On Writing : Writer’s Block by Amanda Toney

I just wait it out.

Hi Amanda Toney I haven’t really hit writer’s block so far, but I truly believe a fresh mind is everything when it comes to finding original ideas—and actually enjoying the process of writing them. Sometimes the best thing you can do is step away completely, not even try to force it, and just give yourself space to reset.

For me, that usually means grabbing my camera, wandering around, or checking out an exhibition. It helps me reconnect with that creative spark. But everyone has their own way of recharging—that’s the key. Ciao

Hello Amanda Toney

I hope you’re having a great week.

I experience a lot of writer’s block while writing The Silent PFC War. There is always something that feels missing, so I have to return to my cards and structure, reread everything, and think carefully about how to solve it.

Amanda, when I feel resistance in the writing, I often step away from the page and do something completely different — cooking, spending time with friends, or engaging in something tactile and grounded.

I’ve found that distance often allows the subconscious to keep working quietly in the background. When I return, the problem is sometimes less about “finding” the scene and more about recognizing what the story was already trying to tell me.

The pause becomes part of the process rather than an interruption to it.

ROAD TRIPS. One of my favorite writer's block drives is the 395 North from Hesperia to Bishop.

One way: a long walk to another writing location.

I always try and start with a very good breakdown of the action in the film. I then go and add an action between each action. i keep doing this until i have a (normally too) detailed breakdown of the script. this gives me something to fall back on.

then if I get a block i just go back to that, find the nearest point and write the next action even if it’s something simple or small.

or

just I just

write a complete brain dump even if I know it rubbish until I get back into a comfortable place in the story. you can always go back and fix it.

Throw away what doesn’t work and keep writing.

Michael Dzurak: Certified workaholic : )

Move ahead to another section of your screenplay or a new project and keep writing. Always keep writing!

Get on with something else and soon inspiration strikes again, then I return to the writing or penning development notes. The 'something else' could be recreational like a walk, or rest like a nap, and could even be chores or other work.

Amanda Toney I like to joke that I can't afford Writer's Block. But one of my favorite tricks is to never end a writing session at the end of a scene/section. Instead, I like to leave the next part dangling there, unfinished. That tends to make my right brain kick my left brain and get the juices flowing again.

I realized that I need to write only from a state of inspiration. When the text flows by itself, as if someone has turned on a tap. When the tap closes, it means it’s time for a break, for insights. I usually just switch to other hobbies that fill me with joy. And after a proper rest, ideas flow like a river again.

Amanda Toney I’ve started to look at writer’s block less as “being stuck” and more as a signal that something isn’t working yet usually at the character or emotional level.

When that happens, I step away from forcing pages and go back to the core of the story what the character really wants, what they’re avoiding, and what’s at stake. Once that becomes clear again, the writing tends to move.

Sometimes I’ll also switch the approach write a scene out of order, journal in the character’s voice, or even just talk the scene out loud. That usually helps unlock something.

And honestly, consistency matters more than waiting for inspiration. Even if it’s messy, staying in the habit keeps the connection with the story alive.

If I'm really stuck I go outside and walk my property. My "block" is usually over one small obstacle. I walk the property until an answer comes. I've logged many miles.

I end up doing the important work-- cleaning, dancing, sometimes watching a movie or going out with friends. Putting my mind into a different source- a creative filling thing helps a lot to not just work out the issues- but to get me pumped to go back to writing

Alena Karamazova I relate to that feeling of flow it’s one of the best parts of writing when it happens.

At the same time, I’ve found that if I rely only on inspiration, I tend to lose momentum. For me, it’s more about staying with the work even when the “tap” isn’t fully open, because sometimes the clarity comes through the process rather than before it.

Taking breaks definitely helps, but I try to balance that with consistency—so it’s not just inspiration leading the work, but also discipline supporting it.

Abhijeet Aade Yes, of course! You choose discipline and that's good. Your life, your rules. I am of a different kind and do not chase quick results. This is my favorite hobby, not the meaning of life. I simply enjoy processes out of a sense of "I want," not "I have to"! And that, too, is good! Because everything suits me. Have a wonderful mood!

