I write this from one of those days that I made a little pause, while I'm finishing a script (deadlines in sight!). Valencia, where I usually live, is the place where they come from some of the oranges California (remember, that was part of Spain), in fact Valencia should to be related to "Orange County", we share climate. I approached to the Mediterranean Sea to read topics related to what I am writing, documentation and books regarding the screenplay. It's my way of "escape" of blockages. Well all you that write, know that feeling ... Some days everything "flows" and others will simply compel yourself to work. Because sometimes the work is not always easy, or come by "divine inspiration." Sometimes it´s apples, sometimes it´s oranges (from Valencia or from California). Nobody said this writing screenplays, had to be easy (at least to me). The advantages of the technique or experience will undoubtedly help a lot. Writing is a muscle that needs to be exercised* (*curiously screenwriting, to be exercised, must be combined for a time X6 in reading, I think). But as much we try, there are days that neither: no apples, not oranges… If we're lucky, the most we get it is raisins. Guess everyone has their "trick" for those days. Mine is very simple: I write about something else, I read, diving in documents or get close to places that give me "peace", just like that. I do not like to force things ... What is your "trick"?
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I go running. That helps a lot. The problem is that you might have ideas or unblocking thoughts and you are forced to stop running to write a note. Writing is difficult and often very depressing and delusional. But it's terrific.
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Writing is structure. I don't get blockages because I always have a structure to follow - like an outline and beat sheet. It's a lot easier that way - at least for me.
Yeah... indeed. Wow Bill... I feel constantly stuck...
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Delia: I should have attributed that statement - "writing is structure" - to William Goldman.
from master William Goldman I ever remember his Tribute to Socrates: “nobody knows anything” ;)
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I often find that reading books or, more commonly, watching movies with similar themes or in the same genre as what I am writing often helps to stimulate my creativity and get me in the mindset to write.
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Ferran: interesting note about Mr. Goldman. Of the 31 films that he has writing credits (or isn't credited ), not a single one was an original spec script. They were all based on true stories, books, plays, TV series, or novels.