screenwriting

Being A Writer Is Not Easy, But Don’t Give Up

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Some of my friends told me they wanted to give up on their writing career. I know that they have been working very hard for more than 15 years. They wrote screenplays and published some novels. Yet, they don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.

They feel like giving up.

It’s understandable. Burnouts, disappointments, and rejections can drive you to the point where you feel like letting go of your dreams. (See post: How to Recover From Burnout) Especially now when competition is tougher than ever.

Myself, 17 years ago, I gave up on my writing. And I tell you what, during that time, I felt as alive as a zombie in The Walking Dead. Dead inside.

Being a writer is tough. Chasing our dreams is hard but it’s also the only way to feel alive. So before you take a reckless decision, please let me give you 10 things you could try to have your mojo back.

1. Let The Bad Momentum Play itself Out

When it rains it pours. When I lost my home, my country and became homeless, I also got sick and soon after, my husband passed away. Indeed, when it rains, it pours. Yet, what saved me was my work and my writing. 

Putting all my rage and my despair on paper somehow kept me alive. I surrendered to the process of writing and somehow it made it feel slightly more bearable.

Surrender to your despair, to your sadness, to your fatigue. Don’t internalize it, it’s the worst thing you could do – it will soon become some kind of physical disease. So express it, write it and WAIT.

When you have a bad momentum, don’t fight against it. Instead surf the wave, let it take you where it wants. Don’t swim against the current, you’ll lose. Instead wait until it brings you to that peaceful beach.

2. Rest Is Success

I read a fantastic book that should be taught in every school: Why we sleep by Dr Matthew Walker. He explains how detrimental lack of sleep is to our body, mind and spirit such as:

  • Depression
  • Heart attack
  • Diabetes
  • It causes accidents
  • Obesity
  • Ageing etc…

Sleeping is far more important than you think. Do yourself a favor and have a minimum of 8-9 hours sleep. Go to bed early, have a nap. After a week, I promise you, you’ll feel stronger mentally and physically.

And more importantly, you’ll be more creative.

3. Find Out What Trigger This Feeling

Once rested, it’s time to reflect on what made you feel this way. Be honest with yourself. What triggered it?

A rejection?  A nasty comment online? An unexpected bill? A launch that didn’t work (again)?

Trace back what caused your misery and expose it to the light.

Now answer this question: Will it matter in five years time? If the answer is no, brush it off. 

4. Do Something Else

Maybe you’re sick of your writing, you don’t feel excited about it anymore. I tell you what: it’s time to try something new.

The idea is to give you a proper break. Trying something new will create new neuropathways and will excite your brain cells. You’ll feel a bit more upbeat. 

Soon enough, you’ll get an epiphany while doing paddling, martial art or painting. 

5. Go On A Social Media Detox

I ditched my Instagram. I also switched off ALL my notifications, and deleted most of the apps on my phone.

Do you know what happened?

My stress level went right down. Now, I’m only checking my phone when I’m ready for it and not when I’m told to do so.

So liberating!

6. Inject 5 Fun Things To Enjoy Everyday

Tell me the truth, is your life full of duties?

If so, it’s not surprising that you want to give up.

If you don’t plan some kind of reward in your day, your life will soon become like in The Shining: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy“.

Here is the secret though: you have to plan it. If you don’t, I promise you, you’ll do another duty because there is always something to do.

It can be anything you want but it has to be fun FOR YOU.  The idea is to plan each day, five things that makes you happy. You’ll get your motivation back sooner than you think.

7.Walk

Walking is the best sport you could ever do.

It increases your energy levels, improves your mood, your memory and sleep, maintains a healthy weight, reduces stress, strengthens your immune system and so on…

Start with 10 minutes a day and increase the duration after a while. 

It will make a huge difference to your health and creativity.

8.Take It One Step At A Time

Now let’s talk about your writing goals.

The key is this : One step at a time.

This is crucial. Take baby steps. 

When Stephen King was asked: ‘How do you write?’ He replied: ‘One word at a time‘. 

