No inspiration.

[Rooster]

It seems that every time I start a flash movie and have really good Ideas, I start them get maybe 1/5 of the way done, sometimes more, and then just lose all interest in it. Mainly because I will either lose focus or just lose all inspiration. And then I want to still finish it, just mainly to finish it, but I know if I have no will it will just end up like shit. Just like my other movies.

What do you guys do when this happens to you?

[Shadowshot2]

Don't force it out...
Let it be re-inspired, you know...Rethink it!
I mean most people have the same problem...
I right now have had the problem three times on the same thing.
Can't get past how I should start it...
Take your time with it, let it grow a bit, finish it little by little, If it happens to you again, drop it for a while but don't let it get lost...

[K-Guare]

I have this same problem;
only REALLY good ideas of mine get made into flashes,
and i usually barely make it through [i just bullshit the last of it until it's finished]
that's why i'm so good at preloaders/menus, but suck at everything else :D

Get a partner (that makes flashes, of course), a good friend would be best.
And think of great ideas. It may be easier to think of good ideas and
be more positive about what your doing if your doing it with a friend.
That's why i like collabs.

Good luck with future flashes;
kg.

[squidly]

I can't keep up with my game in development, I got too many things to worry about, what people will think, if I'm cut out for this, if I am chewing more then I can swallow.

I just keep bringing myself so deep into this, but I want to work on it, but I can't bring myself to.

My mind is going berserk right now, and I just hope I can finish this before summer's end, because if i don't, it's hopeless.

[kid-dude]

I can't really talk (as my procrastination means I don't actually have any submissions only WIPs) but I find my more succsessful projects are ones that started with a simple concept and matured in development.

I found that the more complicated the idea I had when I went into production, the more like it was to fail as I'd be trying to do too much at once.

I think once i knock out a few that use my basic level of understanding I'll find it easier to actually produce good stuff with complicated features.

[TheMayor]

I find that juggling two projects at once can be good. When you lost inspiration/get bored of one idea/project then you can swap projects for a while. Then when you get bored of that project or find new inspiration for the first project you can just switch back. Though I am sure some people will argue that this is a bad idea. :P It all depends on the type of person though, IMHO.

[Healthy]

cute , look, what i c

[Aethios]

i know EXACTLY what you mean

it's the same for me. you have this real good idea and then BAM your inspiration is shot and you get bored of it, then, you have like 20 unfinished, barely started projects

it's a sad thing really :(

[Insanimation]

this used to happen to me, but more recently, i've began to plan out my projects first. you havn't got to use every idea that you include in your script, but hae a basic plot, extend, change some thins during production, and so on...it helps getting you hyped up about doing it too....

but different things work for different people too..

maybe try setting yourself a deadline, by either joining a collab, or by posting a news post that says when your next thing will be out, thus making you have to do it...

[jiggitysmith]

Kid-dude and fish1892 have some good advice.

I dunno about setting a deadline, though (unless you REALLY need to motivate yourself). I've found if I don't have that hanging over my head, I can take the time to do the project how I want it to be done without compromising on quality.

As far as what I do for my projects..

I plan it out completely from start to finish, but I don't stick to it hardly at all - it's more of a framework. You have to pick and choose what ideas you can actually do without being overambitious (which would ultimately halt your project).

There are so many ideas that are great on paper, but are way harder to actually do for what they're actually worth (like I was going to do this huge long parody of LOTR in one of my animations, but I basically cut a scene from the beginning and then at the end and it had virtually the same effect if not better because it didn't drag too long).

I cut out a lot of back story when it isn't necessary and give 'just enough' because explaining back story takes a long ass time to do and ultimately makes the presentation boring, wordy, and long-winded (and it's much better to **show** the audience what you want and let them take from it what they want rather than explain the story to them).

Lastly and most importantly: group brainstorming

If you have a good concept for something and don't know where to go next, get about 2-3 friends and hang out with them and just talk about what you're doing and what you want to do with it and take in their ideas they have. Virtually everyone who isn't an asshole likes being part of a creative project if they're not the ones doing any of the actual work. I'm not saying go and probe for ideas, but start with your own ideas and in minutes (unless you have some low-iq friends) people will be like 'man you know what'd be funny if blah blah blah.'

Bear in mind most of the ideas you and your friends have may not be important to the plot or direction, but rather might be setting, scene setup, particular quirks/actions by the character(s), etc.. and you'd be surprised how well ideas can bounce and mature out of just that into a project that may not resemble your original framework at all (and it's usually a much better product that way).

***P.S. I am not talking about Internet friends. I'm talking about people you can physically see without a computer monitor. Group discussion doesn't work well online as people don't let their ideas slip out as easily as verbal conversation.***

Just remember that IT IS OK TO CUT OUT AN IDEA OR SCENE OR WHATEVER especially if you can't do it or it'd be too hard to do or it doesn't flow well with the rest of the project ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE ALREADY PRODUCED THAT MATERIAL! I've done this myself and you can do it, too.

