Script Frenzy aka National Script Writing Month

[LLRook]

I've been writing (novels) for the last six years, participated in NaNoWriMo for the last three and been an ML in my area for NaNoWriMo for the last two years and this year they are starting a new program of torture ;) called ScriptFrenzy.

The premise is to write a 20k word script in the month of June.

I've been reading here for two days now, as I have volunteered to co-ML for it and am really starting to wonder what I have gotten myself into.

While the thought of writing without getting into the intricacies of character thoughts and all the detail that goes into novel writing does appeal as a breath of fresh air, I feel that if I'm going to do this, I better do it (and be able to explain it) as best as I can.

I've bookmarked a lot of the information and sites from the Scriptwriting FAQ that I plan to share with the group, but I was wondering....


What are your thoughts on this?

Is 20k too ambitious for people with no scriptwriting experience?

I know not to expect anything fantastic out of the month, as I recently sat down to start editing what I wrote last November and have more than once declared it total trash...fixable with a lot of work, but trash nonetheless. It's the exercise of doing that is the most beneficial.

[dpaterso]

Last November, in parallel with NaNoWriMo and just for fun, we ran a "NaScriWriMo" challenge:
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43132

I'm actually quite pleased with what I got out of it. Finished the first pass in 21 days. Sure, the script still needed a slap or two, but it gave me useable material to work with.

Someone had mentioned (in that same thread, I think) that the NaNo organizers were doing a NaScri :) challenge this year... I'm up for it, I agree it's a useful exercise, and it's also do-able. Tho' I'll be aiming for # of pages (the pros tell us that 110 is an ideal size) not # of words.

-Derek

[Hollow]

21 Days? Aw man.... I've been working for about a month on this screenplay and I've got 13 pages. :(

[ALLWritety]

HI

Can you clarify for me????

nanowrimo = ?? novel writing month
nascriwrimo = ?? script writing month

What does "na" stand for????

What is "ML"??

Also am I correct in saying that Script frenzy wants ppl to write a script in one month - June??
Is it a totally new script or is it one you have started?
What is the subject? Is it set or can it be anything?
Can anyone join sounds like fun??!! I wouldn't mind having a go at that.

Kev

[dpaterso]

21 Days? Aw man.... I've been working for about a month on this screenplay and I've got 13 pages. :(
Sorry, it was a fluke, honest. I had the relatively simple story in my head, knew exactly how it was going to end, and (roughly) what the major beats were along the way. I just typed and typed, didn't allow myself to back-track and edit, that's how you have to do it! Of course it also helps if you're good-looking and well hung, those are pre-requisites for the successful screenwriter.

-Derek

[Hollow]

LOL! Well I think I have those requirements covered ;) I keep telling myself I just have to hammer it all out first and then go back and make changes. But the perfectionist in me (Frank, I call him) won't allow me to do that. I should evict that little gnome....

[dpaterso]

Kev, National Novel Writing Month aka NaNoWriMo has been running for several years, and takes place during November. Numerous participants including many AW members have hit the target 50,000 words (you'll see the button in their siglines).

The challenge is to start writing a new work at the beginning of the designated month, and reach the target wordcount (or more) by the end of the month. You can prepare (e.g. outline) as much as you want, but the writing doesn't start until the first of the month, scout's honor and all that.

Even tho' it's still called "National" NoWriMo the challenge has become international, with individuals and even teams from many different countries participating.

-Derek

[LLRook]

HI

Can you clarify for me????

nanowrimo = ?? novel writing month
nascriwrimo = ?? script writing month

What does "na" stand for????


Stands for National


What is "ML"??


ML is your friendly neighborhood Municipal Liason. The one who cheers everyone on all month, schedules meetings and/or events and tries to keep everyone informed and working towards the goal of finishing.


Also am I correct in saying that Script frenzy wants ppl to write a script in one month - June??


yes


Is it a totally new script or is it one you have started?


A new project, though I think adaptions of existing work would be fine. For instance, I plan to adapt one of my novels.


What is the subject? Is it set or can it be anything?


Anything.


Can anyone join sounds like fun??!! I wouldn't mind having a go at that.

Kev

Anyone can participate. And we're in luck...looks like they finally got the site going: http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/

[LLRook]

Well, as I'm reading the FAQ page, it seems adaptations aren't for June...so I guess I'll be brainstorming a new project.

