Creative Blocks

Are annoying, because we take them so seriously!

Have you seen the movies coming out of Hollywood? They're terrible! Chill out, relax, and write what you wanna write!

So you lack clarity? That's part of the process! Your characters lack clarity too, explore it with them!

Don't be oppressed by the gatekeepers. The producer/studio/teacher figure you hear in your head --- why give it so much authority? Why is the imner-critic so strong and correct? Your critic doesn't know everything, if it did, it'd have a three picture deal!

Become the gatekeeper! The strength and power and clarity of the gatekeeper is a part of yourself you disown. Own it! Be it! Sit like you imagine the producer sitting. Write your script from that point of view.

And don't sit there thinking I'm talking nonsense. Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. Creativity is about playing, finding different angles.

If you've been blocked all year, something is going wrong.

Don't judge other people's work so harshly! When you do,  you convince yourself you know everything. If you know everything, it means your script should be genius. When it's not genius you lose clarity and hide from the work.

Get off Facebook. The distractions will kill you. To be creative you have to turn the world off and focus on your work. Focus to the point where you forget the clock, your hunger, your body, your sex life. Truly focus. When you focus and do the work, you unleash your potential.

People will belittle your creative work. People will build you up as the next Spielberg. Both of these are harmful. The belittling makes you feel worthless, the building you up puts too much pressure on you. Realise that it happens because people aren't sure how to relate to you. They mostly mean well. Don't let them put you off. Shut the door and do your work.

Shut the door and do your work.