Screenwriting : Aspiring writer looking for pointers and tips of how to conquer writer's block. by Benjamin B

I avoid writers block by juxtaposing scripts, if I come to a halt on one, I carry on with the other . Another way is take time out. “Respite” from a project can heal any negativity naturally. If you are doing something else such as cooking/driving/socialising/working other job or just chilling by TV suddenly and organically a character can grab you by the throat saying, “G.T.F back to my page because I’m doing this or that to move plot along.” Time away from the desktop is not the enemy, thoughts may come spontaneously while “begrudgingly” having to clock into another job. Keep a notebook handy for when the passion for any particular story presents itself. The puzzle does not always yield for a plot in a certain room, at a certain time, on a certain computer. One of my favourite thriller writers David Baldacci has pen and paper everywhere he goes 24/7 as do many others.

I find long walks in nature most helpful. Talking with a friend on such walks can refresh and inspire me to get back to my story. Being away from from your desk and in a new environment can re-ignite your enthusiasm. Good luck!

One thing that can cause writer's block is your practical life :) so if you can disconnect for a while, it will definitely help. I write music and screenplays, and when I'm in the zone, people find me very anti social, inconsiderate and so on... it's not my intention, but I fall into the writing/story and I ignore everything else while I'm there... no sense of time or surroundings. One of the things I did when I was starting my writing career was to go away for a few months to write. Twice I've rented a hut in a tropical forest for three months at the time. It was difficult the first week, I had no internet or cellphone service, but I got used to it and loved it - loved the simplicity and I learned a lot about myself, being stuck with myself :) I hope you find your creative flow... try to chill and enjoy it... Good luck!

I like Hemingway's idea of ending your writing day with a sentence unfinished. Then, when you come back to the page, finishing that sentence pulls you back into the writing process.

I never call it "writer's block." Too depressing. I prefer to think of it as "taking a break from this particular project."

I've discovered that, when I do additional research about my subject, I get my enthusiasm back. (I'm working on a ghost story now. It's inspired by two different true events, so I sometimes read more about those events if I feel stuck. Always thinking, of course, "How/where can I add the ghosts?")

BTW - If you haven't read Erik Bork's incredible book, "The Idea," I highly recommend it. He emphasizes spending a lot of time developing a solid idea before you begin to write a script. I liked his book so much I signed up for an ongoing class with him. Erik's feedback on class projects (including mine) helps me avoid any pesky "blocks."

Good luck!

I greatly appreciate the advice. I will keep it in mind. Very helpful.

Sometimes putting the project aside for a week and focusing on something else can help you come back to it later with a different perspective.

Lateral thinking: Sometimes two (or more) seemingly unrelated things can go together & give your script that creative spark to "unblock" you (I found this helpful in stand-up comedy)... Also, just play. Don't judge, just write stream of consciousness. You can always delete... Something in there might surprise you. Either way, you haven't lost anything by making it fun and not feel like a chore. Food for thought...

My top 3 suggestions:

1) Erase the last page (it sucked), and write the most unlikely thing that could possibly happen in the current situation.

2) Skip ahead, and write a point in time after the writers block, then come back and fill in the middle of how they got to this point.

3) Go back an write background on the character to better define how they would react to whatever situation that they are in.

Agree with others who have said step away from it. Do something else for a bit. Sports, hobbies, whatever. Research is also a great way to propel development and inspire creativity. Learn everything you can related to your idea and your world, and it might make you want to write about it.

When I'm first starting a project I tend to get a nervous kind of writer's block that almost puts me off from starting the project in the first place. In that case I'll put on some upbeat music that doesn't provide any emotional connection and I'll start gathering my thoughts. Whether it's putting down ideas for scenes, plot, dialogue, etc....on paper or gathering up all the stuff I've already jotted down.

How I begin writing depends on the project. Sometimes I'll outline it. Other times I'll start by writing a scene I'm particularly excited by. Sometimes I just start with what I assume the first scene should be (even though it usually changes later).

If I'm already into a project and I get writer's block, I try to take a break from it and create something new. I used to look to other things for inspiration. As a teenager, I'd overcome writer's block by watching music videos. Or while I was cleaning the house I'd come up with ideas. Now, I find it's very easy for me to get distracted in that process. I'll watch hours of music videos, research beyond the point of it being necessary, look at way to many movie stills, etc.... So instead I write something small that has nothing to do with the project. Maybe a really short short film. Or a poem. Whatever sparks some sort of creativity.

As for distractions in our modern world, I think it's just getting away from everything you can and trying to block out everything you can't get away from. I live with two other people. One of them wants to talk all the time and gets offended when you don't, so headphones as soon as I start working are useful.

Also, I walk a lot. Even if it's just pacing around my living room. There's something about walking around and talking to myself about the project that gets things flowing for me.