The 'amateur' writer/artist waits for inspiration. The 'professional' starts anyway, knowing that the simple act of starting will eventually trigger the flow state. I think being 'blocked' comes from a fear or being judged by the artist (themselves), peers or audience.
Agree whole heartedly. The other day I put aside the script I was working on and started a brand new scene for a story I still have no future for but wrote for almost two hours straight just because it felt right
Thanks, Jack. The one thing I learned, and it was ever elusive, is: Always write from the heart. When you do that you always risk disappointment. But that's the price of adventure.
the poem about Jesse made me cry. I had a dog called Jesse who we had to put down too. I couldn't relate to any of the specifics but I didn't need to. I think the need to pay tribute to those you love is such a universal instinct whether you are a writer or not.
I have to say, the interviewer is as much important to the series as the subjects, its always amazing to hear her questions and voice. Kudos to her, Film Courage!
I needed to hear that. i never finished writing anything because I always felt what I wrote was not good enough. so these words really resonated with me.
Same sentiment with my photography. Never have I ever not been able to find a subject to photograph. Just get up, grab my camera, and go find something to shoot. Inspiration is just the icing on the cake and when I do get inspired, the process is still the same.
13 minutes of dense and applicable wisdom. Thank you to the interviewer for pressing in deep with the questions and opening up for Jack to read from his poems. Truly inspirational.
I really like the comparison of an artist with a professional sport player. Makes me rethink what an artist is. What art is. Formulas for art. Thanks for these interviews!
Her repeated questioning of the muse made him tell great advice, such as he said that repeated writing of genuineness makes you write great stories. The double meaning is funny, and inspiring.
I really love this channel! Thank you so much guys for putting in this effort!🙌 5 years ago i started writing a novel, now its almost finished. Just wanted to say that I learned so much from watching these interviews. It realy pulled me through the hard days of not wanting to write or even quit, and now my dream is about to come true. Thnk you!
It is less of a writers block and more of a doesn't feel right, procrastination maybe. Sometimes, you are right, it's not good, but in my humble opinion you still have to power through to get to that place where it's good. Easier said than done, maybe, but things that are worth it, often aren't easy.
Just a normal day, sitting in front of my computer and eating my shakshuka. I randomly saw this video and clicked into it. And when i hear Jack Grapes reading the poem about his dog, I started to get touched and ended up crying and the poem is so beautiful, true, and to see an old man writing about life, "a lot of things are gone, i am 72 years old"...i always like poems but this the first one that really gave the emotions. I guess it is because the author is reading his poems by his own.
The power of words, the magic of writing. I am reminded of Carl Sagan's comment for his TV series 'Cosmos' (1980s) - "writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs, ..."
Worthless comment but...I don't want this guy to be 78, I want him and his insights to live forever! (Would never have guessed him at nearly 80 years old, wow - giving off great energy.)
Writer's block may be an illusion, but inspiration is real. Jack inspired this: Writer's Block one writer's block, two writer's block three and four i can build a cathedral with just a few more where i'll worship the artists who simply do while under no illusion that i could, too for it's absurd what they say that i should just write have i not made it clear writer's block is my plight?
I like what he said. I think that goes for everything creative. You got to start somewhere. I have always taken this step when writing my books as well. I do the same with my art work, and when I compose music as well.😊
Reminds me of my art teacher at school - he once said to me (paraphrased), you're sitting in front of a blank piece of paper (or a blank canvas) - wondering what to do, agonising about how to begin, how to proceed. Just make a mark, Anywhere, any way. Make another one. How do they work? Even if they're wrong, you've got something to work on. And the drawing will grow.
Here's a story for you. I took my redundancy money back in 2000, and wrote a novel over the next 7 months. I polished it up in 2018 and published it on Smashwords after 60 or so rejections from literary agents. It has sold three copies. If I type the name of my book into Amazon, it appears 30 pages into the results! A writer needs to be a marketer now.
I struggle with untreated/medicated ADHD as an adult - I don’t know if I’d call it “writer’s block” as much as … I get mentally paralyzed by my inability to make a decision and stick with it for writing. I’ll loop between different ideas until the day is over and never pick up the pen. This can go on for days at a time while I work out what to start or where to continue writing. As a writer this is the hardest thing for me to overcome. I want to give up. I question if I’ll ever be a name someone has heard of. I’ve got the training and the education, the ideas and characters. I’ve started journaling, using a tiny pocket journal. I like this. I use it as a diary, an idea catcher, a way to vent or keep track of important things I learn. I write in it everyday. I think this would be considered the type of writing this guy talks about. Maybe I do have a future in writing.