Simple. It’s okay to dream big but in terms of daily action, it’s best to have small, manageable, happy goals. 

If I tell you, write the best screenplay ever now! Your body and mind will shut down automatically.

Now if I tell you: write a scene, AND it doesn’t have to be good, you have the right to get it wrong but just write it. I’m pretty sure you can do that without a sweat. If you do that everyday, you have the first draft of your screenplay finished in two or three months.

Don’t make perfection a goal. Instead, make daily action a habit.

9.Take Imperfect Action

This one is my favorite mantra. This is the first thing my friend and co-writer Kary Oberbrunner taught me and it changed my life. Take imperfect action.

You don’t need to know all the answers, you don’t need to look perfect, you don’t need to be the best writer in the world.  You just need to show up and be yourself.

Do you want results? Do one action a day towards your goal. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it has to be regular.

The more actions you take, the more opportunities you get. It’s not witchcraft, it’s science.

10.Success Is An Accumulation Of Small Powerful Moments One After Another

When you look at people who succeeded, they didn’t get successful overnight.

It takes a long time to build a career.   

It doesn’t matter when you started writing. My point is these people kept practicing again and over again. They accumulated mini-wins one after another. So don’t look at the big picture. Aim for the mini wins. That’s what makes the difference.

One last word… Writing is an adventure. When we read a book or watch a film, we’re looking for answers to this question: How do you survive in this society?

Of course, we don’t say that out loud to ourselves but this is what we’re looking for.

We also write to understand ourselves and others. And we also write to give our understanding of life to others. It’s an important mission. It’s a calling. So don’t give up on it please, the world needs you.

Ps: I would like to dedicate this post to one of my faithful reader, Patricia, who kindly sent me a very nice email. I replied but my email bounced back. I wish you to get better soon.

Bonus

Here some mantras you could use to get your mojo back:

  • I am doing my best
  • My possibilities are endless
  • I have the power to create change
  • There are endless opportunities around me
  • Everything happens for a reason
  • I am exactly where I need to be
  • Small steps are also progress, great things take time 

How To Write Unfiltered Characters

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how to write unfiltered characters
Image by Rudy & Peter Skitterians at Pixabay

All types of characters are necessary to make a story interesting. The more diverse, the better. Today the light is on the Unfiltered Character.

The Unfiltered Character

Unfiltered characters are often direct and surprise us by their honesty.

When most people spend their lives pleasing others in order to avoid any form of confrontation, unfiltered characters do the complete opposite.

And that’s refreshing. Cathartic even.

In other words, they don’t care about what other people think and we love them for that. Furthermore, we would love to be like them.

What would it take to write one?

1- Make them ANGRY and REBELLIOUS.

One of the traits that an unfiltered character may have is anger.

They might be angry at society, at themselves or both.

Usually well educated, they observed the world through special lenses. They see what other people don’t see or choose to ignore.

Concretely, if you want to make your angry unfiltered characters react, create a box for them. Soon enough you’ll get a reaction, as they won’t fit in.

Sometimes, they’re not angry but they know themselves enough to know what they like and don’t like. For example, they know that hypocrisy is not their thing.

In addition to that, they hate time wasters. Small talks, meaningless conversations aren’t for them so if you want to annoy an unfiltered character in your story, create a chatty character that has nothing else to do than listen to his/her own voice. You’ll then create a nice conflict between them.

The downside of being an unfiltered character is they often feel lonely. However, they much prefer to be a loner than being with bad company.

Image by Trifo13 at Pixabay

For this type of character, Jess in Gilmore Girls played by the talented Milo Ventimiglia is a good example. Jess is a young man, full of anger, coming from a dysfunctional family.

He’s also the bad boy that good girls normally like. Bad boys are attractive because a sense of excitement comes with them. However what is interesting about Jess is the fact that he loves books, philosophy and is extremely intelligent. The unfiltered bad boy turns out to challenge everyone around him. And we love him for that of course.

