Yes, Sarah, I have run into that problem before of not wanting to
write. Personally, here's how I handle it:
Pretty good, wouldn't you say? And I enjoyed not writing for
those empty cursor moments, traveling through that blank white space
time continuum (where no man has -- well, actually, where many men -- and
women -- writers have gone before). And it felt good to not
write. Try it. Just simply refuse to write. And not just
screenplays. I'm talking about novels, short stories, letters,
e-mails, "thank you" cards, "you're welcome for the thank
you card" cards. Not a word. Not a letter. Make a
pact with yourself. Create a lovely and powerful affirmation:
"I will not write." Or: "I don't write
anymore." Or: "I am not a writer." Or
bring it closer to home: "I am not a screenwriter and I do not
write screenplays." I like that one. Let it be your
mantra. Live it, breathe it, drink it, sleep it. It's a
wonderful feeling of liberation to not let anybody push you around any
longer and force you to do what you do not want to do. From now on,
your computer is just for solitaire; and your pen and paper is for
doodling. You're free.
But you're not out of the woods yet. Oh sure, it's exciting this
high, this buzz. But you've still got work to do. As the hours
and days progress, believe me, you're going to feel like slipping back;
the temptation to start writing will try to entrap you, to pull you back
down into the black, murky waters of creativity. But don't do
it. These Loreli will sing their song of enchantment and seduction
(Wait, they're your Muses. Never mind; it doesn't matter.), but do
not heed them. They're very cunning. They plague your mind
with.... (prepare yourself) ideas! Images!! Feelings!!!
They'll try to convince you that you have something worthwhile to say, to
express, and (and this is possibly the worst part) that others may want to
know about it!!!! That they will want to be entertained by your imaginative
creativity!!!!! I didn't mean to make you scared like I wasn't when
watching The Village. As one of the villagers in the village
(where else would a villager live?) says regarding the nasty creatures in
the film (I'm not going to say another word), and as it is with your own
nightmarish creatures that only have one evil objective in mind: to
get you to write, "Don't let them in!" I think that's what the
villager said. Or am I thinking about the usher in the theatre lobby
talking about the crowds out front? Anyway, she delivered the line
with such a poignant urgency and raspy voice that it was either that or
"I see dead people." Or: "Dead people see
me." You could use those last two lines as an opening inner
monologue as you prepare to give a lecture to an auditorium full of
accountants. Not that accountants are bad people. Hey, maybe
there's a screenplay premise in here somewhere: Title: "Night of the
Living Accountants." That could really work.
Logline: A village (that does let them in) is attacked by zombie
accountants who have been under too much pressure to hide money by
falsifying tax returns. "Coming to a theatre near you April
15. There's a penalty for coming late!"
Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that, get you thinking along
those lines again. Forget that I said that. Forget the whole
idea. And, in case while I was going on like that and you happened
to come up with any imaginative notion or may come up with one in the
future, whatever you do, no matter what your devious mind may tell you, no
matter how much you feel like you want to express this notion, explore it
and see where it takes you.... whatever you do... Don't
write it Down!
Hey... that's another good title for a screenplay.
Sorry. I did it again.