I do not force it at all... I know the story will come to me, and if I force it, I most likely write something I despise. I know some people say "write badly, don't worry, fix it in edit"... but that to me is worse and more often than not -- I put the project on the back burner for months because I hate it, hahah!

I guess it's a good thing I'm writing my slate my way right now whilst seeking representation. By the time I eventually get an agent, it'll all be written to my bare minimum, if not better.

(And yes, I am my own worst critic!!!)

By having something worse to do.

Really. In my experience, writers will do anything to get out of writing. All of a sudden that yard work seems urgent. And cleaning the toilets! And the litter box! And, and-

The great author Edna Ferber summed it up best. "I hate writing. I love having written."

I either turn towards my keyboard and play some tunes or take a walk. That always cures it Amanda Toney.

Amanda Toney : Taking a step back, changing environment, or doing some fun activities(this most times sparks creativity)

Amanda Toney - I've never experienced it personally, for my music or books, (maybe back in school when I had to write things I didn't want to write? haha). I think that's because I don't force the creation. Inspiration strikes me, and I run with it. Or, if I've simply set the time aside to write, I go with the flow. Should something not be flowing, I go do something else until it is.

TAlena Karamazova hat’s a great way to look at it, honestly.

I think that sense of “I want” is what keeps the process alive in the long run. Even with discipline, if that feeling disappears, the work starts to lose something.

For me, I’m trying to find a balance between both staying consistent, but still enjoying the process and why I started in the first place.

Hope you keep enjoying it your way too

I just spend 4 days with no internet in western Queensland. At 1am I walked outside my tent to see the horizon divide the red dust from the stars. A reset that fuelled my soul and fed my imagination. Thank you Mother Nature - I'll be sure to thank you in a speech one day!

When it happens, I write anything else. Grocery lists, love letters to my wife, my thoughts on using crazy glue illegally, anything at all. I find, once freed of expectations, I can write again.

Look at the world around you. Something will show itself; The universe IS THAT dependable.

Writer’s block usually isn’t a lack of ideas for me. It’s usually one of three things: fear the scene won’t come out right, not knowing the next true move, or trying to force the writing before I’ve earned it.

What helps me most is lowering the pressure. I stop trying to write “well” and just try to write “true.” That might mean writing a bad version of the scene, writing a paragraph about what the scene is really about, or even admitting that the block is a story problem and not a discipline problem.

Sometimes writer’s block is really your instincts telling you something is false, thin, or unresolved. When that’s the case, pushing harder usually doesn’t help. Listening does.

Typically I either try to write through it, or will edit previous sections, which sometimes breaks it. If that doesn’t work I’ll move on to a different discipline.

I've never had writer's block. In fact, doing the outline and blocking out the cards for scenes drives me crazy because I'm so impatient to get the story on paper. I would equate writer's block to any other kind of thought paralysis or distraction, so I would recommend these small bits.

First, surround yourself with things that you love or bring you joy. Can be one thing, a bunch of things. If you have a writing spot in the house, make it yours by putting the things you enjoy within reach, not just eyeshot. This is a typical work from home move that has worked for me for the past 14 years.

Second, what soothes your mind? Music? A movie scene that plays over and over? Find a sensory delight that unplugs your conscious mind and lets your imagination/subconscious/daydream neighborhood of the brain take off unguided and unfettered. When you think too hard the story gets locked into methodical thinking, analytical thinking. It's a story. It was born in the wild parts of your mind, so make it feel at home. Find that sensory motivator that makes your body and brain sigh with relief and joy.

Third, believe in yourself. You started writing it, so you know it's in there. The fact of it all is that we think faster than we will ever be able to type. Don't worry so much about what is coming out of your fingers. Let it happen. That's what Draft 2 is for. And 3. And 4. The more you let the story flow the more it will correct itself, and the more you will be able to shape and sculpt it once you come to understand it.

