I believe that the same, wonderful part of our brains that brings us our creativity is the identical engine that also helps give us anxiety; both experiences give us a sensory input of a variety of possibilities.
When these thoughts are creative they can be quite magical and help piece together our ideas – but at the same time the human animal has evolved over millions of years to be a survivor, and at a certain point anxiety became a positive safety mechanism for pre-thinking possibilities of outcomes that might be dangerous to us. Literally, complacent animals died, whereas those that learned to think about negative possibilities avoided disaster and survived. We have inherited this mechanism (which seems more potent the more creative you are). In a way, this kind of probing of dark thoughts are really trying to help you avoid difficult outcomes. But when our creative engine turns to dark, negative thoughts like “wow, you’ll never be able to write anything good”, or “you’re wasting your time” or “this idea will be rejected left right and center” – those versions are not usually helpful.
Optimistically, stress is normal. In fact it was designed to be a good thing. Everybody has it, you are not alone. Some of your best feelings and instincts can actually protect you.
I find when I am pitching, my fight-or-flight adrenaline actually speeds up my thinking, and I’ve gotten used to being sharper and more successful as a result. Writer’s block is not your personal failing. The term wouldn’t exist if it didn’t frequently happen to all writers. It is normal, and sometimes solutions are quite simple. Walk away and let your mind fill in the blanks. Or (I’ve seen this advocated successfully) set out to write a “piece of crap” and let the words come out of your body, uncritically. Trying to be perfect is impossible, which is why you block. Truthfully, writing comes in layers. and getting any piece of work out of yourself allows you to go on to edit and successfully tune it.
Sometimes discussing the feelings that make you anxious with people you trust can make those feelings much more manageable as you transfer the anxieties out of that brewing storm in your head into words, crystalizing the real issues that are troubling you and helping you find your way to solutions for them. Don’t be embarrassed to share the blues with others. That’s what friends are for, and they’ll frequently value that you trust them with your feelings.
The great thing about anxiety is that it is almost exactly the same thing as excitement; only a tiny switch in our heads makes it one or the other. When you regard anticipated events that are making you anxious as an adventure – a choice to experience new, unique, and perhaps the slightly uncomfortable – that choice changes anxiety into excitement. We are designed to enjoy being challenged. We get satisfaction from overcoming our fears. We are not designed to shut off our feelings – it is impossible, even though people try it with many systems such as drugs, alcohol, avoidance, and mind-games. The truth is we can only channel our instincts and we should do so with courage. And if you concentrate on the value of your goal, I find it is much easier to change anxiety into excitement.
The best screenwriting tips that I ever had were from Sylvester Stallone, who said when he got blocked he just told himself to write anything, and found that he pretty soon got back to flowing with his scripts – and my partner, John Watson, who says it is not as complicated as it usually seems, that you should just go forward. Your brain is designed to help you sort it out.
About the Author: Get more screenwriting tips at . Pen Densham reveals his emotional philosophies and professional secrets, plus insights from his company, Trilogy Entertainment Group
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