Hi Reader,

Since getting back from vacation, I’ve been thinking a lot about one simple idea: writers need input before they can keep producing output.

Sure, it sounds obvious, but I think a lot of us forget it.

We spend months writing, rewriting, outlining, editing, solving story problems, and trying to make the next project better than the last one. And if you're anything like me, then eventually, you start drawing from the same creative well.

Sooner or later, that well gets low. But there's are proven ways to refill it!

Your creative library needs new material

For almost a month, I moved through London, Croatia, and Rome, and when I came home, it was with way more than just photographs.

New sights, sounds, faces, experiences, rhythms of speech, architecture, smells, tastes, textures... New moments I wouldn’t have noticed if I had stayed home. And all of those things are now part of my creative vocabulary.

Let's face it, every time you create a character, location, or scene, you are drawing from something - a memory, a person you once met, a place you once visited, a conversation you overheard, or even just a feeling you remember.

The more life you experience, the more material you have available!

Good character work starts with observation

One of the things travel is great for is reminding you how different people really are. Put ten people in the same situation and you'll get ten completely different reactions.

And it's those reactions that tell you something about character. They shouldn't all respond to pressure the same way, and their choices should reveal who they are.

Dialogue works the same way

Travel also reminds you that people speak differently - and I don't mean accents or language. Some people are blunt, while others are polite. Some speak in long stories, and some barely speak at all. Some use humor when they’re nervous. Others hide what they feel. And yet others say exactly the wrong thing at exactly the wrong time.

That kind of observation can make your dialogue come alive. You stop thinking only in terms of what information needs to be said.

Rather, you consider how this specific person would say it.

You don’t need to go far

The good news is that you don’t need a three-week trip overseas to get this kind of reset. You can get it from:

• a museum
• a day trip
• a neighborhood you’ve never explored
• a local festival
• a train ride
• a historic building
• a park
• a gym
• even an afternoon people-watching in a café

The point is to change your input. See something unfamiliar. Hear something new.

Give your brain something different to work with.

Sometimes, writer’s block isn't due to a lack of talent or ideas. Maybe it's that your brain is just tired of seeing the same thing.

A creative recharge can give you energy, - and even better, new material!

Here's my latest video, which goes into more detail on this important subject.

🎥 Watch the full video here: Why You Need A Creative Reset (Before You Burn Out)​

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And if you want help with your screenplay - on a human level, and from an experienced writer and story coach, then click one of the links below and let's talk about:

👉 My coaching calls - great for brainstorming, outlining, character work, and solving story problems early: Book Your Session today!​

Book Your Coaching Call Here!

👉 My coverage packages - a great next step if you need meaningful developmental feedback before diving back into the draft: Click here!​

Click Here for Coverage!

👉 Rewrite to Greenlight - my ongoing developmental editing program for taking a script from almost there to funding or production-ready: Click here!​

Book a Free Strategy Call Today!

Bottom line, if you’ve been staring at the same project for too long, get out for a while. Give yourself something new to look at. You never know what you might find - or how it might fit into your story!

Until next time - keep writing, and stay creative!

Neil

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P.S. Check out my feature film, Spin the Wheel - out now on Tubi!

Click here to watch for FREE: https://tubitv.com/movies/100030151/spin-the-wheel​

And see my latest feature, Contamination, now on Amazon, AppleTV, Fandango, and Hoopla!

Learn more about storytelling, screenwriting, and filmmaking:​ www.neilchasefilm.com.

Looking for in-depth help with your script, story or film? Check out my one-on-one coaching services here.

Check out my Gothic horror-western novel, Iron Dogs, available in eBook, print, and audiobook.

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