Dive in. Own it. If the thoughts aren't moving from head to fingers to keyboard (or pen), you're getting in your own way. Try the simple things above. Let that part of your body that knows how to create and imagine and visualize and sensationalize the 'unreality' of story do its job. Trust it. It is, after all, you. Mostly, try all of the things that people suggest and find your own peace, and zen. You know what you are doing, even if you don't.

An interesting topic, and I love all the replies so far! I honestly have never had writer's block. I have gotten stuck on a part of a story where I wasn't sure where to go next, but I usually just try to span the gap from where I started to where I'm going in the hopes I can pick up the scent again. Whenever I need my creative juices to flow, my go to is brainstorming new ideas for my "what do I write next" slate.

I usually go play a round of golf and have a deep conversation with my characters. I never chat with more than 3 characters during a round...going beyond a foursome is against the rules. I've been advised to take a Mulligan on more than one occasion. The next morning I've got plenty of new material.

I find if I'm patient the gears (which never really stop turning, but just needed a break from the action), and the story always kick back in at some point.

I get very regimented. I get up at 5am and open up the laptop and give myself 10 minutes to write something. If I don't I put on New Order - Lowlife and it gets my brain moving for some reason. I just write to get something down. It helps to get things flowing. For me the most important part is the getting up before the sun.

I don't get writer's block so much as writer's avoidance. Usually, that means I haven't thought through the next part of the story. I find I do my best thinking on the freeway, and (hands free) dictate my thoughts, storyline, dialogue into my phone.

But taking a walk, showering, anything that takes you away from the usual clutter in your mind and life, so you can focus can work. In my latest book, when I hit writer's avoidance, I made myself go someplace quiet to THINK. That worked.

Right before I go to sleep is a great time for thinking about the book. BUT, I MUST dictate my thoughts into the phone. I've found that even when I think I'll remember the next morning and go to sleep, I often forget all or part of what I figured out.

I do something different. It's amazing how doing something different allows the creativity to begin to flow again. I do things like take a walk, take a cat nap, read a book, do dishes. Pretty much anything that will relax my brain and allow the creative juices to flow again has worked.

I don't, because writer's block is the same as any other creative block. It happens when writing, editing, pre-production, etc. I've found that whenever I get stuck in any creative field the key to get working again is first just a little distance, like a shower or a walk, whatever. Then start working on the technical aspect of whatever I'm working on. Like if it's writing, I start editing something that's already written and then sooner or later I continue writing. Same goes for anything else, you just start with something simple, then just slowly move to something more creative. Works for me every time.

For novel writing, I take a break, then go back to the writing until I feel the fevered Aha! moment, Then I stay up as late as I need to!

Creative block is something I see as part of the process rather than an obstacle. For me, it often means that something deeper in the story needs more clarity — especially the characters’ motivations or emotional truth.

When that happens, I step back and reconnect with the core of the story: what the character truly wants and what is at stake. Once that becomes clear, the flow usually returns naturally.

I would basically listen to ADHD focus music you find on YouTube but find the right binaural noise. Then, I would focus one at a time about writing something important in detail like the world setting or characters' imaginations being played into the sitcom.

Also, I've read the juvenile graphic novel called "Curveball" where the girl named Elena who loves baseball but she never enjoys comfortable playing the sport and the pressure of her being the only girl participated in high school baseball not only it pressured by her controlling mother, but it also really ruins the fun of the sport for her. One day after a disappointing loss in a baseball game before summer starts, Elena accidentally bonks her knee and has to rest for a few weeks. While at home, Elena develops a sense of isolation and her baseball friends kind of distance her because she's not playing and doesn't connect her brother with his passion of LARPing (Live-Action Role-Playing) and never a fan of baseball or competition sports. So her grandfather decided for her to join her brother's LARPing group in order to blend in and get her some excitement for the summer much to her brother's skepticism. Elena has a lack of imagination and never understands the world of fantasies or how her brother's friends love to pretend. At first, it doesn't seem like she would blend in either and accidentally trash talk her friends' costumes and be challenged to a joust (pool noodles with a run-down office chair) for punishment. She hates it and would rather look at the sandlot (a relic baseball playground). Then, she saw someone on the tree branch while drawing. And then, Elena evolves into understanding LARPing with the addition of baseball in a non-competitive way. Let's say, Elena would rather invent a fun-friendly LARPing version of baseball than playing actual baseball and her mother listens to her and brother on how much they feel. Her mother is coaching a baseball for little girls only while Elena, her brother and six other friends are playing pretend while enjoying the sport they are fun and fun only.

