How can I be more?

Question

I want to write screenplays but I can't seem to discipline myself to sit down and write past an hour. I'm writing but it is going slowly...like real slowly. Then there are times when I just don't feel like writing sh*t. How can I discipline myself to write more?

Answer 1

When you do write past an hour, reward yourself with something.

Answer 2

I don't suggest that you do. I'm a writer myself and one thing that I've noticed is that when I force myself to sit down and write, the stuff that I write needs to be reworked when I am in writing mood. So I think that your material might be the same way.

I firmly believe that you can give yourself the opportunity to be in the mood to write if you do several things. When you aren't in the mood, you might want to work on your character arcs, do some research on your locations or other things involved. But the thing that always inspires me is when I break out the calendar to make sure that I've got my events occurring in the proper time periods and such. I mean you can't have a guy go into a coma for 4 days on a Wednesday and wake up on a Tuesday. Sometimes that stuff just doesn't occur to you at the time, or which day of the week certain holidays land on in a given year. You can brainstorm on what will happen. Or another one of my favorite things is to search the Internet to add hidden meaning into your screenplay. Like Good cat and bad dog in Lucky number slevin.

If you try some of this stuff, you'll probably find yourself inspired to write or struck by an idea that you "need" to get on the page.

Answer 3

You have to write to match your own disposition. If you're incapable of writing for more than an hour, don't. Take a break, go for a walk, have a snack, etc. Write for an hour. You can try to do it twice or three times a day, if you want, but if you can't, don't.

You also have to make sure there isn't a distraction: Make sure you're alone, there isn't a TV on, and that you're not checking the clock every few minutes. Close your instant messengers and resist the urge to check your e-mail. Then write. As long as you're producing work, you shouldn't push yourself beyond what you can do: it'll just make you hate the process, and your writing will be lousy. Set a realistic goal, achieve it every day, and realize that you'll still have bad days.If you write 2,000 words a day, you can have a 100,000 word novel in two months.

Answer 4

I don't know about you, but for me, writing was always a thing of the moment. You don't 'work' to write, you just get some ideas out of nowhere (some people call it inspiration), and write those ideas down.
Try this: instead of sitting down to write, think about what you would like to write during the day, while you're doing all your other things. The experience of your own life, and the surroundings may either give you new ideas or remind of something meaningful. For these moments, it's a good idea to have a pen and a paper in your pocket. Once you get home and start writing, get out that piece of paper and start exploring and opening up those ideas. They key is wanting to write and ability to notice events around you.

Answer 5

Then write less.
The danger is that, if you set yourself 30 minutes to write, then you'll find yourself not being able to write 30 minutes after a while.

Better to break up the writing, if you're finding it hard to sit still....
Plus, I find it easiest to write in the same place at the same time whenever possible; your brain starts gearing itselrf up ahead of time for "Writing Time"

A definite schedule will help you create.

Forget this 'waiting for the muse' **** as well. Writing is not an art, it's a craft.
Learn to approach it as such. Learn your writing style and don't try to be someone else.You write like you write...

Answer 6

I know this sounds CRAZY but try it. Instead of trying to write more, make yourself write LESS! Only allow yourself 25 minutes to write. Set a timer. When your time is up you must stop writing even if you are in mid-sentence. You MUST wait at least 60 minutes before you can resume your writing! Then for only 25 minutes, and so on.

Answer 7

Motivation can be tough. Just know that success won't come unless you put the time into. Think about where you could be in 5 years at the rate you are now. Then think about where you could be if you really made the effort and worked hard for it for 5 years. Which sounds better?

Answer 8

Go some place like out in the woods, or to the beach, somewhere beautiful and quiet. It might inspire you to work longer.

Answer 9

Just write when you feel like it and you'll write better. Quality, not quantity.