What should I do if I get writers block?

Really, I think I've conquered writer's block. Follow these easy steps:

1) Edit what you've already have. It may trigger your memory or it will allow you to clean up what you have already written.

2) If you haven't started yet? Write dummy lines. Say you know what you want the movie to be about. Say you don't. Start with the characters. Start from the middle. Start from the end. Just start writing stupid dialogue even if you know it won't make the final script.

EXAMPLE:

CRAIG
Hey, Jill. How you doing.

JILL
I dunno. Sometimes I feel like living is worthless.

on and on until the scene ends. Then you start a new scene and not only is it better than the last, but it completely stands on its own. You'll eventually want to disgard the first scene. Jill seems a little too depressed.

3) Just start writing. Sometimes your scripts don't get written because you're too lazy. It can seem overwhelming too. Grab a pen and paper and keep it with you at all times. I usually jot stuff down when I'm waiting for a movie to start. When I'm lucky I can write a scene. When I am semi-stuck I will write down ideas to include for the actual screenplay.

There isn't writer's block. There is only laziness and false feelings of being overwhelmed. You can do it. Once you get the hang of it, you're set.

Abbreviations

Hollywood has its own code! Fun, right?

Here are some of the abbreviations you may use in a script:


(O.C.) = Off Camera
Not as common as the Voice Over (see below), off camera is sometimes used when a character is in the scene but is not shown (maybe they are yelling from another room).

(V.O.) = Voice Over
Use this to describe what a character thinks, or explains to the audience.

More to come.