Try ScriptFrenzy. It starts on April 1st. You've got to write 100 pages of script in a month. An offshoot of the NaNoWriMo thing. Might help with the motivation to have a deadline.
I haven't written since before Christmas but this has got me focusing my thoughts big time. I'm now plotting my script out in preparation to start the furious typing on April 1st.
by the way, I'm pretty much over my writers block, I bumped this for someone who had an issue with it.
I'm all good, but thanks for the advice, I have taken it on board, I like the idea of just writing and seeing what random stuff comes out, that's a clever idea.
All I have stopping me writing now is random things in life.
Quote: swerytd @ March 10, 2008, 11:28 AMHey Paul
Have you tried stream-of-consciousness writing? Just start writing whatever comes into your head (utter, utter nonsense) and keep going for half an hour/forty-five minutes each night. Something might fall out of it. It was suggested on a creative-writing course rather than comedy-writing and 95% of what you'll write'll be shit. But something useful may fall out.
Hope this helps
Dan
I think I will try and have a go at that. Stream-of-consciousness its called. Some disturbingly bizarre surrealism may just come out of it. Cheers Dan.
I have actually tried the old stream of consciousness before in the past.
You have to be careful though as you can end up writing something you think is hilariously surreal, but it actually isn't!
QED 
Dan
Bukowski said it was like waiting for a bug to crawl down the wall within reach of swatting it.
Similarly, I treat it like taking a shit: Either it's on its way out or it ain't. Sitting on the toilet when there's nothing announcing its arrival only produces a bit of fart grease and a whole lotta wasted f**ken time.
I've lived long enough to know that the poo will eventually come so I just get involved with other things until the announcement of an imminent arrival.
"Writer's Block" is a term used by those who don't yet understand how their creative process works. Once you understand it, it will never be a problem again.
Some people "create" or "write" everyday but most of it is mediocre. Yea, they accomplished filling up some pages, but with what?
Quality over quantity; it just lasts longer and is more enjoyable to consume.
Once you know how to write, it's like riding a bike. So you need not be worried about forgetting how to do it just because weeks, months, or even years go by without any writing whatsoever. Thus, piss on the advice to write even when you don't feel like it. Life is much too short to be spending your time doing something you don't feel like doing at the moment. Writing when you don't feel like it is panic-minded behaviour. It is ree-cock-ulous.
I would only say that writing needs to be a discipline and that's why I set myself deadlines. I'd agree that writing without a clue what you want to write is futile, but if you're stuck on your latest sitcom idea, then go and write some sketch material. If you've not got any ideas for that, then start a screenplay, short story etc. I'm having a good old six months at the moment and I've got a stack of ideas for various projects. But a good idea doesn't always translate to good writing. If you're truly 'blocked' then why not go back to a previous piece of writing and try and improve it?
I do believe in at least trying to be working on something all of the time. Even if there's nothing to put to paper, at least have ideas to occupy your thoughts.
I've found (as have those who have assessed my work) that as I've become more disciplined about writing (with I don't equate with writing for writing's sake) my technique and standard has much improved, to the point that I'm starting to make some potentially very good breakthroughs. I think none of us are probably ever completely bereft of an idea, but it's finding a good idea, I suppose, that is the tough bit. Once you've had an idea that really enthuses you should be able to start the writing part.
I would also finish by saying that comedy writing doesn't have to always seem to be inspiring and uplifting with you constantly laughing and enjoying what you're typing. It's often I find the complete reverse. I've written (what I would consider) some of my best stuff when really not in the mood. Sometimes it's sheer bloody-mindedness.
Not wishing to sound like a name-dropper (although I obviously am here) but when I got the chance to talk to Stephen Merchant a few months ago about comedy writing, he summed it up in one word, "boring".
All the best.
Quote: Tim Walker @ March 10, 2008, 7:39 PMNot wishing to sound like a name-dropper (although I obviously am here) but when I got the chance to talk to Stephen Merchant a few months ago about comedy writing, he summed it up in one word, "boring".
All the best.
He might have been saying that he finds DISCUSSION about comedy writing boring. If not, then he's a jaded, disinterested asshole whose glory years are behind him because I'll tell you what: Writing comedy that is actually funny is thrilling and far from boring. It is a fantastic joy. Nothing else like it.
That said, I will leave you with this irrefutable fact: Money & fun times come to me easily and frequently. The dream shifted from default nightmare to constant deliberate happiness beginning in October 2007. The key is deliberate choosing of thoughts & feelings moment by moment. It takes a few months of practise but the results are immediate and snowball quickly. I am so f**ken happy to be alive that I am bursting at the seams!