I found this extract on YouTube that you could check;  an interaction with Jess and his uncle Luke (also an unfiltered character by the way).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7zsNFE0C2I

2- Make them TALENTED and BLUNT

Sometimes unfiltered characters aren’t angry. They don’t have time for it.

Instead, they need to focus on their mission and can’t afford any distraction. 

They know what they are good at, and dealing with people is not one of them. And oh! Don’t we like them too!

These kinds of characters can be funny to watch because they appear blunt or even mean.

 ‘I don’t do people’ is often their motto.

There is a reason for it. Often badly hurt, this type of unfiltered character prefers to concentrate on their mission in life rather than face their own emotions. In fact, they do everything to avoid interactions for that single purpose: self protection.

Can anyone relate?

For this type of character, I have in mind the character of Mina, the beautiful surgeon in The Resident, played by Shaunette Renée Wilson. 

Watch this extract to understand what I mean:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3jRF3HNWyM

3- Make them AUTHENTIC and CYNICAL.

The cynic can be either way funny or scary depending on the genre.

The cynic has often a dark vision of life. He/She asks questions that nobody wants to answer. He talks about a subject that nobody wants to think about, he tells a truth that no one wants to hear.

Truth is unsettling, isn’t it?

Characters like these make you feel uneasy because they make you think hard on the meaning of life . As they question life and relationships, they mirror our own insecurities.

Jamie in The Sinner, played brilliantly by Matt Bomer, came to my mind for this type of unfiltered character.

Please do not watch this extract if you are under age and if you are sensitive, this extract has strong language and violence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyOk7p30Iwo

4. Make them FUNNY and RUDE

On a lighter note, an unfiltered character can be incredibly funny, simply by contrasting  with the other ‘normal characters’.

While saying out loud what everybody thinks is a great ingredient for your story, being rude to other characters is great for comedies. If you need to add a bit of humor in your story, this is the kind of character that you definitely need.

Let’s take the example of Michel, the (amazing) grumpy concierge in Gilmore Girls played by Yanic Truesdale.

https://youtu.be/CNjJZokmqkE

Thank you for reading x

Step by Step Easy Business Plan for Artists & Writers

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Photo by Jess Bailey @ Pixabay

Why would you spend time on a business plan?  Probably because it’s the first step to take your artistic career seriously.

‘A goal without a plan is just a wish’ Antoine de St Exupéry

If you’re driving, unsure of the roads to take, you have great probabilities to get lost. But if you have planned your journey, chances are, you will reach your destination.

Of course, sitting down trying to forecast projects and numbers can be quite daunting. This is why I have prepared a business template for Artists and Writers super easy for you.

Step 1: Only Do Projects that Give You a High

If you know you’re going to be working on halfhearted projects, you’ll end up discouraged and will not finish them.

In other words, your projects should excite you. They should be in alignment with your purpose. They should make you FEEL GOOD. 

‘’Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything’’ Napoleon Hill

Step 2: Don’t Overload Your Business Plan

It’s tempting to cram many projects in one year but it can also be a great factor for giving up everything.

Only three to four big projects a year seem more manageable. Do only one project at a time, so you can stay fully focused on it and thus you become more efficient.

Moreover, the other reason for not overloading your business plan is to have enough room for FUN.

‘Always leave enough time in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, even joyous.  That has more of an effect on economic well-being than any other single factor.’ Paul Hawken.

It will also fuel your creativity in amazing ways.

Step 3: Visualize the Outcome But Don’t Focus On It

 ‘Intention is one with cause and effect. Intention determines outcome. And if you’re stuck and not moving forward, you have to check the thought and action that created the circumstance’. Oprah Winfrey.

While it is crucial to visualize your end goal and feel the good vibrations of the finish product, don’t focus exclusively on the outcome. The outcome is not up to you. Of course, it’s nice to imagine being a bestselling author but you won’t be able to control the buying of your books. Your audience will decide if they’re going to buy or not.

Your job is to make an amazing product. Visualize a happy outcome but focus on your day to day task, to make this project wonderful and irresistible.

Step 4: Take Action and Show Up Everyday

You must hear it, read it, and see it all the time: Take action.