That book inspired me to create the idea of adding imaginations into the kid characters' minds and they always see baseball as a more fun and has to spend time with their family on a coed youth baseball team (team where boys and girls unite to play baseball) while off the field is more wacky fun and they always have the clever imagination of using baseball in a positive form. They were never pressured, they were never treated like a competitive-crazed robots when being forced to the clinic or practices, and they use their imaginations to play baseball in a fun way. Even when they're injured, the teammates would always be there for each other and their baseball families. They just love baseball and forget the flaws of playing the sport. When they off the field, they play video games or come up with silly baseball pranks, or even their parents would have wacky imaginations too despite the dad is overweight and always split his pants while bending down to grab an object. The aunt would transform into muscles and remains at five feet, she would play the batter version of the Amazon barbarian while teaching them to do batting practices for her nieces.

It's about having a heart and comedy. But also, emotions, human, entertaining, and rewatchable to see most of the main characters use their imaginations while the game they all adore.

The good news is that I don't struggle with writers block. A hundred stories in my mind is abundant and rich always flowing prolific. I was writing a testimony with a blend of theology and sciences. Stories of Gen trilogy. Inspired by God. I can not figure out the obstacle why publishing seems so overwhelming and complicated. I can not afford the budget of financing projects scares me. So I wrote a story about the writer and the publishing journey that some could resonate with something to relate to. Why the one obstacle remains of the publishing is a mystery I can not figure out why that should be such a block. I have at least completed four books all done and ready to publish and put on a shelf on hold to not able, but disabled the available books not made available release for audience of readers, reserved and not available as of yet. I kept the books hidden from view. The creative part all done and completed. I have a strong fortress of protection to protect my intellectual property. In the story I wrote about the scammers and fraudulent violators to be found in the publishing maze and adopted into mini series of stories within stories. In this way I would give the readers a behind the scenes sneak peek reviews of coming attractions approach of special edition that people could resonate and relate to during these times. Scripts all done. That part of creative writing every day I can do and I am able to do.

Amanda Toney Hi Amanda, I’ve never suffered from writer’s block. For me, it’s just a case of knowing when to write and when to stop and do something else; read a book, watch a film, listen to some music.

Good question! A lot of ppl exercise (outdoors if possible), do laundry or dishes, organize… I find it best to do one of these things while watching, reading, or listening to a movie or book that’s in a completely different genre than my WIP. Sometimes listening to music helps too. Somehow this combination helps me back in creation mode.

Put down for a day. Listen to your favorite songs or exercise-something that gives you mental and physical peace and clarity. Listen to what is around you . The next day, think about what you have so far and where you want it to go. You have it in your head. Then read the last pages and visualize it. You should be able to start back again even if you tear up the sheet and start over. Everything needs a reset at some point. You got this !

To prevent writer's block, I figure out an ending to my story first. I am very definitive about that ending.. Then, I ask the question, "What is the story about ?" I give myself a definitive answer.

Then, I develop a character to put into the story.

I develop that character so that it can tell me how he, or she will deal with life. I am always thinking about those things. By the time I sit down and begin writing I know where I want go because I have been writing it in my head. For me writing is like packing for a vacation. You know where you are going. You know why you are going and you know what you are going to do when you get there. It's a journey and the character is your navigator. Can you dig it? I knew that you could.

I pretend I'm three, and everything is amazing. Eyes wide open, responding "Wow" to the most mundane, as if seeing it for the first time.

"Wow!" awakens brain cells adult-world-stupified,

"Wow!" forces you to smile (unlike 'cheese')..