[ALLWritety]

Dpat & LL
Thanks for the info guys. SO you can plan but no writing until June. Alrighty!

Already got an idea for this.
I'm in.

Kev

[Rainy Night]

I couldn't do the NaScriWriMo here last fall because I was in the middle of moving, but now that I have some time I think I'll give this one a shot.

[NikeeGoddess]

The premise is to write a 20k word script in the month of June. i would be skeptical about participating in any script forum that counted the words and not the pages. makes you wonder whether they really know what's what. scriptwriting is always counted in pages.

where's the link to this competition?

[LLRook]

NikeeGoddess,

The link is above, but I think you might be taking this the wrong way.

Like NaNoWriMo, ScriptFrenzy isn't really a competition. It's more of a personal challenge, to push yourself to be creative and produce something that you might want to pursue (and polish) later.

They came to the 20k words after studying 120 page scripts and averaging them.

At the end, there's no options or deals being offered. They ask that you scramble your submission as it is only for the validator to check a word count, and if you reach the targetted goal, you will get a certificate stating your accomplishment.

One of the most beneficial aspects of this program/project is the networking with other writers who are taking on the same challenge. Struggling through it together makes what is usually a very solitary experience less so.

[NikeeGoddess]

i got ya' LL but still... scriptwriters only think in terms of page count not word count. imo it's flawed to not adjust the challenge to accomodate the different medium/style of writing.

if one writes one page per day then by the end of the year they should have 3 full length feature scripts. seems easy when you say it out loud.

[dpaterso]

Not surprisingly, my screenwriting application doesn't have a word count tool. A screenplay that's 90 percent dialogue is going to have a wildly different wordcount to a screenplay that's 50/50 action/dialogue.

LL, looks like you're our Municipal Liaison to the folks behind ScriptFrenzy! Get on the red telephone and get this problem resolved stat!

-Derek

[ALLWritety]

Yo, LL
Yep can it be changed to page count? Anyway most scripts are 90 -110 with 120 as a max. Completing a script between 90 -110 is the standard but that would make it under the word count. So some ppl might do the full script but be under the word count and wouldn't get the certificate. Also it depends on the genre that is written. Thrillers tend to be longer, Comedies tend to be shorter.
So can this change to 90 - 110 pages rather than the 20K word count. That way more ppl can achieve the goal and get a certificate for it.
Kev

[Rainy Night]

I agree on the page count vs word count. Needs to be pages...

[Hollow]

Hear Hear.

[Rainy Night]

Not surprisingly, my screenwriting application doesn't have a word count tool. A screenplay that's 90 percent dialogue is going to have a wildly different wordcount to a screenplay that's 50/50 action/dialogue.
-Derek

What program are you using? Maybe you can save it as a RTF and drop it into MS Word and get your count.

[LLRook]

The best I can do is direct the ptb to this thread.

As this is the first "official" year for this project, I'm sure feedback from those that are well versed on the topic will be deeply considered.

I know I've learned a lot just by reading here a few days...in fact, it's almost overwhelming and I'm no newcomer to the world of writing.

[dpaterso]

What program are you using? Maybe you can save it as a RTF and drop it into MS Word and get your count.
Well yeah, of course, but every day? The voices say no.

As this is the first "official" year for this project, I'm sure feedback from those that are well versed on the topic will be deeply considered.
Excellent; that's all we demand ask! :D

-Derek

[Rainy Night]

What program are you using? Maybe you can save it as a RTF and drop it into MS Word and get your count.

Well yeah, of course, but every day? The voices say no.


Just a thought...

I can't recall ever getting a word count on a script I've written.

[dpaterso]

I'm afraid that if we keep talking about it, it'll become another prodco pre-req: Only high concept scripts under 18,000 words will be considered...

-Derek

[lisamarie]

Is anyone participating in Script Frenzy (http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/)? I didn't complete NaNoWriMo this past year, but I've been looking forward to this. Now if I can just decide on a story I'll be all set.

[dpaterso]

Yup, sure am. Working on a sequence outline now.

-Derek

[Rainy Night]

I'm in also... working out the outline.

[rkbentley]

Yep, I'm in it too.

Trying to settle on one of the ideas that have been put on the back burner...

[-XL-]

Love the "must write a script of at least 20,000 words"... suddenly brevity is a bad thing.