Steph Curry can throw 3 pointers all day but if he's not "in the zone" , he's going to miss a lot of those shots. That's what I think people talk about when they say the muses visit them. It's when your creative mind is "in that zone". Some people call it, "the flow state." It's not to say you can't still create without it but it's just not going to be as good or as inspiring.
Yes, story is essential. But, it’s the message, the ride/journey , and how the film makes you feel that matter. Art is for the soul, it’s not a textbook. Beauty is on the eye of the beholder. It’s something not to be put on paper/dissected/reviewed/monetized.
"Just write" suggests anything qualifies as a story, that you just need to get in down on paper, which is why there is so much crap, especially in the indie film world. Writing is more like creating your own puzzle where all the pieces have to fit together. It also requires a certain amount of originality while also conforming to conventions present in just about every script ever written.
Very interesting. I'm 72 now and find that the divine overflow continues as strong as it ever was; although it is true that the corruption side of the Generation and Corruption equation will take the flesh, Love will remain.
imma try this ,i am no writer i love good story, i have some to tell to but i always stop because i am not writer neither i want to be one maybe this will alteast let those stories out before i forget them
I still agree and disagree. Like... when you have a story you want to structure, but I don't want it to become a David Lynch piece of work. You have to think just a little about what you are doing. It all depends, I guess, in what you're working on. But that's true... Writers shouldn't ever feel paralysed by an idea, a stupid plote that has no matter in the end. And writing about a moment is so much more effective and feels so much true in any circonstances.
Does this apply to fiction? I'm sure I could sit down and complain about what *I'm* doing, to get words down, but it's not helping me accomplish my task. I'm not my character..
At the 8:25-minute mark, I lost all respect. It was as if I could feel the uncomfortable air he created (we'd hear a pin drop if there was one) by being full of himself, resulting in being rude to the hostess (who handled her sudden deafening silence with grace) and then trying to justify his words. Did anyone else experience the same? He made it too uncomfortable to watch the other videos starring him.
All these Film Courage experts leave out that Hollywood is very political and that you and your story need to conform to radical Left norms or you won't last long in Hollywood...I know from personal experience.
“You’ve done this before; you can do this again.” So simple, yet so profound.
He's correct...just write...ya never know what might come out...
Sometimes the rhythm helps me find my way through the chaos of thoughts...
Just write? Without a story? A concept?
I mean…. Okay. Have a blast
@@Lark572 no one said without a concept bud...
@@justanameonyourscreen5954 “You don’t have to have a story, you don’t have to have an idea.” His words exactly
@@Lark572 take from it what you will...I don't argue in TH-cam comments...
@@Lark572 The point is that those things can come after you start writing.
His authenticity is so inspiring. It reminds me to be a human and not a machine.
The 'amateur' writer/artist waits for inspiration. The 'professional' starts anyway, knowing that the simple act of starting will eventually trigger the flow state. I think being 'blocked' comes from a fear or being judged by the artist (themselves), peers or audience.
Jim Butcher says, "I don't have a muse, I have a mortgage."
That poem about Jack's dog is so beautiful.
Jack, oh Jack.🙏🏼❤️
“All you have to do is write one true sentence”.
Agree whole heartedly. The other day I put aside the script I was working on and started a brand new scene for a story I still have no future for but wrote for almost two hours straight just because it felt right
Thanks, Jack. The one thing I learned, and it was ever elusive, is: Always write from the heart. When you do that you always risk disappointment. But that's the price of adventure.
the poem about Jesse made me cry. I had a dog called Jesse who we had to put down too. I couldn't relate to any of the specifics but I didn't need to. I think the need to pay tribute to those you love is such a universal instinct whether you are a writer or not.
78 Wow! He aged pretty well!
Jesus. I won't even look that good at fifty.
Clearly, he's young at heart.
I have to say, the interviewer is as much important to the series as the subjects, its always amazing to hear her questions and voice. Kudos to her, Film Courage!
Agreed, it's strange how much this unseen lady's voice is an important part of our writing lives now :D
I needed to hear that. i never finished writing anything because I always felt what I wrote was not good enough. so these words really resonated with me.
His words gives me so much strength and inspiration to write.
Same sentiment with my photography. Never have I ever not been able to find a subject to photograph. Just get up, grab my camera, and go find something to shoot. Inspiration is just the icing on the cake and when I do get inspired, the process is still the same.
13 minutes of dense and applicable wisdom. Thank you to the interviewer for pressing in deep with the questions and opening up for Jack to read from his poems. Truly inspirational.