"Wow!" stimulates dreams.

Ashley Renee Snith, I hope that you will read this.

I never had writer's block, and I wrote 68 books.

When I had an idea, I just sat at my computer and started writing whatever came to my head.

It may sound strange, but the characters did their own talking.

I did that until I reached the end,

Some books took a couple of months, though.

When I went to bed, the ideas rushed into my head.

When I was in the shower, more ideas came to me.

Writing absorbed me in every way.

The Zeeka Chronicles was easy to write.

I wrote series by series.

I thought after the third series that I had reached the end, but Zeeka spoke to me and told me he was not finished.

He wanted to return as a ghost to beg forgiveness from Steven Sharpe, whom he had kidnapped as a child. So I wrote the fourth series and closed my computer.

But Number Nine spoke to me and said he did not want me to close the book without a proper ending for him. That was the fifth series.

After that, none of my characters spoke to me, and I knew the book was finished.

Then I did a first edit and got my daughter to edit it again.

I cannot forget my seven-year-old grandson, who helped me to name the futuristic weapons and the Miracle Machine that healed Number Nine.

.

@Amanda Toney

“For me, writer’s block isn’t a lack of ideas, but often too much pressure. I’ve learned that the most useful thing is to keep writing, even if it’s bad. Sometimes I switch scenes, or focus only on the character’s emotions instead of the plot. Writer’s block is part of the process; it’s not something to avoid, but something to go through.”

Great post, Amanda Toney! Terrific responses here from our community! Sounding off as a screenwriter, I think writer's block shows up in different disguises. Don't just push through, identify which version of it you're in. See if these are familiar to anyone.

The wrong way method is when you're stuck because everything has to be "perfect". You keep rewriting the same sentence, deleting, second-guessing tone, dialogue, or structure. It's perfection paralysis. I write the worst possible version of the scene on purpose. This bypasses your "internal critic" and once the pressure to be perfect disappears, your natural instincts come back and start improving things organically.

The hijack is another writer's block version where you know what happens next, but it feels flat, forced, or predictable. Now this is my antidote, and it might sounds nuts, but stay with me. Interview your main character or a side character and ask them "what do you actually want right now that I’m not letting you do?" Then, rewrite the scene letting them make a bad or selfish choice. The hijack is often a symptom of control where you’re forcing plot over truth. Letting a character derail things injects surprise and authenticity.

Amanda Toney thank you, always a welcome reminder,

I have enjoyed really helpful results going out in nature

especially forest hiking and walking on the beach,

in fact I just moved to Fort Lauderdale Florida

finally living five blocks from the ocean,

it is a writer's residency I've aspired to and a

welcoming creative expansion!

For me, writer’s block is usually a signal that something earlier in the work isn’t fully settled.

Instead of forcing the next scene, I go back and work on what I’ve already written—tightening structure, fixing weak spots, or addressing anything that doesn’t feel right yet.

That shift in focus takes the pressure off moving forward, and more often than not, it clears the way. By the time I return to the current scene, I’m coming at it with better clarity and stronger ideas.

I’ve found that looking backward is often what gets me moving forward again.

Sometimes I face creative blocks while developing my crime-thriller story. I try to overcome it by focusing on characters and their motivations rather than forcing the plot.

Hi Amanda, to be honest, I’ve never really had writer’s block. What helped me was developing a process where ideas are captured early and allowed to mature before I start writing.I used to sit down hoping the ideas would come to my mind, but I’m not that smart :)

Over time I developed a process that works for me. In simple terms, whenever an idea comes up, I save it in whatever way I can. It might be a note, a sketch, a voice recording, whatever is available at the moment.

Then I let the idea mature. That part feels very natural to me. It’s a process of thinking and asking questions. I think that’s where the themes start to appear, along with conflicts between different ideas. From those conflicting ideas, the characters begin to emerge.

Once I start developing the characters, I begin thinking about and writing an outline, the events that happen in their lives. When I reach that stage, I start writing the script, because by then I already have the foundation. More ideas appear, and the narrative begins to take shape.