Judging by my last feature, just to crack the 20k mark I'd have to write a 119 page script.

[rkbentley]

Someone already suggested it, just save it as an RTF and bring it into Word or Open Office.

As for the 20k vs. 120 pages. Meh. No biggie in my book. Least we get to write in the warmth instead of chilly November. :)

Least the website is nicely coded.

[jessicab_87]

I'm doing Script Frenzy and can't wait! :)

[AllyWoof]

Have I gone mad? I've never completed a script in my life. I don' really even intend to have it performed. Why am I doing it?

[icerose]

That's only something you can decide. Didn't make it myself last time. Got to page 76 but spent most of the month tending my sick kids, so each to their own.

[dpaterso]

You're talking about next month's Script Frenzy, yes?

There are already a couple of threads further down the forum.

Only a bunch of nutjobs would do something like this.

Start planning and outlining now.

-Derek

[Rainy Night]

Only a bunch of nutjobs would do something like this.


And I plan on doing on the sly while at work... :crazy:

[dpaterso]

And I plan on doing on the sly while at work... :crazy:
Glad to see you have your priorities right!

-Derek

[mrongey]

I just signed up. Wow, talk about timing! I graduate June 1.

[dpaterso]

Pardon any confusion, but rather than having 3 different threads about Script Frenzy floating around the forum, I've merged them into this one thread.

-Derek

[nielsty]

Damn, two exams and working with shooting the Danish version of 1 vs 100 makes it a bad month for me... Well, just have to wait for November.

[valeenc]

I signed up for ScriptFrenzy, but I'm not entirely sure I feel comfortable with it. So many of the people profiled in the two states I belong to are, well, teenagers! Not that I have anything against teenagers, but I'm an old broad of 43 and I'm, well, I honestly don't know what I am. I like that these kids are writing and have aspirations, but really, when I was their age I was out doing theatre and so forth and not sitting at my typewriter (I said I was old, okay!) writing scripts or anything beyond college apps.

Am I strange for feeling weird about this now? There's nothing about the organizers much on the site. I need the practice and the deadline, but I'm now having second thoughts. And I'm with the folks who feel odd about the wordcount thing. I've only heard pages referenced in this sort of writing.

[Siddow]

valeenc, I think it's great that there are so many teens on both NaNo and ScriptFrenzy, and here, too...wish I'd have thought about jumping in when I was a teen. Too late now! But I'm all for encouraging creativity in the youngsters. Wanna see some good films and read some great books when I'm (even) older.

And the wordcount issue: it's only for verification, clearly explained in the FAQ. They can't count pages, simple as that.

Me, I feel like a nut for even attempting it. I know nothing about screenwriting, except what I've learned from reading scripts online and from Syd Field's book Screenplay, which could have been shorter by half if they'd edited out every time he repeated himself. I was screaming at him, "I get it, Syd! CHARACTER IS ACTION!" lol.

I'm breaking the rules and writing a screenplay for my WIP novel. I'm not finished with the first draft of the novel, and I don't want to leave the characters, or the storyline, and I figured it would be a great opportunity to push myself into another form to explore the possibilites of my novel. Either I'll end up with a first draft screenplay, or a better novel. I'll take either!

[dpaterso]

Geez, I wish I was 43 again. Ditto my old broad. Those were the days!

-Derek

[Rainy Night]

I signed up for ScriptFrenzy, but I'm not entirely sure I feel comfortable with it. So many of the people profiled in the two states I belong to are, well, teenagers! Not that I have anything against teenagers, but I'm an old broad of 43 and I'm, well, I honestly don't know what I am. I like that these kids are writing and have aspirations, but really, when I was their age I was out doing theatre and so forth and not sitting at my typewriter (I said I was old, okay!) writing scripts or anything beyond college apps.

Am I strange for feeling weird about this now? There's nothing about the organizers much on the site. I need the practice and the deadline, but I'm now having second thoughts. And I'm with the folks who feel odd about the wordcount thing. I've only heard pages referenced in this sort of writing.
I'm 43, there's nothing wrong with that... I just plan on showin' them all what a little experience and wisdom can do for you.

[NicoleMD]

Yeah!

I've just watched the first fifteen minutes of a bunch of movies, and read the first 40 pages or so of the screenplay to my favorite movie, so hopefully that will be enough of a crash course to get me through the weekend.