I really like the comparison of an artist with a professional sport player. Makes me rethink what an artist is. What art is. Formulas for art.
Thanks for these interviews!
Her repeated questioning of the muse made him tell great advice, such as he said that repeated writing of genuineness makes you write great stories. The double meaning is funny, and inspiring.
Waaw! This kind of talk is not only for writing, it's for life. Thanks Film Courage. This one is really couragous.
Cheers Cabdullaahi!
@@filmcourage cheers 🥂
I really love this channel! Thank you so much guys for putting in this effort!🙌 5 years ago i started writing a novel, now its almost finished. Just wanted to say that I learned so much from watching these interviews. It realy pulled me through the hard days of not wanting to write or even quit, and now my dream is about to come true. Thnk you!
That is awesome! Congrats on almost finishing your first novel! Keep going!
recently found this channel (thanks Chris Gore!), and I'm hooked on these Jack Grapes videos. this channel is a treasure trove. I'm so thankful!
It is less of a writers block and more of a doesn't feel right, procrastination maybe. Sometimes, you are right, it's not good, but in my humble opinion you still have to power through to get to that place where it's good. Easier said than done, maybe, but things that are worth it, often aren't easy.
I tagged this as inspirational. Because it is.
Just a normal day, sitting in front of my computer and eating my shakshuka. I randomly saw this video and clicked into it. And when i hear Jack Grapes reading the poem about his dog, I started to get touched and ended up crying and the poem is so beautiful, true, and to see an old man writing about life, "a lot of things are gone, i am 72 years old"...i always like poems but this the first one that really gave the emotions. I guess it is because the author is reading his poems by his own.
The voice is honest.
YES. Just create something.
The power of words, the magic of writing. I am reminded of Carl Sagan's comment for his TV series 'Cosmos' (1980s) - "writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs, ..."
That's it! I gonna write my comic. It might go nowhere but dammit it will be mine.
Great poem! I like Jack's focus on voice much more than all the formulaic discussion of plot points.
His poem got me choked up.
I didn’t know a poem could be written like that. I think I should write.
@Baldie Da Beast thank you.
I've noticed the schedule is everything.
l love this poem..thank you
Dammit Jack, I'm trying to eat breakfast and you're making me cry
This was the best poem ever
Worthless comment but...I don't want this guy to be 78, I want him and his insights to live forever! (Would never have guessed him at nearly 80 years old, wow - giving off great energy.)
Thank you for sharing your experience with this.
Thanks, Jack. I needed that.
Writer's block may be an illusion, but inspiration is real. Jack inspired this:
Writer's Block
one writer's block, two writer's block
three and four
i can build a cathedral with
just a few more
where i'll worship the artists
who simply do
while under no illusion
that i could, too
for it's absurd what they say
that i should just write
have i not made it clear
writer's block is my plight?
I love Jack Grapes. Just pure facts
Oh, I love this man. His poem made me cry a little❤️
I like what he said. I think that goes for everything creative. You got to start somewhere. I have always taken this step when writing my books as well. I do the same with my art work, and when I compose music as well.😊
I haven’t wept in a long time; not like that. Thank you Jack.
Reminds me of my art teacher at school - he once said to me (paraphrased), you're sitting in front of a blank piece of paper (or a blank canvas) - wondering what to do, agonising about how to begin, how to proceed. Just make a mark, Anywhere, any way. Make another one. How do they work? Even if they're wrong, you've got something to work on. And the drawing will grow.
He’s hilarious, and so on point!
Here's a story for you. I took my redundancy money back in 2000, and wrote a novel over the next 7 months. I polished it up in 2018 and published it on Smashwords after 60 or so rejections from literary agents. It has sold three copies. If I type the name of my book into Amazon, it appears 30 pages into the results! A writer needs to be a marketer now.
What an inspiring man. Thank you for the upload.
Thanks for watching!
wisdom speaks
RIP Jessie
My mind is 🤯. I’ll never wait for inspiration again, Thank You
Keep creating!
I really enjoy his interviews 🥰
The poem about his dog broke me
This transformed me in an instant. Wow. Wow. Wow.
Where’s the full interview? Love this guy.
We are getting close. It's 3+ hours. Coming soon!
@@filmcourage Omg you have to meet this lovely soul again :D
Well said.🌹🖋️
I struggle with untreated/medicated ADHD as an adult - I don’t know if I’d call it “writer’s block” as much as … I get mentally paralyzed by my inability to make a decision and stick with it for writing. I’ll loop between different ideas until the day is over and never pick up the pen. This can go on for days at a time while I work out what to start or where to continue writing.