What sometimes happens is that certain ideas or projects stall because I haven’t yet managed to clearly identify the conflicts or work through the themes in a coherent way. I might write one or two scenes, and then either the story moves forward or it stays in that phase of thinking.

I often see it as writing a kind of philosophical argument, where the characters represent ideas, not just people. That helps shape the conflicts.

I don’t know if this works for everyone. I think each person has a process that works for them. But this is my process, and it has worked for me. When I finally sit down to write, the pieces are already there, within reach, actually already in my head. That makes the writing flow much more easily.

Sometimes it takes time, but the conflicts and the narrative eventually emerge. I never really stop thinking about it. I believe the work of a screenwriter is an intellectual process. Even when I’m not writing, I’m still thinking about the story, diving into the characters and letting the process lead me.

What I mean is that finding a process that respects your own intellectual capacity to produce and develop ideas, being fair and patient with yourself, and truly committing to what you want from the story is probably the ideal approach. There’s no point in forcing it. A good idea stays and grows. Others simply don’t.

I really relate to this process. I also believe strong characters and conflicts are the foundation of a powerful story. While working on my crime-thriller project, I’ve noticed that ideas become clearer when I focus on character motivations rather than forcing the plot. Letting ideas mature naturally definitely helps the narrative feel more real and engaging.

I Defeat Writer’s Block by Writing the Cliffhanger First

Hi Amanda,

I do face writing blocks. In such cases, I shift my focus to something else. Sometimes I dive into research or work on a different idea. But honestly, the block never fully leaves me—it stays in the back of my mind, and I keep thinking about it unconsciously. And often, that’s when clarity slowly finds its way back.

That’s a great approach. Starting with a cliffhanger gives a clear direction and strong emotional hook. In my crime-thriller writing, I’ve found that building tension from the ending point helps structure the entire narrative more effectively. Really interesting perspective.

Hi Amanda,

I do face writing blocks sometimes. When it happens, I usually shift my focus to research or another idea. But the block never really disappears—it stays in the background, and I keep thinking about it subconsciously. Interestingly, that’s often when clarity starts to come back and the story begins to take shape again.

How I deal with writer’s block? Honestly… I cry a little, go for long walks, and sometimes I don’t even touch the script for weeks—letting my brain marinate in peace. When I come back, I make sharp notes, get more precise, and somehow I always learn more than I expected.

Right now I’m working on a script called GO Live, which dives into parasocial relationships—the weird, messy ways people connect with online personas. It’s fascinating but tricky! The biggest challenge? Making the audience feel the tension without turning it into a lecture. Balancing intimacy and distance is tough, but that’s exactly what keeps me going through the blocks.

I really like this perspective. Taking a step back and letting the mind process things naturally can be very powerful. I’ve noticed that some of the best clarity comes after giving space to the story.

Your concept about parasocial relationships sounds very interesting, especially the challenge of balancing tension without making it feel like a lecture. That’s a very subtle and important aspect of storytelling.

Wishing you the best with GO Live — it sounds like a compelling project.

I don't have writer's block. I always have more than one thing cooking at a time, and like to hop between them. If something isn't working, I work to figure out why.

Writer's block doesn't exist, at least not the way most authors experience it.

The blank page isn't empty because the words won't come. It's empty because the foundation beneath the story wasn't built before the writing began.

Whether you're a pantser or plotter, when you know certain things and have answered specific questions before writing, you won't have to think about any of that, and what results happens in a natural, almost automatic way. Because it's all about structure.

If you know how to do something without thinking about any of the involved steps, drive to a familiar location, make your favorite sandwich, chat with a best friend, perform brain surgery, whatever, you're not stopping to ask directions or consult an instruction manual. Because you have foundational knowledge, so you don't need to.

Regardless of the story's premise, that story is going to have the perfect protagonist, antagonist, and supporting cast.

