February 27, 2017 (Originally published)
NEVER STOP WRITING!!! Set deadlines for yourself and don't let yourself get away with excuses. There are lots of ways to get into the habit of writing. Here are some ideas that have helped me through the years (WARNING -- I CURSE BELOW!!! *Please don't be too offended): 1.) Morning journal -- Before starting work every day I open up a hard-bound leather journal and write at least one page about what happened the day before. This is a place to air your hopes and dreams, express frustrations or just practice writing descriptive sentences. If I have nothing to day (so very rare), I might go to a coffee shop, observe everyone there for a while, and then choose one person -- then I write the most descriptive, imaginative few paragraphs about them ever. This sometimes leads to really well-drawn characters that serve as the launching point to entire stories. It's a great way to hone your skills and practice, practice, practice. 2.) Angry journal -- Shit happens. If you have trouble writing general, "so this happened yesterday" diary entries, keep an angry journal instead. This journal is just for when you are really pissed off and need to vent. If you can make a habit of writing these moments down, it can launch you into writing when you are less upset because your journal has become your sounding board. Reading your own history of frustration can also spark ideas for stories, too! 3.) Dream journal -- Have weird dreams? Keep a journal by your bed and don't be afraid to write them down the moment you wake up! These will serve as inspiration and starting points for years to come (mine did). 4.) Don't break the chain -- This is a Writer's Store method. Take a grid of 365 ordered, numbered squares and write every day, crossing out one square per day. If you write every day, you won't break the chain between squares. Give yourself a big prize at the end -- like a 90 minute massage or a new TV. You don't have to write tons of pages every day -- just write whatever you've decided to challenge yourself with. Could be a paragraph, a page or an observation. 4.) Take on free-lance work, even if it's just simple copy editing. If you get used to writing under a deadline, you'll learn how to be a more effective writer. 5.) Never be perfect! Many writers experience writer's block. The trick is to realize that whatever you write is going to suck the first time you vomit it out. Embrace that. Get it on the page, step away, let yourself breathe, then come back to it with fresh eyes. It's always easier to rewrite than it is to write. What methods work for you?
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These posts were from the Writers Room in the Legion M Forum. "Screenwriting 101" is written by Nikki Ackerman. Don't know what Legion M is? It's the world's first fan-owned entertainment company. Want to know more? Visit Legion M at legionm.com Archives
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