Friday Vlog #5: Writing is Hard
I apologize for the melodrama. Peter and I went for a walk in my neighborhood after spending the afternoon in LA and I came to the realization that it just might be time for me to try and find a writing partner.
You see, if you're going to be a director, you should learn to write. Though, it's also important to learn to direct and actually create, rather than wait for that perfect script. It's much to easy to come up with an excuse. If you're struggling with writing, but want to be a filmmaker, then find a friend who wants to be a writer and you can both collaborate your efforts.
I think it is good to know your own strengths and weaknesses. That’s one of the problems I see with journalism right now, this movement to make every reporter be able to write, shoot video, take photos, create graphics, etc. At least in film, they still understand that some people excel as camera shooters, others as writers, and still others as editors or directors. I’m not saying don’t stretch yourself, but don’t beat yourself up either if you find writing is not for you.
make the music louder :p
Pretty emo stuff. That said, this video still had it’s emplotment. Film maker struggles with identity, finds himself lost and a little confused. Thus a quest begins to reground himself, to get in touch with the heart of film making. Sounds like you have it in you. I don’t think it’s about trying to create a clever twisted ending, it’s about knowing the core of the story, the quest, the romance, the tragedy, etc. You seem very in touch with that.
I think you just need to get in touch with your inner Sean. Concern yourself with what you want to tell, not with what others tell you to tell. Writing is about as being as selfish as possible: knowing what you *want* and grabbing it. Otherwise you’re left with spare parts that don’t fit together; or that do indeed fit together, but can be made to resemble anything. That’s when you’re screwed with writer’s block.
you’re stressing too hard about writing… Just write something. Get it on paper and then scribble out what you don’t want. You’re starting to get into the “honest artist trap”… Just keep working… And don’t let your ideals tie you up… keep them but keep working.
Writing isn’t the hardest thing you can do… it just feels like it.
If you “wait for the muse to inspire you”, you could be waiting a *long* time… What others have said in part is correct. Firmly affix seat of pants to seat of chair, and WRITE.
Doesn’t have to be deathless prose, doesn’t have to be Shakespeare or Joe Esterhazs… you can (and probably will) rewrite it later.
If possible, set aside a block of time each day (weekends included) to write. Some get up an hour early, some go to bed an hour later, some write from after dinner to bedtime… doesn’t matter.
Write, write some more, revise what you wrote previously, and shape your material into something like a sculptor works on a block of stone… remove all the stone that doesn’t look like your desired object.
Cheers!
I agree with Uncle Al. I also like Uncle Stephen (as in King). Read his non-fiction book On Writing. It is full of great nuggets about how to write. But by far, his best advice is set aside time DAILY and just do it.