Californication Tonight FIVE 10pm

[Buttonman]

Although it's been hyped to hell on TV, cinema and billboards this show is actually worth a look.

It's the story of a blocked writer, Hank,(David Duchovney) who compensates for his stalled career and broken lovelife by, er, pumping loads of birds.

It's not just a smut fest though, and has some great dialogue and cringeworthy scenes.

The first episode is full of nudity (including Mulder's arse) but that trails off somewaht in later episodes. If you are that way enabled you can get the first nine off the net with the series running to 13 in total. I understand that it's been recomissioned for season 2.

Well worth 25 minutes of your time, if you like that sort of thing.

[Satanist]

Mulder? That was the female one right? WHAT? Urgh.

I might tune in if I remember as it gets a good write up.

[Peter Wolf]

 I saw this advertised last night and i quite like the subject matter.Not the sex scenes but the writers block and stalled career..I have had writers block for the last 2 weeks and its not funny.There doesnt seem to be anything you can do about it either.

[satchmo]

Mandroid 2 has got me thinking about the Space Corps and exactly what offworld assets Mega City One has got. Are these colony planets part of a Big Meg empire, or is it a joint effort with the other cities, like the moon? If not does that mean Hondo, Brit Cit, the Sovs etc. have their own empires too?
Any thoughts?

[Byron Virgo]

There are things you can do about writer's block - for a start, it's all about getting your mind into such a mental rut that the longer you don't write, the harder it is to write.

Catch 22.

Best thing you can do are simple things to take your mind off it; listening to some music, watching the telly, doing some exercises (even if it's just breathing techniques). If your body's not in the right condition, then neither will your mind be. Reading is often a good method, as there's nothing quite so stimulating as reading a bit of really well written prose.

One technique I was taught was to write 500 words on the environment immediately surrounding you. Doesn't really matter what you write, it's just the fact that it gets you writing, and starts the ball rolling, so to speak.

[Peter Wolf]

 Many thanks for your helpful post.

 Its been a difficult 3 weeks or so for one reason and another and i have been in not a good frame of mind either.

 I lost my sense of humour for a bit as well which was a bit miserable.That didnt help at all.

 The curious thing was i was able to draw but not write as if the problem is something that just affects language but not creativity in general.

 Peter.

[Peter Wolf]

 Its got Natasha McElhone in it !

 I havent seen her in a film for years now.


 She is just as gorgeous in real life as i think she used to live somewhere around here as i spotted her around lots of times.

[satchmo]

30 Rock is on after it too, I've heard good things about that. It's a behind the scenes sitcom based on Saturday Night Live I think.
Hopefully it's less smug and self important than Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip!

[Roger Godpleton]

Effin defective Five.

[Jim_Campbell]

"There are things you can do about writer's block - for a start, it's all about getting your mind into such a mental rut that the longer you don't write, the harder it is to write."

I have this theory about writing, and writers' block.

I absolutely believe that tedium is the writer's best friend; the kind of tedium that borders on trance-like. The internet is your worst enemy ... my output has decreased to zero in near direct proportion to the increasing cheapness and speed of my internet connection.*

I have always done my best creative thinking whilst:

In the bath
Doing the washing up
Working out
Sitting on the bog**

In other words, the times when your body is not inactive, but actually engaged in stuff that doesn't require your conscious brain's attention.

Shut off the computer. Switch off the TV. Put on some music - familiar music that won't demand your attention, preferably instrumental so that there aren't any words to activate conscious thought ... if you aren't comfortable just staring into space, then try re-reading an equally familiar book.

If the idea won't come out of that unbidden, this exercise is quite good:

Think of the worst example of SF/Horror/Fantasy/Whatever genre you're contemplating ... quite the worst one you can remember, and then start working out how you would fix it from first principles.

The idea you'll end up with will be quite different from the one you started with ...!

Cheers

Jim

* Ironically, I've lately developed the urge to write, but I have spent the whole of this year doing both my own job and that of my boss, who has been signed off long term sick since February, and I actually don't have any free time worth a damn. ***

**I know you didn't need that image, but I'm a generous chap and I like to share.

*** And, even more ironically, the few minutes I do have, I piss away posting on forums like this!

[Richmond Clements]

Good advice, Jim.

When I write, it's on a laptop that's not connected to the interweb, and if I can, I sit with my back to the PC so I'm less tempted to wander over and check my mail for the hundreth time that day.
Music- anythng with lyrics is a no-no for me, but headphones are a must.

As for 'writers block', I'm not a fan of that name, and I'm not even convinced it exists. Yes, sometimes I think 'I can't do this', but you sit down, start typing and it's like any other job- once you get warmed up it's ok.

[Tiplodocus]

I enjoyed CALIFORNICATION.  

Following post not (entirely) serious:

Writer's Block - hark at you. "Oooh I'm an artist in torment.   Oooh how I suffer for my art."

It just means you are rubbish at your job.

You wouldn't get away with it in other professions.

"Have you finished building that wall?"

"No, I've got Navvy's block".

[Peter Wolf]

  I get lots of ideas in the bath and its good for problem solving as well.

[House of Usher]

"I quite like the subject matter"

So do I. The sex scenes, not the writer's block.
 

"There are things you can do about writer's block"

Personally, I swear by shagging anything with a pulse.

[Dudley]

I'm trying to write a Judge Dredd script at the moment.  The problem is, it's meant to be using a young Dredd, and I just can't get the right Clint Eastwood vibe to it.

That's right - I've got Rowdy Yates block! Who you fightin' with?