Every writer hits the point where the page just won’t write itself, no matter how badly you want it to. Writer/director Matthew Paris spends all of Words to Paper watching what happens when the words just won’t come.

Writer Leo Emerson (Matthew Paris) wakes up with a condition that afflicts almost every writer — debilitating writer’s block. Leo wants to write his novel, but all he does is stare at a blank computer screen as his eyes wander to various items around the room.

“Writer Leo wakes up with a condition that afflicts almost every writer — debilitating writer’s block.”

Distracted and unfocused, Leo needs to change things up. Instead of forcing it, he steps away from the desk and heads out to a nearby park to clear his head. Leo starts noticing things — the trees lining the trail, the sun breaking through the branches, the sky stretched out overhead. But will that do the trick?

From writer/director/star Matthew Paris, Words to Paper is a video essay on the subject of writer’s block. We open with our protagonist trying to write, and Paris uses his performance alone to portray the frustration and the thoughts running through his mind.

The production itself is very DIY. My guess is it was made with zero budget, which is fine when the goal is to make and, most importantly, finish a movie. My only complaint is that it moves slowly, and I think the pace could have picked up a tiny bit. You want to get a sense of when the audience is about to disengage from the on-screen action and then make the cut. But otherwise, a fine short for what it is.

Words to Paper can be streamed on Rumble.

"…But will that do the trick?"