Easier said than done, right?

When we’re ready to rock and roll often Procrastination kicks in. Not nice. Suddenly we don’t feel like working on our projects, and we end up doing something else, such as watching TV for instance, feeling bad about ourselves.

Here is my one million dollar trick: Take action for FIVE minutes a day. Too much? OK then, try ONE minute a day.

Each time I don’t feel like writing, I tell my brain: ‘OK, let’s do this for one minute.’ 

Next thing I know, I worked on that thing for an hour.

This is as simple as that.

Step 5: Be Kind to Yourself

Even if your inner voice is shouting: ‘You’re not good enough’ make a point to do it anyway. Override that nasty voice with some feel good music and get on with whatever you’ve got to do.

Make sure you take care of your whole being too: soul (meditate), mind (read) and body (exercise).  It’s all connected and intertwined.  

Allow yourself to have some time off too, to recharge your batteries. I’ve seen it many times, I’ve been there myself. Burnout is real. It’s horrible.

Being nice to yourself also means to be ruthless with distractions. Since I turned off all my notifications, I feel much calmer. Okay I admit it, sometimes I’m missing some messages on the spot but my pulse stays stable. I look at my messages or my emails when I’m ready to do so, not while I’m working.

Also don’t beat yourself up when you fail.

‘Every adversity, even failure, every heartache, carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit’ napoleon Hill

Failure is part of success. If you look at the people who succeeded, they all had a big disappointment. They didn’t let failure define them. They cried and carried on.

Life happens. Sometimes a life event might disturb your plan. Take one thing at a time.  Take a break from everything. All you need to do is re-adjust your plan for the future, that’s all.  Trust in the process of creation and its perfect timing.

Intense belief + Firm intention + Intense dedication: Manifesting your desires.

Wishing you my best wishes for your creative plans.

It’s Time To Shine Your Light

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Photo by Colin Behrens @ Pixabay

I have never liked January and its New Year resolutions time.  I don’t see the point. Each year is what you DAILY make it… for 365 days.

Many times, I saw people making plans and giving them up after a few weeks…

‘Man makes plans… and God laughs’ wrote the Author and Screenwriter Michael Chabon.

Why do we expect so much from ourselves?

Is it to justify our presence on Earth?

Answers are often found in Nature

I often find answers in Nature.

I love observing Nature around me, trees especially. In shamanism, they are called ‘The Plant people and the Standing People’.

Trees grow tall and strong knowing their purpose. They don’t ask themselves ‘What should I do with my life?’

They just are. They exist and make the world better (by providing oxygen for instance).

Us, the human kind, we have a brain and a heart. With these gifts, we should know what to do. Yet, we probably are the only species on Earth wondering what our purpose is.

Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay

Life is Chaos

Life is chaos.

I know what I’m talking about. Within two years, I lost my home, my beloved country, some close friends, my dignity, and my husband.  None of these events were planned or thought. None of these things were part of my ‘plan’. They just happened to me.

Yes, life is chaos and any form of co-creation (coming from the heart) is a way to express or explain this chaos.  

When you lose it all, you see everything clearly.

First you see who are ‘your allies’, to quote my dear friend and mentor Lucy V. Hay (Bang2Write).  The allies are the ones who pick you up when you fall but also help you to fight back. ‘You can’t do without them’, she says. She is right. As always.

My other Friend and mentor, Kary Oberbrunner, wrote it in his life-changing book Unhackable that there are three types of people:

The Consumer, the critic, the creator.

The consumer consumes, probably to feed their emptiness with stuff.

The critic critics. Spotting the mistakes in others reassures them.

And Creators create. To me, this type is never reassured. They try, they test, and stumble often but they know their purpose. When creators let go of expectations, they become unrestricted and inspiring.

Simplicity

When you hit rock bottom, your needs become simple: food, shelter and love.

If you have those three things in your life, it’s a blessing. Millions of people on Earth do not have that.

When you fall, you realised that friends and family are what count in life.

