Screenwriting : Hit a brick wall!! by Gavin D Walsh

Are you on a deadline for the Kabul based script? If not, I personally believe, you should put it aside and start working on the project that all the ideas are coming for. Get the Champ project onto the page and, you never know, the ideas for Kabul will come to you at 3am after waking from a dream. Don't forget to put it in a notebook immediately, though.

Thank you, Kristopher. I'm not on any kind of deadline. It is a spec script that I eventually want to enter into competitions. I have some ideas, but it's not knowing how feasible they are and if I can execute them to the standard required - since I have never been to Kabul. I have a location in Kabul, where my hostages are being held, but I need to create the path to reaching said location, which is an underground cell at the Park Palace Guest house. I'm thinking of woodland and mountain initially, since my main protagonist doesn't yet know that this is where they are being held. Then I'm thinking of kidnapping an insurgent who just happens to be taking a leak at the side of the road, while his fellow insurgent is sat in a jeep. The second insurgent is killed. They then take captured insurgent to a cave, where they try to extract information from him, using torture and other tactics. They then discover that he is related to the main antagonist and captor of the hostages, and develops from there... It's locations I'm struggling with more than action and dialogue, if you understand what I mean? I'd love to write a bit about my other project, but after reading some posts on here, that may not be a good idea.. Not referring you to you personally, mate. But I think you know what I mean. I don't want anyone taking my ideas, haha.

Thank you, Oliver. I remember watching several seminars from several high profile screenwriters, and each of them mentioned the struggles they sometimes have. I guess I just asked the question since I have no pressure on me at this stage. The only pressure is what I have placed upon myself by taking on such a complicated story. I have a good friend, who is a 20 year vet, but he is not always available to read through my work, as you can imagine. But the scenes he has read he has said are spot on. Although none of them, as yet, have been in Kabul. I have taken a few weeks away from it already, so maybe you guys are right. I should make a start on the next and go back to it when I feel I can. I currently have 80 minutes of screen time on paper, which leaves me with another 30 for the third act. As Kristopher said, I think I'll just keep writing the ideas down in my notes while working on 'Champ'

I personally reckon you just have to write, whether it be on project A, B, C, notebooks, forums or 140 character tweet. The more you do it, the more you can battle those self-doubting thoughts. I usually have my main project and a few back burners. I often find ideas, themes and motifs will crossover and influence the others. As an aside - as you are in the UK - I think you should check out Adam Curtis Bitter Lake on the BBC iplayer for some feel of Kabul from the last decade. Warning though, due to the subject matter concerning war and politics, it can be upsetting.

Thanks for the into, Kristopher. I will be sure to check that out. I probably haven't done myself any favours by not writing for a few weeks. I think I'm just going to write an outline for 'Champ' So that I feel I have started to bring that idea to life. Then, dependent on how quickly I feel I can get a draft done of that project, I may go ahead and start on that, while taking more notes for 'Trump Card'. I just feel with 'Champ' being a story I can base anywhere, and I'm even considering having it based in Swansea and Neath, 'cause I really want to crowdfund and direct it myself, then I could write it quite quickly, and not struggle with locations. I can then go back and continue with 'Trump Card' while getting feedback and entering into competitions via S32.

Write. If Project A is stuck, let it ferment while you move on to the next. Just make sure to check back in on it from time to time. I saw a great interview with Richard Walter of UCLA. He said, I paraphrase, that all writers doubt their work. Writing is a difficult process partially because of self doubt. Even well known screenwriters will show up in his summer course to find out what they are doing "wrong". So understand that the self doubt is normal. Embrace the uncertainty and know you have the ability to see it through. When a sailor puts his ship to sea, it is not because he knows the ocean will be smooth that he stands tall. But rather that he has confidence that he and his crew have the ability to overcome the challenges the sea presents.

Thank you, John. That also makes so much sense to me. I am definitely going to start the outline for my next project, while checking back when any new ideas surface in my mind. It is a massive relief to know that this also happens to seasoned writers. But also frustrating when I am so near the end.

Most might think this is a bit crazy but it works perfectly for me. I actually work of maybe 5 scripts at once. Now one of them is of course the primary script that I'm working to get completed but when I " hit that wall" I have to have what i call a "palette cleanser" to help me get back on track. otherwise, ill start writing garbage that ill have to clean up later. BTW i make sure that the genres are diversified.

Thank you, Lamar. I have never tackled more than one screenplay at a time. I'm not sure if that would help or hinder me to be honest, lol. Maybe starting my new project will give me an opportunity to attempt that. I always find myself birthing new ideas for new projects whenever I am working on something. And I always write them down. I currently have 6 screenplay ideas. But only three of them have had any kind of development thus far - that's including the mentioned new project.

Get some packs of note-cards and binder clips to organize your different projects into neat stacks of cards. As the ideas pile up, so do the cards in their neatly organized piles kept orderly by the binder clips. You aren't over-extending...you are becoming more than you were.

Thanks, Mike. That's a really good idea. I like that.