So, the single most important thing I do before writing any book or script is identify who the ideal protagonist is for that story, their strengths, weaknesses, quirks, phobias, hidden talents, name, ethnicity, religion, backstory, and everything else that makes them who they are. Then I do that for every primary and secondary character too.

As long as I identify why each character appears in a scene, what they want to accomplish, what happens if they fail, and what's the worst thing that can happen, I can write that scene from every character's point of view (POV) and keep whichever POV moves the story forward best.

And as I write, characters say or do things I never anticipated, because I already know what makes them tick. None of that has to be thought of or invented in the moment. And this is why it sometimes feels like the scenes write themselves.

This process isn't for everyone, but it works for me. I've been writing professionally since 1986, and I don't know everything about craft, and continue to learn something new about writing, publishing, formatting, and framing, because there's always something new to learn. And that's coming from someone who's written or co-authored seventeen books. Nine are published and seven are number one bestsellers, and I'm just getting started.

Yes, I have a master list of additional books I intend to write, but it's not about getting to write them all, it's about writing, finishing, and publishing the next one, scene-by-scene, and it all starts with the protagonist and other characters first.

And all without writer's block.

Here's to writing the best version of your content readers and audiences shall like, love, crave, and clamor for most.

If I have a deadline, I push through to make it happen. If not, I let it breathe for a while. I realized that going for a nice long walk at night helps me think the story through a lot, so when I'm back home I usually sit and start walking.

This is a very insightful perspective. I agree that having a strong foundation, especially in character development, makes the writing process much more natural.

When the protagonist and supporting characters are clearly defined, it becomes easier to understand how scenes should unfold and what drives the story forward.

Really valuable approach—thanks for sharing your experience.

It’s inspiring to see how structure and character depth can eliminate creative blocks.

I just fill the space with something inspiring, like music or conversation, and leave the writing for later.

I can relate to this. Finding the core message or the ending really shapes how everything else fits together.

Without that clarity, it’s difficult to know where each scene belongs. But once the direction is clear, the writing process becomes much smoother.

That “figuring it out” phase really seems like the foundation of the entire story.

What's called a "Writer's Block" is a mindset. If you fall for the concept, you'll always be a victim, and in our profession that translates to losing time that won't ever be compensated. What every writer should do is commit to writing every day, it's that simple. Whether it's 10 pages a day, one page a day, or even one line a day, what truly matters is to set a deadline and sit down and write every day.

I agree that consistency plays a huge role. Writing regularly, even in small amounts, helps build discipline and keeps the creative process active.

Setting a daily habit can make a big difference over time.

It’s really about showing up every day, regardless of how much gets written.

The 'Coming-of-age' genre combined with the tech element of 'New Light' sounds like a great mix. It's always interesting to see how past mistakes shape our future. Wishing you and the team huge success with 'Chasing Light'!"

Amanda Toney I don't really have to worry about that. I have so many ideas, I don't know what to write next sometimes. That's worse than writer's block. Because you're starting to second-guess yourself, is this what I should be writing? You can't write to the trends, that never works if you start writing and then fall out of love with it. Do you feel like you wasted your time?

Spot on, John! Writing to trends is a trap because by the time you finish, the trend has already moved on. If you don't love the story, the grind of finishing a script becomes impossible. It’s always better to write what excites you, like a gritty character-driven drama, than to follow a template

I switch between science and art. I find after a month of science I am dying to write creatively. Another post asked if i write better calm or emotional. I find i go into my art calm, it makes me emotional, it's expressing emotion. My own work makes me cry. It should do. It's my triggers. After that i need the calm boringness of science for a while, watching numbers in a terminal.

That balance between science and art is really interesting.

It makes sense how calmness can lead into creativity, and then creativity brings out deeper emotions. Switching between both seems like a powerful way to stay fresh.

Amanda Toney Writer’s block happens a lot, and it doesn’t mean you’re not a good writer. One way to get past it is to take a short break and give yourself some space. Freewriting without worrying about perfection can help ideas flow, or you can focus on a small scene, character, or piece of dialogue to gently get your momentum back.