On your death bed, the number of zeros on your bank account or your job title will do nothing for you. People make the difference.

People you love are the ones who are going to make your life meaningful.

Pilot Light Writing

That’s why I have changed the name of my website. It used to be called Inside the Writers Bubble but I felt quite lonely inside my bubble.

My friend and Shaman Catherine Maguire (https://www.inlightenment.it/) said to me,’ your gift is to light other people’s light, you’re a pilot light’. From there, another dear friend – the author Sally Bibb and my brother-in-law – Daniel helped me to put the pieces together.

And that’s how Pilot Light Writing is born.

We can’t do it on our own.

I am not interested in consuming or criticising.

I’m interested in bringing love into everything I do, so I can help other people who love what they do, to shine too.

We can’t get rid of the darkness or the shadow in this world. We can only bring light inside it.

So be shiny my friend. x

This post is dedicated in loving memory of my late husband, who will be missed forever.

Candle Image by Andreas Lischka from Pixabay

Interview with Phil Clarke

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Phil Clarke (aka Philmscribe) is a UK-based script consultant and screenwriter with over twenty years service to cinema.

After years working at the coal face of film on such features as Sleepy Hollow, Enigma, The Beach and two of the biggest box office franchises: Star Wars and Harry Potter, Phil turned to writing – both for the page and the screen. His screenplays have been optioned both in the UK and Hollywood and his books have been published worldwide.

 
Sophie: Phil, thank you so much for accepting this interview.

Phil: Pleasure!

Sophie: Why is it so important for a screenwriter to work with a consultant?

Phil: It’s that vital second pair of eyes. Writers of their own work often are unable to see the wood for the trees. They are understandably too close to the project. Consequently, they only have a subjective view of the story and script. Someone who has no affiliation or attachment to the project but who has demonstrable industry experience and has made it their career to learn about screencraft and has helped countless others can provide that all-important objective viewpoint. 
 
When a novelist attached to a publisher releases a book, it’s not published sight unseen. It’s checked, proofread, edited, revised. Often an editor is assigned to the author who works with them to tighten, clarify, hone the story’s telling. Why should screenplays be any different?

Sophie: You often say that the writer’s voice is important, why?

Phil: First, let me try to explain what the writer’s voice is, for those who might not be aware…. It’s the overall style of the writing. How the writer phrases a sentence, communicates story aspects to the reader. Word choice, tone setting etc. For instance, we can tell the difference between reading a book by Stephen King and one by Hilary Mantel… and not just from the contrasting genres. 
 
And the key reason why the writer’s voice is so vital is that producers and production companies aren’t solely looking for that one-off project; they’re seeking a writer with a clear, assured, fresh writing style. Why? Because even if they don’t particularly go for the script, they may think you’re perfect for another project they have on the pile. So essentially, your spec script is a calling card for you as a writer. It’s a writing sample. This is how many professional screenwriters get their break. 

Sophie: Do you think screenplays competitions are still worth it? And if yes, which ones? Which events a screenwriter should attend?

Phil: Some are, for sure. Although you do need to place highly. At the end of the day, you need to ask yourself why you’re entering a script contest. Do you want to get your script optioned or sold, get it in front of those who can actually make your project? Or do you just want an ego boost? Many writers, if they’re truly honest with themselves, just want the latter. They want to get that First Place or Honorable Mention award even if it’s from Backwater Nowhereville Script Competition. But it’s not really worth anything. These small script contests can’t offer a way in, can’t truly link you to the people who are willing to stump up the dollars to option or make your project. 
 
And while we’re on the subject of script contests: please watch out for script contests’ free feedback incentive. As a freelance script consultant of many years standing, I have seen countless examples of this “free” feedback sent to me from confused clients. It’s as if they’ve not really read the pages. And often those that are hired to provide these ultra-brief notes aren’t experienced enough to give such notes. You don’t know who you’re getting them from, so why should you trust what they say? Another reason why you should seek out a reputable script consultant who has proven industry nous, who has a face, a name, an identity you can talk to rather than “free” feedback (which isn’t free as you’ve paid to submit your screenplay!)
 