Quote: Skibbington von Skubber @ March 15, 2008, 12:21 PMHe might have been saying that he finds DISCUSSION about comedy writing boring. If not, then he's a jaded, disinterested asshole whose glory years are behind him because I'll tell you what: Writing comedy that is actually funny is thrilling and far from boring. It is a fantastic joy. Nothing else like it.
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy the overall process of writing comedy and being creative. I don't however find the prospect of going over and over something until it works properly always exactly what I'd call "fun". I'd actually be worried about if I was sitting there typing away and laughing joyously to myself. And when you've re-written and re-written over and over again, it's hard to still find the same jokes funny. That's where you have to learn to be objective, I guess.
Quote: Tim Walker @ March 17, 2008, 1:42 PM....And when you've re-written and re-written over and over again, it's hard to still find the same jokes funny.
Are you actually selling these pieces that are yanking that much upstream effort from you? Actually receiving money and/or visible credit?
I ask because it honestly should not require as much work as you are putting forth.
A novel, sure. Write & rewrite until those lines won't budge. But with unsolicited comedy material intended for television, it ain't worth knocking yourself out about. If they buy your script or sitcom pilot, they will make you change those lines that you worked so hard on getting just right.
Comedy, especially television comedy, is not really about jokes anymore. F**k the jokes. Write funny situations involving characters that are chalk & cheese. Funny situations & dialogue do not lose their funniness upon repeated reading like jokes do.
For god's sake, I hope you are not ending your pieces with punchlines.
Really, if you are capable & able & willing to write & rewrite your tits off, then you should be writing novels. Nevermind what the weaklings tell you about publishers & editors having the final say about your contents; they don't. You do.
With novels you control the pace and everything else. You are god. Readers will appreciate the way you honed every line through rewriting.
If it ain't fun, don't bother.
Only do what is fun.
That's where your success will come from.
Skibbington von Skubber, III
Quote: Skibbington von Skubber @ March 17, 2008, 5:13 PMAre you actually selling these pieces that are yanking that much upstream effort from you? Actually receiving money and/or visible credit?
I ask because it honestly should not require as much work as you are putting forth.
A novel, sure. Write & rewrite until those lines won't budge. But with unsolicited comedy material intended for television, it ain't worth knocking yourself out about. If they buy your script or sitcom pilot, they will make you change those lines that you worked so hard on getting just right.
Comedy, especially television comedy, is not really about jokes anymore. F**k the jokes. Write funny situations involving characters that are chalk & cheese. Funny situations & dialogue do not lose their funniness upon repeated reading like jokes do.
For god's sake, I hope you are not ending your pieces with punchlines.
Really, if you are capable & able & willing to write & rewrite your tits off, then you should be writing novels. Nevermind what the weaklings tell you about publishers & editors having the final say about your contents; they don't. You do.
With novels you control the pace and everything else. You are god. Readers will appreciate the way you honed every line through rewriting.
If it ain't fun, don't bother.
Only do what is fun.
That's where your success will come from.
Skibbington von Skubber, III
So novels need caressing into shape, but comedy you just wank out and move on?!
I don't think so.
I'm with Tim - I agonise over words until my eyes bleed to make the script perfect. That's how a good comedy is honed.
Quote: Seefacts @ March 17, 2008, 5:20 PMSo novels need caressing into shape, but comedy you just wank out and move on?!
I don't think so.
I'm with Tim - I agonise over words until my eyes bleed to make the script perfect. That's how a good comedy is honed.
Right on!
Quote: Seefacts @ March 17, 2008, 5:20 PMSo novels need caressing into shape, but comedy you just wank out and move on?!
I don't think so.
I'm with Tim - I agonise over words until my eyes bleed to make the script perfect. That's how a good comedy is honed.
Yes, absolutely. Can you shoot your jiz if you don't have a boner?
I only write when I feel like it. I only f**k when I feel like it. Same with eating and everything else.
Comedy should be fun to create and when it isn't, it ends up un-funny. Funny lines ought to ejaculate out of you when you are in the mood to write comedy. If you are not in the mood (don't have a boner) and try desperately to shoot your jiz, all you will shoot is dust.
MOST
MOST
MOST comedy on tv is NOT NOT NOT funny. And you can bet your bottom dollar it has been written by the likes of those who still believe they get good results out of straining & struggling.
Your bleeding eyes have not earned you enough money to warrant struggling so hard.
Try loosening up and having fun. When it's not fun, find something else to do until the urge comes again.
DUDE! That is the most disturbing discription of comedy I've ever read.
Quote: Skibbington von Skubber @ March 17, 2008, 5:55 PMYes, absolutely. Can you shoot your jiz if you don't have a boner?
Funny lines ought to ejaculate out of you when you are in the mood to write comedy.
It can be both.
The first draft is fun, the rest is hard work.
Rewarding, yeah, but hard work.
Jizzing - oh, gawwwwwd - out funny lines isn't what a sitcom is. It's more than that.