Finding the Inspiration to Write a Screenplay
Tips for Greater Creativity in the Screenwriting Experience
May 1, 2009
There are many different kinds of writers – some write fast, some write slowly. Some write early, some write late. Some write easily, and others have a more difficult time. Regardless of individual writing styles, all writers need to find inspiration. The following five strategies should serve as a basic overview of effective techniques for stimulating the right brain, where creativity is housed, and getting in the zone quickly.
Break a Sweat Beforehand
Taking a walk, a run, swimming or working out in some way can be very effective. After about 30 minutes, consciousness starts to shift and the obligations of life melt away, leaving more space in the mind for storytelling. It is also a great idea to use the exercise period as a time to mull a story or idea over, allowing solutions to present themselves. It is amazing how many pieces of a story puzzle can be put together, snippets of good dialogue found, and visuals imagined while working up a sweat.
Set the Mood With Music
Music can also help keep the fingers typing and the words flowing. Instrumental music is often preferred because there are no lyrics to distract the writer from the words in their mind. Classical music of all kinds can help writers relax and focus. The rhythm works as an energizer as well as a regulator of sentence structure and enhances the poetic elements of a screenwriter's prose and dialogue. A further benefit is that music masks any distractions in the environment.
Try Free Writing
When a writer is stuck, or just can’t get going, the best solution is usually to just write as fast and as freely as possible. The key is to write recklessly, throwing words down on the page, without any attention to spelling or grammar, and definitely not worrying about quality. The irony is that this writing, written as if it will never be seen by anyone, often produces diamonds in the rough. This is because writing quickly actually allows the writer access to their higher consciousness, where imagination lives.
Be an Early Bird
Another way to access the subconscious is to get up earlier than usual and do some writing. The closer one is to the dream state, the more access the mind has to that irrational, yet imaginative place. It makes sense that the dreams of sleep can fuel the dreaming up of a story and screenplay.
Write Every Day
Having a regular, daily writing time is another way to tap into inspiration. When a screenplay is tackled every day, a little bit at a time, it is stored in the back of the mind, so that even when the writing stops, the subconscious keeps working on it. When the next writing session begins, solutions and creative ideas just come to mind, as the writer’s whole self has become fully immersed in the project.
While every writer is different, there are some solutions that can help almost anyone. What’s important is to find the right balance of methods in order to optimize the time at the keyboard.
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