“I think the greatest barrier I’ve always faced as a writer is just starting. Like all of us, I can just procrastinate and find some excuse for not actually getting started.” — John August
"I'll do it later" turns into "I'll do it tomorrow," then "I'll do it next week" and so on. Just get started. You'll be glad you did.
But sometimes it’s not about procrastination. Writers have things to do just like everyone else (spend time with family, jobs, school, etc.). If you’re having trouble finding time to write, check out this blog: www.stage32.com/blog/how-to-find-time-to-write-a-screenplay-even-with-a-...
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This is why a good process is essential. With a good process, you can break the task of developing a story down into manageable blocks. Each day you chip away.
The mistake is facing big ideas with blank pages. That's like facing a huge pile of bricks and an empty plot of land. It's not the fact you're laying bricks that you'll hate, it's the fact you have no idea what you're actually building.
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You're right, CJ Walley. I've tried to write big ideas without outlining, and I always wrote myself into corners or ran out of steam. And I've noticed that if I ignore a story problem or character problem in the outline, it'll show up when I write the script. It happens every single time. It saves me time and headaches if I go ahead and figure out the problem in the outline.
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Not wanting to write/wanting to do something else instead is definitely why some writers don't start projects, Mike Childress. Watching a sports game, hanging out, etc. are just more fun sometimes.
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Writing scripts for fun is great practice, Mike Childress. And you never know. It could turn into a script you sell, get a writing job with, or get a manager/agent with. I write fan fiction short scripts for fun and practice, and I post them on social media to showcase my writing to producers, directors, etc.
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Spot-On!!
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Mike Childress, there's a lot of people who turn the joy of creating into work. They try to suck every artistic element out of it in the process. There's a glut of them and they should be avoided at all costs.
Writers have to write. It's a calling and a vocation. Sometimes my dyslexia is so bad it's a struggle to write every word, but I still write, because I have to.
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The Pomodoro Technique works for me or people who (all too often) can't sit with one thing for too long. Have work chunks where you do different things. Today I took a self-study language test (in 3 chunks), wrote a scene (in 3 chunks), and edited previous scenes (when not doing the others).
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I think this is my first time hearing about Pomodoro Technique, Michael Dzurak. I'll have to look into it some more. Thanks.
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Mike Childress, when you start combining it with producing and you get to be on set, it's a right hoot. Nothing like it.
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a good one I’ve always liked is “you can always edit a terrible page, but not a blank one”.