby category - but when given a deadline (e.g., like an OWC, a revision requested from a producer, etc) I am 100% more focused on getting the task done and wala - product is produced. Maybe sheet - but it's done.

This is true for me too, but I think it is for a lot of people. When given a deadline, you HAVE to finish a project whether you want to or not. Or you'll be disqualified, fired, etc. However, even if you think it's crap, someone out there, even your target audience, might like it. Just look at the Writer's Tournament for example. A lot of people felt awful about their submissions, but then received a bunch of good feedback. But, when writing a script on my own terms/deadlines, yeah, I get distracted too, usually by other ideas

Quoted from Zombie Sean This is true for me too, but I think it is for a lot of people. When given a deadline, you HAVE to finish a project whether you want to or not. Or you'll be disqualified, fired, etc. However, even if you think it's crap, someone out there, even your target audience, might like it. Just look at the Writer's Tournament for example. A lot of people felt awful about their submissions, but then received a bunch of good feedback. But, when writing a script on my own terms/deadlines, yeah, I get distracted too, usually by other ideas

Yes - that was surprising for me as well - I thought the quality of the scripts was easily as good as a regular OWC despite the limited time frame - tells ya something. It's more a matter of focus than it is of time.

Not being able to finish something.

Quoted from Steven Not being able to finish something.

It happens, sad times.

I have about 7 features roughly planned out, one of which I'm 60 pages into (been working on it for a couple years), have a few short scripts I have ideas for, want to re-write my October OWC entry along with an entry idea I had for the January OWC.

Discipline and focus are definitely my weaknesses.

Quoted from Lightfoot I have about 7 features roughly planned out, one of which I'm 60 pages into (been working on it for a couple years), have a few short scripts I have ideas for, want to re-write my October OWC entry along with an entry idea I had for the January OWC. Discipline and focus are definitely my weaknesses.

Pesky new ideas always get in the way.

Quoted from jayrex It happens, sad times.

Tell me about it. I have far more "ongoing" projects than completed ones.