Here’s a list of the good guys when it comes to script comps. But beware: these are tough to win. If you do manage to place highly in these, then you should give yourselves a pat on the back as you’ll likely get a very solid shot at becoming a pro within the industry. 
 
Nicholl Fellowship
Final Draft Big Break
Screencraft
Page
Bluecat
Script Pipeline
Austin
Scriptapalooza
Save the Cat Screenwriting Competition
Image by olilynch @ Pixabay

Sophie: Who is/was your mentor and what has she/he taught you?

Phil: I never had one single individual who acted as a mentor; it was more of a collective. The years spent working for movie productions, on the sets of major films, seeing first-hand how the likes of Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, George Lucas, Chris Columbus, Michael Apted did their thing was a huge learning experience for me. I was fortunate to closely shadow Chris Columbus on the first two Harry Potter films, was with him on-set, in the rushes theatre watching dailies, in the production office, in editing, and accompanied him to all departments during principal photography and this priceless level of access – not to mention having the chance to bend his ear and get his take on filmmaking and writing and having him read my early work – allowed me to fully understand the filmmaking and script development processes.

I’ll never forget the best piece of advice he gave me. At the time, I was poring over paradigms and screenwriting formulae, and when I asked him about the validity of these, he turned to me and said: “Just write an entertaining story.” It was his way of telling me not to rely on these overworked plot structures, but focus on telling a story that entertains. If you can do this honestly, then you’re on the right track.

Image by qimono @ Pixabay

Sophie: What inspires you?

Phil: Great writing. Indomitable perseverance. Plucky underdogs. Unwavering self-belief. Beautiful cinematography. Effortless prose. Unyielding passion. 

Sophie: Which screenplay do you wish you had written?

Phil: Oooh good question!  Hard to pick just one.  Those that come to mind right now — Se7en. Back To The Future. Raiders of the Lost Ark.  There are also some I wish I’d written as I feel I’d have taken them in a different direction… but out of respect, I think I’ll keep these to myself!

Sophie: What is the project that challenged you the most? How did you get through it?

Phil: That’s a tough one to answer. I can’t really go into specifics about a particular script, but consistently the projects that tend to challenge me the most are those for which I’ve been hired to perform an Anglicisation Edit. I do have quite a number of writers who don’t count English as their first or main language but have written in this tongue and wish for me to improve the authenticity of their dialogue and action. This can be quite the task, particularly when the writer’s intention isn’t clear. Consequently, there is a lot of back and forth to establish intention so I can communicate exactly what the writer requires. 

Sophie: What do you do when you get stuck on your writing?

Phil: Ask questions. Work out WHY I am stuck. What am I struggling with. Then study the answers I’ve come up with and within these should be the way forward on how to get unstuck. Sounds simplistic, but it works. 

Image by Lukasbieri @Pixabay

Sophie: Are you writing at the moment? Can you tell us something about it?

Phil: I’m always writing. Whether it be lengthy reports on scripts, script commissions, polishing other people’s projects, rewriting, creative email correspondence, articles on writing etc etc… But I assume you mean, writing my own creative projects. The answer’s yes though only when I can spare the time as my clients’ work comes first, always. Right now, I’m doing some major world-building on an ambitious time travel idea. That’s about all I can say right now.

Sophie: If you could share one secret about screenwriting, what would it be?

Phil: These days, I don’t believe there are any secrets about screenwriting. There is no magic formula to success, no shortcut to making it. You just need to do the hard graft, keep practising, keep honing your craft, work on your storytelling abilities and writing style and build that portfolio of solid, engaging, entertaining work. Secrets suggest there’s some kind of hidden way, that all the people who have made it and are working in the industry are aware of it and aren’t sharing. Not so. 

As well as a writer for hire, Phil works as a script consultant; his clients have won or placed highly at major script competitions, had their projects optioned, while others have gone on to be produced, the best debuting at Cannes.
 
