It’s a question that’s been around as long as writers have been writing.
There comes a time in almost every project when you feel like it’s terrible, or it’s just not working, or you’ll never be able to finish it, or it’ll never be like what you’re seeing in your head.
And let me start by saying: what you’re writing probably isn’t awful, so much as the judgey voice in your head would like you to believe it. What it is, is an imperfect draft – and that’s okay. Because it’s a draft that you can then rewrite and make better.
Still, who among us hasn’t struggled to keep going at one point or another in the creative process?
Today I’m sharing the things I like to do when this feeling hits, and why I think about it even when the writing is going well.
Sharpen your tools before you need them
Preparing for the worst may seem like inviting tragedy but it has a couple of distinct benefits.
First, having a plan in place means you don’t have to panic if you do find yourself facing a streak of writing despair. You know exactly what to do instead of wallowing, floundering, or giving up altogether.
Second, just knowing that you’re prepared for the worst can make the worst seem not so bad and scary. And sometimes that’s enough to keep you from hitting that low point.
But if you don’t prepare to face the situation should it occur? Then if or when you do find yourself struggling, it’s easy to get caught up in the emotions – the frustration, the hopelessness – and not be able to see any path forward at all. To not even be able to recognize the tools that can help.
My go-to methods for re-igniting the spark
Being in love makes you borderline delusional, and that goes for creative projects too. I’ve found that most writers need a little of that audacity to overcome doubt and imposter syndrome, and actually get to the finish line.
So for me, what it comes down to is reigniting the spark. Reconnecting to what gets me excited about what I’m writing so that the enthusiasm helps me outrun the doubt.
It’s all about falling in love again with writing, movies, and the industry. Here’s my game plan:
1. Binge movies
Watch anything you want to watch and nothing you don’t. Now is not the time to watch those classics you feel guilty you haven’t yet crossed off your viewing list. Only watch things you’re excited to watch, and watch as much as you possibly can in the amount of time you have.
And to be clear, I’m not recommending that you binge movies that are similar to what you’re writing. Not at all. Maybe add something to your lineup that’s in the same genre or that features a character who reminds you of your protagonist, but do so sparingly. “Research” isn’t the point of this binge.
The idea is to flood yourself with content that makes you happy and excited and inspired about writing and movies in general.
2. Read a good screenwriting book
This is less about learning from what you’re reading and more about sparking your motivation and getting the wheels of your subconscious turning. You might be surprised how often you come up with useful ideas when you’re not directly thinking about your story.
You can absolutely go back to a classic you’ve read before. But it may help to get a new perspective, or hear things explained in an unfamiliar way that forces your brain gears to work a little harder.
Try Will Storr’s The Science of Storytelling, or Matt Bird’s The Secrets of Story, or — hey! — even The Screenplay Outline Workbook.
3. Listen to other filmmakers talk about their projects and experiences
Whether it’s a live event or a YouTube video or a podcast, this is about letting some inspiration and hey-other-people-do-this-so-can-I seep in.
There are a TON of options available to you, of course, but my go-to strategy is queuing up podcasts and taking a long walk. The podcasts I like most for this particular purpose are those that are really about the creative process and/or about the path to getting a project made. And some that I find most useful for this include:
- The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith, because he goes into such great depth with writers about their projects.
- Script Apart, because it’s script-focused and Al Horner is a delight to listen to.
4. Get some perspective
Two additional suggestions that aim to achieve the same purpose: helping you get a new perspective so you can see a path forward.
First, if you are writing script pages and getting discouraged by how you feel they are turning out, then step away from screenplay format for a minute. Write out descriptions of your scenes in prose form instead. Sometimes that can be a way to get what’s in your head down on paper first, and then you can think about specific scene design and formatting later.
A second option is to talk over your story with a trusted friend. Sometimes having a sounding board and fresh input really helps you get a handle on your story. And having an “appointment” with another person can provide just the right amount of pressure to create progress.
>> If you need a sounding board, book a story session with me anytime!
Make a game plan for overcoming writer’s block
The writing process frequently takes longer than expected, and somewhere along the way we’ll hit a slump or lose our enthusiasm, and maybe want to give up completely.
But giving up isn’t the answer – not if you want to have a body of work to show and be proud of. So take a minute today to think about your own plan for falling in love with your writing again should the need arise.
The suggestions above are my go-to strategies for rediscovering my love for a project or the writing process overall. And that’s what helps me write faster than the doubt can creep in.