Argh! As if I don't already have enough going on with my other WIPs!

:scared:

Nicole

[ALLWritety]

Aye but thats the fun of the game.
Nutjobs unite young or old.

Just a little over a day to go and I am adding a major sub plot!!
What a buzz!
Kev

[Rainy Night]

Everyone got their pencils sharpened?

[valeenc]

Gad. I have no idea if I can do this, but I'm giving it a shot.

Good writing, all!

[Steven Howard]

Just 'cause I'm not doing enough goofy stuff, I signed up for this as well.

[dpaterso]

Are we all writing like the wind? Excellent!

Keep telling yourself this is easily do-able.

Fun fact: writing just 4 pages per day will give you 120 pages by June 30.

Some days you'll write more. Some days, less. Just aim for that easy average and you'll be OK.

I know from experience that I tend to get off to a flying start, fired up by enthusiasm and blind optimism... but once I hit page 30 and Act II rears up in front of me like a solid brick wall, expect unmanly tears and whimpering.

If anyone has any thoughts, hints, tips or ideas, feel free to post 'em here. Or just a shoulder to cry on would be nice. :)

-Derek

[dgl]

If starting each writing day means staring at a blank screen for two hours (before giving up), you might want to follow this simple tip:

After writing several pages (3-7) STOP what you're doing, turn your computer off, and walk away. Don't feel the need to finish the scene you're working on. That way, when you sit down the next morning to write you'll be able to pick up exactly where you left off, and that momentum will see you through the rest of the day.

[dpaterso]

Good one! I've done just that. Well, I saved the file and closed the window anyway. I won't open it again till tomorrow. Think I'll go watch a couple of films or read a book...

-Derek

[Rainy Night]

How'd you get 9 pages already Dpat... I've got Fade In: so far and that's about it.

[dpaterso]

I knew how it was going to start, so typing that was easy. I know how it's going to end, so hopefully that's going to be easy too. It's the 80-page chunk in the middle that's going to cause my panties to bunch.

-Derek

[NikeeGoddess]

dpat - take your painties off and write in the nude. you can get a whole lot more done when your privates are aired out and in the open.

[Rainy Night]

I didn't need that visual, I don't know if I can write anymore today, everytime I sit down to the computer I'll think of Dpat in the buff....

[dpaterso]

Nikee already knows that's how I write, we're both members of the Buck Naked Writers Club, pics available on request. Of course I meant metaphorically bunching panties, e.g. running round in mental circles flapping one's neural pathways, etc.

-Derek

[Siddow]

I hear you, Rainy!

I'm trying to write a screenplay and LEARN how to write a screenplay at the same time. I've filled 1/2 of one page, which could be a whole page if I moved the title to the center. ;) So far I've described the setting and typed:

BEN

But I haven't yet figured out the dialogue to go beneath that. I'm going to take off with a legal pad and write a conversation by hand, then come back with the good parts.

And pants for Derek.

[NicoleMD]

This is so much fun. I am already hooked. I've got a few scenes down and am getting to know my characters as I go.

[Flu]

Good luck everyone!

I wish I could participate, but am a bit too busy at the moment.
You all have my moral support though.

Buck naked writing doesn't work for me, by the way. Damn mosquitoes...

-Flu

[ALLWritety]

AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Frenzy???? Oh you bet i am!!!

On June 1st I sit down at my computer write about 80 words then my compter goes on the FRITZ. It is still out to luch! I had a new hard drive put in only a couple of months ago!! Taiwan people don't know how to fix things!!!

I am having to waste valuble time trying to fix the darn thing before I throw it out of the window. I live on the 25th floor so it would be truely smashed to smitherines!! (Spelling?)

But don't worry I will rise above this and will do my stuff.

I WILL RISE!

Kev

[dpaterso]

Kev, bad luck old chap! I feel your pain.

Flu, maybe next time!

Nicole, lookin' good! :eek:

Siddow, how's that conversation going? :)

-Derek

[Rainy Night]

It's a slow start for me, but then beginnings always are. I wasted the weekend, then tomorrow I'm flying to LA for a job interview so it'll be the end of the week before I can sit down and make some real progress.

I'm still in it, just need to do some catching up.

