Introduce Yourself : Screenwriter in Need of Conficence by Kimberly Ruzich

Writer's block is common and even part of the process, in my opinion, if what you have to say feels important to you. It's almost as if the universe pushes against us when it knows we have something important to say to test us -- Really? Is this what you want to do?

Just a thought...

depends on your story. my experience, the more afraid you are to write it the more important the truth that is wanting to be expressed. good luck!!!!

A good resource for learning your learning style "The Way They Learn" by Cynthia Tobias. Once you learn your learning style, you will learn how to modify some of your patterns of behavior to increase your motivation for your craft. Stage 32 has resources that you can use as well.

Liz, that is a GREAT comment. A woman who grows up thinking emotional abuse about her looks at the hands of her father does need to be told.

Mark said it all!!

Mark, please let me know when that Blog is posted...

Julia, it is a case of trauma that I don't want to feel again. I have done some journaling,, but feel as if I keep going over the same issues. These will be told in the story, but it's going to be an ugly process.

I sure was! My teacher (Ela Thier) calls it a case of the fos (Fear of Sucking). And the remedy to that is to aim for writing something terrible, then the pressure is off and you can' t miss! And, if it's actually terrible then the beauty of writing is we can always go back and edit it until it's not terrible :)

Yeah especially if it's YOUR story, because you are being vulnerable in more than one way. Not only are you trying to show the world what you can do as a writer, but you also have to have them accept your own personal story as something worth reading. If someone thinks your story sucks and you made it up off the top of your head, it's a lot easier to digest than if they think your real life story sucks.

When you feel writer's block, read through the post for encouragement. It's like having accountability partners who will reinforce and encourage you. My students' ages were from 2 to 100. Sometimes one word of encouragement could make all the difference. A personal testimony. One day while driving to teach a workshop, I drove over a hill, I couldn't see what was on the other side of the hill. When I crossed over the hill, I saw a car on fire, I had to drive my car into the curb so I could avoid the car and bus; however, before I could relax, I had to look behind me so see if oncoming traffic was there. After wrapping things up with witnesses, my only concern was making it to the workshop with the students who were waiting. When I arrived, I found out that one of my little students had been in an accident and the car was totaled. She survived and made it to class. I arrived just in time to give her a big hug. I used this story to show you that sometimes a road block could be material that could turn into a script or spec or idea for a future project.

its perfectionisum. Just write the thing and fix it afterward. Writing never comes out pristeen real writing is RE writing

Kimberly, I realize this post is a year old, but SINCE WHEN are you afraid to write?

I watched an interview with Emily V. Gordon (Screenwriter, 'The Big Sick') a week or so ago. A big part of what she learned about adapting her and her husband's lived experiences to film was compromise.

Just a tip I picked up from that convo: What's going to resonate with audiences may not always be our life stories as is... Sometimes you have to scale back from or even jazz up your story to tell the best possible story on screen. So I guess we shouldn't get so married to the idea that our lives are cannon.

I'm sure you have a great many things to teach us with your story and there's no one more qualified to write it than you...But there's a necessary meeting point where passion and purposeful storytelling need to find equal footing :).

Posts on Facebook are one thing, Sam. Writing my life story about the relationship between my father and I is something different. It's going to bring up some painful memories and feelings I don't want to go through again.

Well, only you can decide if you want to face those memories, however, that kind of pain usually makes for a successful story. I personally have written about things that have hurt me. I think it's cathartic to do so. But, again, that's your choice. I think you could write a great story, though. I have a ton of faith in you and have seen your writing grow immensely. I think you're ready to tackle a story like that. And, for the record, I don't think there's anything wrong with you. It's understandable to be apprehensive about tackling painful memories. Either way, I have faith in you Kim. We should talk soon. I'm coming out to Cali. Hope you're well, otherwise. Check out my BLOG this Friday - I think you'll really like it. GOD BLESS and STAY FRESH!!!! <3

Thank you Sam. That means a lot to me. I look forward to your blog on Friday. GOD BLESS & STAY FRESH!

yeah, Im terrrified . but you gotta walk through the fear, right?