How do you overcome writer’s block?

[figment]

Read.

If nothing is going in, then nothing can come back out.

Reading novels is great for this, because then you’re exposed to rich, developed settings, characters that have arcs, dialogue that’s been honed, and plots you can think about and unravel. If you don’t want to read novels, then read non-fiction or scripts.

[Bono]

There is no such thing as writer's block. That's just an excuse most writers use to avoid the hard work. If I said I'll give you 1000 bucks to write something, it would come easily. It's really writer's motivation.

How I overcome it (sometimes it takes a few days, sometimes years the way I go) is I try to talk and read about writing a lot. That's why I come here. Talking with other writers and posting on these boards can be a time zap to some, but to me, it can help unlock ideas.

Same way when you have a rep and you send them 10 ideas, they like 1. Just that little pat on the back can give me enough motivation to finish a spec.

When you send a few ideas to friends and they seem excited by it or encourage you.

It's all about motivation and finding it again. It's not a block. It's a lack of desire. And when the writer's well runs dry, you have to fill it back up.

Mine is dry right now -- I try to fill it back up. It gets harder all the time when my effort hasn't been rewarded with success I desire. But I'm always looking for ways to fill up.

Again, how can we have writer's block and type so many freaking words in posts???

[Centos]

There is no such thing as writer's block. That's just an excuse most writers use to avoid the hard work.

There may not be writer's block, per se, but there is definitely "I don't feel like writing." If you're not working as a writer (like I'm not) that is effectively writer's block.

[Bono]

I'm just trying to say all writers myself included are sometimes just lazy jerks. It's very very very hard for paid writers. And it's near impossible when your my age and haven't made crap, but still dream. But it's not a block. It's just me avoiding work.

[Centos]

I'm just trying to say all writers myself included are sometimes just lazy jerks. It's very very very hard for paid writers. And it's near impossible when your my age and haven't made crap, but still dream. But it's not a block. It's just me avoiding work.

Yeah, I guess you're right. I always wrote best when I had a deadline. When I was working full time (I'm a retired old geezer now) I used to push myself in the precious spare time I had to write (or stay up way too late) but I got a lot written back then. Now that I've got all the free time in the world I have no drive. I think it's mostly because I've come to realization that I'm not that good of a writer.

[jonpiper]

Yeah, I guess you're right. I always wrote best when I had a deadline. When I was working full time (I'm a retired old geezer now) I used to push myself in the precious spare time I had to write (or stay up way too late) but I got a lot written back then. Now that I've got all the free time in the world I have no drive. I think it's mostly because I've come to realization that I'm not that good of a writer.

I'm far from being an expert on writer's block, but you and Bono seem blocked for the same reason. You don't have an idea that inspires you. You need to discover an idea that you truly want to write, and idea that you want to flesh out. That's my problem too, as far as a story goes. So I'm plowing ahead on a nonfiction subject now.

[Bono]

Actually I have TOO MANY IDEAS want to write them all at once so writing none of them as not sure which one to spend my time on!

[jonpiper]

Actually I have TOO MANY IDEAS want to write them all at once so writing none of them as not sure which one to spend my time on!

Maybe you have too many ideas but none of them excite you. You're not passionate about any of them. You are not currently being paid to write, so why write something you're not passionate about. Maybe you need to discover the right idea for you.

[Bono]

Maybe you have too many ideas but none of them excite you. You're not passionate about any of them. You are not currently being paid to write, so why write something you're not passionate about. Maybe you need to discover the right idea for you.

It is a lack of results from the last two specs that went out with 2 different reps producers just sitting there waiting for good news.

it is hard to find passion when you add age and past success and lack of income into it.

I feel like the loser I am. And hard to get this loser to write another comedy that no one wants.

[Centos]

I'm far from being an expert on writer's block, but you and Bono seem blocked for the same reason. You don't have an idea that inspires you. You need to discover an idea that you truly want to write, and idea that you want to flesh out. That's my problem too, as far as a story goes. So I'm plowing ahead on a nonfiction subject now.

I've actually got a couple ideas that interest me that I've been working through in my head. Ideas never were a problem. Getting up the gumption to write them out (currently) is the problem.

[jonpiper]

It is a lack of results from the last two specs that went out with 2 different reps producers just sitting there waiting for good news.

it is hard to find passion when you add age and past success and lack of income into it.

I feel like the loser I am. And hard to get this loser to write another comedy that no one wants.

I hear you, it's not easy to find passion, especially in the face of so much rejection. But I don't think you need to find passion, I think passion finds you. When you find the right idea, the passion to write it will find you. You won't be able to not write it. So your job now is to find that Idea, not to decide which crummy idea you have is the best to write. Just my opinion.

[jonpiper]

I've actually got a couple ideas that interest me that I've been working through in my head. Ideas never were a problem. Getting up the gumption to write them out (currently) is the problem.

Centos, I bet you are not passionate about any of your ideas. I could be wrong, but if you find an idea that rings your bell, I think you'll have the gumption to write it.

[Rantanplan]

It is a lack of results from the last two specs that went out with 2 different reps producers just sitting there waiting for good news.

it is hard to find passion when you add age and past success and lack of income into it.

I feel like the loser I am. And hard to get this loser to write another comedy that no one wants.

I think this hits the nail on the head. It's hard to get excited yet again after yet again investing so much time, energy, passion and hopes into something that got some interest until it didn't. Especially if you've done it a bunch of times and especially if you've come close. Might be time to think outside the box.

[Bono]

Out of the box — get a real career.

[Centos]

Centos, I bet you are not passionate about any of your ideas. I could be wrong, but if you find an idea that rings your bell, I think you'll have the gumption to write it.

I can only say what I said before ... I've actually got a couple ideas that interest me that I've been working through in my head. The interest in these ideas is as strong as it was with any of the 300 (or so) shorts I've written in my life. The difference is that I just don't feel like writing them right now. The drive just isn't there.