As a writer this is the hardest thing for me to overcome. I want to give up. I question if I’ll ever be a name someone has heard of. I’ve got the training and the education, the ideas and characters.
I’ve started journaling, using a tiny pocket journal. I like this. I use it as a diary, an idea catcher, a way to vent or keep track of important things I learn. I write in it everyday.
I think this would be considered the type of writing this guy talks about.
Maybe I do have a future in writing.
Steph Curry can throw 3 pointers all day but if he's not "in the zone" , he's going to miss a lot of those shots. That's what I think people talk about when they say the muses visit them. It's when your creative mind is "in that zone". Some people call it, "the flow state." It's not to say you can't still create without it but it's just not going to be as good or as inspiring.
I have two things to say first Jack I would like to buy you lunch. Second someone send this video to George RR Martin
Looking good for 78!!
Very good indeed. It made me cry.
Yes, story is essential.
But, it’s the message, the ride/journey , and how the film makes you feel that matter.
Art is for the soul, it’s not a textbook. Beauty is on the eye of the beholder. It’s something not to be put on paper/dissected/reviewed/monetized.
I gave an instant LIKE, for the opening 10 seconds of advice.
Thanks for this.
can we have one full interview of Jack Grapes in one video? I feel like I can listen to him all day.
It’s coming....
@@filmcourage ✌🏻✌🏻
Beautiful poem, good advice 👌
i love this man.please interview him again.
"Just write" suggests anything qualifies as a story, that you just need to get in down on paper, which is why there is so much crap, especially in the indie film world. Writing is more like creating your own puzzle where all the pieces have to fit together. It also requires a certain amount of originality while also conforming to conventions present in just about every script ever written.
I have the problem of having too many stories floating around my head at once.
I am focusing on completing a fantasy series ATM
I cant believe that you got more content with Jack
Thanks Shamsher! This one is a really long interview. Over 3 hours. We are almost there with the full interview.
Great
This was very helpful
Do professional writers get writer's block?
Probably more than anyone else
Thank u
I love dogs too.
this is Gold!!
Very interesting. I'm 72 now and find that the divine overflow continues as strong as it ever was; although it is true that the corruption side of the Generation and Corruption equation will take the flesh, Love will remain.
Tearjerker poem about Jesse, his dog.
that is how we make modern movies some people just writing
❤️❤️❤️
...yes, if thy say so.
I have to write intuitively. Any time I try to plan anything it turns to crap.
Nice poem indeed
insightful
10:48 well an athlete isn’t exactly in a world of sophistication and depth as an artist, but I understand the sentiment.
thats not true.
@@KA-rp5uh what’s not true?
This guy is a professional rambler.
its really so simple
Very noteworthy advice to just do it..
yeah lol, i just started writing randomly and ended up making an whole ass story out of it
Jesus Christ that poem got me
imma try this ,i am no writer i love good story, i have some to tell to but i always stop because i am not writer neither i want to be one maybe this will alteast let those stories out before i forget them
I am an engineer, i am the original author idea of solar tires wheels for transportations****
Blocked writers = not a writer. They want to be, but they're not.
I still agree and disagree. Like... when you have a story you want to structure, but I don't want it to become a David Lynch piece of work. You have to think just a little about what you are doing. It all depends, I guess, in what you're working on. But that's true... Writers shouldn't ever feel paralysed by an idea, a stupid plote that has no matter in the end. And writing about a moment is so much more effective and feels so much true in any circonstances.
Feel like he was going down a miserly path about the loss of muses until her question about writers block lit a fire under his ass.
He does not look like 78 years old. he looks younger
Indeed. I thought he was in his 60's.
Does this apply to fiction? I'm sure I could sit down and complain about what *I'm* doing, to get words down, but it's not helping me accomplish my task. I'm not my character..
Most Hollywood movies don’t have a viable story so it seems that might not be such good advice.
At the 8:25-minute mark, I lost all respect. It was as if I could feel the uncomfortable air he created (we'd hear a pin drop if there was one) by being full of himself, resulting in being rude to the hostess (who handled her sudden deafening silence with grace) and then trying to justify his words. Did anyone else experience the same? He made it too uncomfortable to watch the other videos starring him.
Comparing athletes to writers doesn't quite fit, but I get the point.
Yeah that’s not what they’re talking about, they can write about something but it’s not gonna contribute well to the story.
All these Film Courage experts leave out that Hollywood is very political and that you and your story need to conform to radical Left norms or you won't last long in Hollywood...I know from personal experience.