I’m curious what part of your project is giving you the most trouble right now?

Naomi Parker I like that in your first line it speaks to the fact that we need to have self-compassion, and free ourselves from judging ourselves too harshly in that moment.

To preempt and cure writers block, I often keep returning to think about what in my character's backstory would influence what they do next. Even if I have to flesh out their backstory further to get the answer, by the end of the process I'll often be able to move forward.

That’s a great approach.

Going deeper into a character’s backstory really helps unlock their decisions and keeps the story moving naturally. I’ve noticed that in crime stories especially, those hidden motivations can shape the entire narrative.

Thanks Sachin Yadav, and that's such a true point about crime stories.

I go and do something else. I might make some notes as well.

That’s a great approach.

Taking a step back and making notes can really help clear the mind and bring fresh perspective when you return to the story.

Amanda Toney I think going for walks is a great way to combat writer's block. I think taking time away from the screen, going outside, really surcharges me in a way that is so powerful.

Writer’s block, for me, was a sign that the story hadn’t found its true form. 'Witch Mother' started as a historical drama about the Pendle witch trials. After struggling with the first act, I abandoned it for over a year. Then came an epiphany - literally came out of nowhere - it needed to be a horror film. I’d never written horror and was even afraid of it, but I followed that instinct, and the script went on to win the Stage 32 x Mammoth Pictures Search for New Blood competition!! Sometimes writer’s block is simply the story asking to be told in a different way.

I love wonderful success stories, Selma! I have a short story that one editor told me is begging to be a novel but I was just blocked over how to expand it. Then I was watching a goofy fantasy movie, and decided I could do better! That's what that story wants to be. And I am afraid of fantasy.

Hi Monette,

That’s actually a really inspiring way to break through writer’s block. Sometimes a story just needs the right spark to grow into something bigger. Turning a short story into a fantasy novel sounds like an exciting direction, even if fantasy feels a bit outside your comfort zone.

Many great stories begin exactly like that — a small idea that suddenly expands once the writer discovers the right world or tone for it. I hope the project continues to evolve the way you imagine it.

Wishing you the best with the novel!

Best,

Sachin

Hey, you never know, might become a movie instead! My novels tend to read like they're on the screen anyway.

That is one tough hump to get over. I picked up writer's block ten years ago and still have it.

Chad I wonder whether it's best just to accept it, that it will always be there and in rare moments you get to stay up through the night inspired. I've done that with my kids and my own writing too... I won't labour the metaphor... These days I find I have techniques to fight it. A fairly rigorous plan, one para then one page then 4 pages or whatever synopses, a units-of-action breakdown, preferably all those things in that order, and the best advice I was given was to leave it in a place where you can pick it up, leave yourself a kind of invitation to carry on. If you are tempted to finish something and leave yourself with a blank page/mind then maybe leave notes as to how you will continue. The fleshing out of those notes should give you some momentum rather than a stone-cold dead start.

Thanks, I appreciate it.

I think it never really leaves, we just learn to push through it.

That’s really solid advice. Leaving a “bridge” to come back to instead of a blank page makes a big difference. I’ve noticed even a small note can restart the momentum.

Appreciate the insight. It’s always helpful to hear different approaches to refining a script.

It's been proven that movement helps release hormones that boost creativity

Honestly, I’ve stopped treating writer’s block like something to “fight” and started treating it like a signal.

Most of the time, it’s not that the ideas are gone—it’s that something isn’t clicking yet. So instead of forcing words, I switch gears:

• I zoom in on a single moment instead of the whole story (one scene, one emotion, one line of dialogue)

• I change the format—notes, messy bullet points, even just vibes instead of full sentences

• I step away and feed the brain (music, visuals, random inspiration usually unlocks something)

• Or I write something completely unrelated just to get momentum back

Sometimes the best move isn’t pushing harder—it’s shifting perspective. Once that pressure drops, the flow usually comes back naturally.

I like this perspective. Treating writer’s block as a signal rather than a problem makes a big difference. Focusing on a single moment has helped me unlock ideas too.