4 ms·

Good advice. The key step if you want to write is to actually do the writing part. For in-depth, and practical screenwriting advice I really like Terry Rossio

Good advice. The key step if you want to write is to actually do the writing part. For in-depth, and practical screenwriting advice I really like Terry Rossios's columns on Wordplayer: http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/welcome.html http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/welcome.html.

froo 18y ago
Thanks for the link - I've been reading up on writing for a project that I'm currently working on.
quantumhobbit 18y ago
For working up the motivation to write I recommend "Bird by Bird" by Ann Lamont. http://www.amazon.com/Bird-Some-Instructions-Writing-Life/dp/0385480016/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232631079&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Bird-Some-Instructions-Writing-Life/dp...
- electromagnetic 18y ago
  Personally I'd say put the book down and just do it, but then I've been writing since I was 15. My best advice would be to read a really good novel while you're writing, because there's something about seeing a novel unfold whilst you're writing one that seems to help the process along. You'll likely get through 3-4 books (if you read like me) when writing a novel and this can really help in the beginning because you see something started in the beginning really unfold at the end and it's like 'holy crap, thats the best thing in the entire book', then you have a moment thinking 'well why the fuck aren't I doing something like that!', then you do. The other advantage in reading while you write is that I think it reassures you when you get blocked, because 99% of the time you'll think the story is going too slowly, however that's because it takes like 10-100 times longer to write something creative than it does to read it. I think it was Richard Curtis (Notting Hill/Bridget Jones/Love Actually) who made this point; he was asked why there's such a large gap between all his great award winning movies and he said quite simply, 'because it takes a lot of time to write something important to me'. This is quite well illustrated by his writing credits, he switches between writing a blockbuster movie and TV comedy (Mr Bean) with his friend from university.

froo 18y ago

Thanks for the link - I've been reading up on writing for a project that I'm currently working on.

quantumhobbit 18y ago

For working up the motivation to write I recommend "Bird by Bird" by Ann Lamont. http://www.amazon.com/Bird-Some-Instructions-Writing-Life/dp/0385480016/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232631079&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Bird-Some-Instructions-Writing-Life/dp...

electromagnetic 18y ago
Personally I'd say put the book down and just do it, but then I've been writing since I was 15. My best advice would be to read a really good novel while you're writing, because there's something about seeing a novel unfold whilst you're writing one that seems to help the process along. You'll likely get through 3-4 books (if you read like me) when writing a novel and this can really help in the beginning because you see something started in the beginning really unfold at the end and it's like 'holy crap, thats the best thing in the entire book', then you have a moment thinking 'well why the fuck aren't I doing something like that!', then you do. The other advantage in reading while you write is that I think it reassures you when you get blocked, because 99% of the time you'll think the story is going too slowly, however that's because it takes like 10-100 times longer to write something creative than it does to read it. I think it was Richard Curtis (Notting Hill/Bridget Jones/Love Actually) who made this point; he was asked why there's such a large gap between all his great award winning movies and he said quite simply, 'because it takes a lot of time to write something important to me'. This is quite well illustrated by his writing credits, he switches between writing a blockbuster movie and TV comedy (Mr Bean) with his friend from university.