Inspired or Tired? – By Nathan Williams

Home » Inspired or Tired? – By Nathan Williams

Inspired or Tired? – By Nathan Williams

A blacksmith walks into a bar. He spends the whole night drowning his sorrows on the account that the love of his life left him because she won’t believe that he’s actually a time traveller that got sent back to 1885 due to a lightning storm accident. Quiz time! Is this A) My original idea for a film? B) A bad Joke? Or C) A scene from Back to the Future Part 3? Well done ten points to you, it’s C…and if I had to be honest with myself, it’s also B as well. My point is that creating original ideas out of thin air can be tough. The blank page just stares at you with this ‘I dare you not to use tippex’ look that can leave you paralysed! Writer’s block, The death knell.

Never fear, hopefully by the end of this article you’ll have some handy tips at your disposal that will allow you to laugh mockingly at that blank page and begin writing out your masterpiece. Someone important once said ‘There is no such thing as an original idea anymore’ and in a way that important person has a point however that doesn’t mean that you should shy away from trying. Another important person, the Greek philosopher Heraclitus said You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you’ so in other words, it doesn’t matter that filmmakers have been in and out of that zombie river for decades because by the time you step in, the waters (your ideas) will be different to the last person that was in their fishing for that killer script. Some of the best ideas out there can inspire you; let them help you mould your thoughts into something brand new.

 

“But I don’t know anything about anything, I have no ideas!” I hear you cry. Rubbish! When you start to brainstorm ideas together, think about what you know, what excites you, what interests you, your observations, all these things can be picked up from your life like food from a buffet table, just take what you want from each tray and move on. Maybe you’re next door neighbour always cuts his lawn at 3pm on a Saturday- Why? Is he a machine programmed to do it to look normal? What will happen if the grass overgrows?

 

Look at your community or your school, I mean really look at it; start to take note of all the little things that happen and the mannerisms of the people you meet. Your community may have a thousand and one things happening throughout the year that you’re completely oblivious to because you’re not looking. It could be a social group, a sports club, a charity, music festivals, traditions that have been part of your community for as long as it’s existed-all these things could be the start of writing a truly original idea.

 

I will leave you with this thought; Open your eyes and have a look around, because if you’re not looking you won’t see anything. Once you have your idea, share it with a friend and please please please do not be precious and protective over it. Ideas and thoughts are free flowing like the river I mentioned, if you stop the flow then you’ll never get to the end.

 

Nathan Williams

The Rural Media Company

Digital Media Worker

www.shootout.org.uk

By | 2021-01-31T08:50:34+00:00 January 26th, 2013|Uncategorized|4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. southeast May 26, 2013 at 5:59 am

    My brother suggested I may like this blog. He was entirely right. This submit actually made my day. You can not believe simply how so much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

  2. Nathan Williams June 24, 2013 at 10:27 pm

    no worries, glad to be of help!

  3. modus operandi July 28, 2013 at 7:28 am

    I’m searching to get a competent author, extended time in this location. Exceptional article!

  4. Nathan Williams August 19, 2013 at 8:26 am

    Thank you very much for those kind words.

Comments are closed.