Just because you spent a few days making crap or some scene that doesn't fit in your animation/whatever, doesn't mean we're going to appreciate it. Just remember, you can cut it out and make it a bonus feature (which is why bonus features exist).

Hope that helps! Sorry if I went a little off topic, but it's all good stuff ;)

[seraphian]

Breaking a project into managable chunks I find helps, with any project.

Focus on a bit at a time and before you realize it, you're done!
Fortunately object-oriented programming almost forces that mindset on you, because you do it a class/object at a time.

[Unknown-Inc]

I just plan my animations from square one under storyboards, working through all the main poses in the movie until the end and doing the animation phase after that, so then if you get uninterested, you can look back at your original storyboard plans and get yourself pumped up again.

[Number-Slayer]

At 7/8/08 10:27 PM, physco-pickle wrote: It seems that every time I start a flash movie and have really good Ideas, I start them get maybe 1/5 of the way done, sometimes more, and then just lose all interest in it. Mainly because I will either lose focus or just lose all inspiration. And then I want to still finish it, just mainly to finish it, but I know if I have no will it will just end up like shit. Just like my other movies.

What do you guys do when this happens to you?

I know what you mean. I had the same problem. What i do is i either take a break from it or i look around for a flash animation to inspire me. If i am making a fight then i will go to newgrounds rumble or super mario bros Z. I then feel the need to join these artists.

[Number-Slayer]

At 7/8/08 10:27 PM, physco-pickle wrote: It seems that every time I start a flash movie and have really good Ideas, I start them get maybe 1/5 of the way done, sometimes more, and then just lose all interest in it. Mainly because I will either lose focus or just lose all inspiration. And then I want to still finish it, just mainly to finish it, but I know if I have no will it will just end up like shit. Just like my other movies.

What do you guys do when this happens to you?

I know what you mean. I had the same problem. What i do is i either take a break from it or i look around for a flash animation to inspire me. If i am making a fight then i will go to newgrounds rumble or super mario bros Z. I then feel the need to join these artists.

[Rooster]

Thanks guys. All have awesome tips. And thank you Healthy for the links, very nice.
And it was pretty good hearing from you jiggitysmith, especially since I really like your lolcat movies.And thats a pretty good idea about the group of friends thing. I will definitely try all of these.

Thanks guys.

[UnknownFury]

This happens to me regularly but I think I've got a system to beat it now. Firstly, think through the whole thing a few times. If you think anything might cause problems try and practice it first as its normally when it gets hard I lose interest, it might be same for you.

Secondly, take regular breaks. Don't spend hours straight working. Do maybe an hour then play a game or go for a walk or something that'll take your mind off it. Then come back, sit down. And work hard on it for another hour or so.

[javarush214]

i think i just, try to watch some more other legendary flash movies or great movies to inspire me somemore.. and once i start working on something i try to prevent a lot of breaks because it stops the momentum of your interest in your animation..

well for me it does..

[TheL1st]

start a new project... ive got the bleed 2 fla just chillen in my folder... it waiting, for its opertunity to stirke.... probobly be when saw 5 comes out lol =/

but in the mean time ive got 3 other projects going and im just project hopping. it helps

[jiggitysmith]

At 7/10/08 09:23 PM, physco-pickle wrote: Thanks guys. All have awesome tips. And thank you Healthy for the links, very nice.
And it was pretty good hearing from you jiggitysmith, especially since I really like your lolcat movies.And thats a pretty good idea about the group of friends thing. I will definitely try all of these.

Thanks guys.

Thanks dude!

Wow I'm glad people still remember me since I've been dead/working for a few months :) I finally have enough time now to peruse Newgrounds a bit, but not quite enough to get started on anything.

I'll be making more stuff soon, though, and straying away from Lolcats. Most people don't know that the Lolcats were just practice for me.

Btw, I found this on the web recently and thought it was pretty awesome:

[micsa]

I often have this same trouble and it is usually for me when the going gets tough, I've found all the advice on this thread really helpful and I will be sure to try out some of these techniques. I sometimes find that just storyboarding your idea and then letting it rest for a while helps as it is always there for you to add bits onto as you think neccasary and taking regular breaks while animating is a good tip but I also agree that somtimes to many breaks can interupt the momentum of the work in progress.

Thanks everyone for the tips

[ForNoReason]

If you want I could write a script for you. Maybe if you have the story and plot right in front of you, you know the goals to set for yourself. I can write something original or I can just make something from your ideas. Just an idea if you're interested.

[zuperxtreme]

I have 2 million "tests" in my Flash folder... but I've never actually took my time to make something with them...

I have no drive.

[unkownthous]

lucky for most of u i don get inspiration at all... so im just stuff making sample clips