He can often be found spouting screenwriting advice or talking all things film on social media via @philmscribe on Twitter & Instagram, www.facebook.com/philmscribeconsultancy and writes an occasional newsletter packed with writing tips, news, interviews and exclusive offers that goes out free to all subscribers (known as Philmscribers!) – those who are interested can sign up at the bottom of any page of his website: www.philmscribe.com 

7 Ways To Boost Your Writing Session

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OK. You have a few minutes ahead to write something. Great!
Except that you don’t know where to start and you are staring at a blank screen.
Not good.

So today, I have put together some tricks that could give you the little push that you need to get that writing done.

1- Write In Front Of Your Audience

Robert Cialdini, who wrote the excellent Pre-Suasion, A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade, explains that his best writing is often produced when he sits behind a window watching people passing by, rather than at his quiet desk.
 
Bernard Werber (French novelist), who writes a bestseller a year, always starts his day writing at his favorite café in Paris. Not only does it keep him away from procrastination but it also inspires him to write for the audience that he has in front of him.
 

Watching people passing by (i.e. your target audience) is far better than writing on your own. It also increases the chances of your book, screenplay or play being bankable. 

2 - Match Your Writing With Music

In Pre-Suasion, Cialdini also explains a marketing experiment: When supermarkets play French music, French wine sales increase. Strange? Not so much once you know that everything around us influences our subconscious.
 
Knowing that fact, why not use it to your advantage? Are you writing a drama? Have you tried writing while listening to Max Richter?
 
If Fantasy is more your thing, have you tried listening to mystical forest music?
 
Find the music that works for you and you’ll definitely notice a change in your writing.
 
Music increases the level of dopamine in our bodies and also taps into the deepest emotions held in our subconscious. And as writers, that’s exactly what we need: feel and create deep emotions.
 

3 - The Zeigarnik Effect

Another tip that I have learned from Cialdini (and this one is priceless), is The Zeigarnik effect:
Never finish a writing session at the end of a paragraph. Why?
 
Because the brain doesn’t like unfinished tasks.
Finish the paragraph half way through, it will nag you until you get to the end.
So don’t allow yourself to finish it until your next writing session, it’s the best way to get back on it the following day.
 

4 - Don't Wait For The Inspiration To Come

 
I got this tip from one of my favorite anti-self-help book: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson.
 
When the task is huge, we don’t even know where to start. And often, because of that, we don’t start at all (and beat ourselves up for it).
 
Mark Manson offers the best formula against it:
 

Action → Inspiration → Motivation

If you have no inspiration, don’t sit and think about it, start writing. Start typing. Do some research, work on it.
 
Even if you don’t know what you are doing. The simple fact of working on it will generate the right ideas to show up in your head.
 
So forget inspiration, start without it. Trust me, that’s when it shows up!
 

5 - The Power of Mini Goals

The brain is not good with long term goals. The further it is set in the future, the more likely you’ll become demotivated. I am not suggesting you shouldn’t have long term aspirations, I am simply saying pave your long term plan with small, easy and achievable goals in between.
 
After the achievement of your mini-goal, celebrate and reward yourself. Even if the world around you doesn’t find it impressive. Who cares? The most important thing is what you think.
 

6 - Do Something Else

It’s very often when we decide to give up temporarily that great ideas come to us. Doing the washing up, playing guitar or walking the dog are great for writer’s block. Reading about different topics from your story is also a great way to feed the project that you are working on. Although it may seem unrelated, your brain will make a way to establish a connection with your writing and unlock a new set of ideas.
 
So read this book on the origins of Jujitsu or binge watch The Leftovers, Peaky Blinders or The Affair. Even though you think you are not working, don’t worry because your brain is!
 

7 - Don't Put Yourself Down And Don't Aim for Perfection

It’s always when we are ready to write that comes this nasty little voice inside our head telling us that what we are writing is irrelevant, useless or pointless. Don’t listen to it. Don’t. Because if you do, you’ll get nothing done. Overcome it by telling yourself that surely, somewhere on the planet someone will like it and keep writing.
 
Good luck!