Our next meeting is Tuesday 2nd April
We're back at the Old King's Head near London Bridge at 7pm to read an episode of the sitcom ‘I Don’t Know What I’m Doing’ by Remi Torrens, plus sketches. Details on our website.
We are currently booking slots for sitcoms, sketches, monologues, comic plays, webisodes, shorts and comedy dramas. Remember, your space on the list is dependent on you turning up to support other writers.
Types of Writer’s Block and How To Get Past Them
When we first give writing a go, it’s usually because we've had a compelling idea we can't wait to get down on paper, and we're confident the story will follow easily. If you can get to the end of that first draft, it’s a big milestone. But if you don’t, this can be very disheartening. Whatever you think of ‘Writer’s Block’ as a concept, there’s no denying everyone gets stuck at some point. Here are a few of the more common struggles, along with suggested approaches for trying to overcome them.
The First-Time Writer
While everyone should try it, someone who likes the idea of being a writer more than the reality - endless redrafts, often low pay and the continuous courting of rejection - well, they can quickly lose interest, especially without an exciting concept that demands to be written. Around the time Harry Potter became a phenomenon, I heard of someone who’d never written seriously before, but was intent on producing a boy-wizard knock-off in order to get rich quick. That didn’t ever manifest, unsurprisingly. In this instance, they were blocked because they had no abiding interest in writing. For those who do have a good idea and positive motives, try to plan your first draft before plunging in. Even if you’re writing as a way of learning as you go and your particular flow involves the words pouring out unstructured, at least this way you’ll know in advance if you don’t have an ending, for example.
Getting Stuck On a Specific Point
If you feel defeated by a one-off plot point, scene or particular element of your vision and your characters simply won’t cooperate, perhaps it’s time to take a break. Whether you turn your hand to another project, change your immediate surroundings to get out of your head, make a conscious decision not to write for a while or just spend a few days away from your desk, often a solution will come when you’re not directly wrestling with the issue. Here the subconscious machinations of the mind can work below the surface to solve your problem without trying to force it. It’s amazing how often an answer becomes apparent when you’ve pushed a dilemma to the back of your thoughts.
Running Out of Ideas
This is something I’ve only heard of in relation to very in-demand writers – most of us non-professionals struggle to find the time to write all the ideas we have. That said, if you’ve spent years crafting a sitcom pilot then your series finally gets commissioned, suddenly you’ll need more scripts set in that world you’ve created, and this can create pressure. In other cases, when you’re feeling all written out but someone in the industry wants more from you, maybe it’s time to refill your ‘well’ of creativity. Inspiration can be found in obvious places like books, films and TV, but also in music, theatre and art; even by heading to unfamiliar places. New experiences are great for sparking the imagination, and so is finding out what other interesting and creative people are up to.
Mental Block?
When it comes to Writer’s Block, there can also be a psychological element. If your preparatory work is done and there’s nothing else holding you back, this could involve an element of fear. Many writers cleave close to their own experience; including thinly-veiled versions of family, friends and colleagues in their work, and this can feel quite exposing. But fear of a negative reaction shouldn’t stop you getting a draft down - you don’t have to show it to anyone, after all. Additionally, the chances of your project making it out there in the same form, finding an audience who will negatively judge your foibles and obsessions, is vanishingly slim. If you put too many restrictions on yourself before even starting, or feel each line of your draft has to be absolutely perfect, you’ll only end up being paralysed. Try to cast off the shackles by writing like nobody’s paying attention. And if you do have a specific point you’re stuck on, you can always bring your script along to LCW and see if the room has ideas on how to ease the blockage for you.
Happy Easter!
Al
'All writing is difficult. The most you can hope for is a day when it goes reasonably easily. Plumbers don’t get plumber’s block, and doctors don’t get doctor’s block; why should writers be the only profession that gives a special name to the difficulty of working, and then expects sympathy for it?'
Philip Pullman
Competitions and Opportunities
The Yeovil Literary Prize is now open, with five different call-outs, including short story, novel and children’s book / young adult. There are cash prizes for each category. Deadline: 31st May.
The annual Shortcom sitcom competition is currently open for scripts of 23 - 30 pages in length (plus a one-page pitch document). The early bird entry fee is £15. Deadline (for the early bird): 22nd April.
The Bread and Roses Poetry Prize is looking for poems up to 50 lines, with themes relevant to working class life, struggle, communities and culture. They offer five £100 prizes for the winners. Deadline: 31st August.
Member News
LCW’s Siobhan Spooner stars in Antigone at the Jack Studio Theatre in Brockley from 30th April to 4th May. More information and tickets here.
The writer behind that sitcom we table-read most recently, Robbie Fox, has just released an adult-themed audio sitcom called Consummate Professionals which is available on all good podcast providers.
For those who live or spend time north of the border, new LCW member Fi Barry runs a regular open submission sketch comedy night in Glasgow. While submissions have just closed for the next event on 10th April, you can find out more about the night by following @Glasgowsketchcomedy on Instagram or looking here.