[Siddow]

They're talking, Derek! And moving around, and doing things! And they have no idea just how bad it's about to get.

It's Alive!

(sorry about the computer, Kev.)

[Rainy Night]

This whole word count think is sending me into a frenzy. I'm at 5 pgs / 707 words... at this rate my 20000 word script is going to be 140 pages...

Maybe I have too much white space on my pages...

How many words per page is everyone else averaging?

I'm off to LA - back on Wednesday.

[dpaterso]

This whole word count think is sending me into a frenzy. I'm at 5 pgs / 707 words... at this rate my 20000 word script is going to be 140 pages...

Maybe I have too much white space on my pages...

How many words per page is everyone else averaging?
:ROFL:

-Derek

[NicoleMD]

This whole word count think is sending me into a frenzy. I'm at 5 pgs / 707 words... at this rate my 20000 word script is going to be 140 pages...

Maybe I have too much white space on my pages...

How many words per page is everyone else averaging?

I'm off to LA - back on Wednesday.

I am worried about this, too. I'm getting about 133 words per page, which will put me at 150 pages!

The end of my act I hit at page 40, so I think my pacing is going alright. I really have no idea how this is supposed to work, so I'm just going to write everything down, and then worry about length when I get to THE END.

I may be reverting to my old nano trick of giving everyone three or four middle names. :)

Nicole

[dpaterso]

Nicole, 50 pages is boggling. :)

I don't want to slow you down or anything, so don't feel obliged to check this out until you're ready -- same goes for anyone else reading this, stop now if you're easily distracted.

In the screenwriting tips (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24087) thread there's a link to an article on screenwriter/guru Michael Hauge's Screenplay Mastery site:

SCREENPLAY STRUCTURE
The Five Key Turning Points of All Successful Scripts
http://www.screenplaymastery.com/structure.htm

...which you might find useful, it breaks a script down into easy-to-understand components, and gives each an estimated % running time for each.

Just for example's sake, I'm aiming for my Act I break to happen maybe around p25, no later than p30 (of a 110-page script).

As for that arbitrary 20,000-word target, I am seriously ignoring it. I'll write as many words on an "average" page as the story needs. Don't let the artificial constraint influence you, it's no more useful in the real world than NaNo's 50,000-word target (which is what, half a novel or thereabouts?).

-Derek

[NicoleMD]

Thanks a bunch, Derek. I'm really looking forward to learning the craft, but yeah, I get distracted easily. I just figured I'd jump in with both feet, and go back and figure out everything when I'm done. Backwards, I know. But that's me! :Shrug:

I'll definitely be hanging out in this forum more often.

Nicole

[ALLWritety]

Hey Rainy
you will have to write like a newbie!! Forget the diet, bulk up man!! Stuff some potatoes, pasta more meat to fill you out then after June you can go back on a diet and lose all that extra stuff.

Don't know if you want to do that or if you even can do it now??

Just an off beat suggestion!!
Kev

[Rainy Night]

Hey Rainy
you will have to write like a newbie!! Forget the diet, bulk up man!! Stuff some potatoes, pasta more meat to fill you out then after June you can go back on a diet and lose all that extra stuff.

Don't know if you want to do that or if you even can do it now??

Just an off beat suggestion!!
Kev
That's exactly what I've been thinking. I hate rewriting so my typical approach is to write slowly and craft the story leaving as little as possible for the re-writes. I'm thinking I just need to blow through it writing every thought that comes into my head then go back and cut it down.

I guess that's part of this exercise, trying something new.

[Rainy Night]

First week how's everyone doing? I just finished my first 10 pages, it's starting to flow a little faster now.

[Siddow]

Hey rainy, I'm at nine pages. I was going great this afternoon then the kids decided to NEED me...but yeah, I think I'm over that opening slump. I love to muddle around in the middle, so I'm hoping to have a great week and not be sluggish again until the 18th or 19th, when I expect to be closing it out.

I hate the beginning and end. Those always need the biggest rewrites for me.

[ALLWritety]

:partyguy: :snoopy: :hooray:


I'm so happy.
I get a new computer - Brand spanking new. So I'm back in the game!!!! Yeah. I have the last week of June off so I don't need to work. That means I have a week to really blast into this.

WHOOOO WOOOOO!!!!!!!


Kev

[ALLWritety]

opps - BTW I get Comp on Monday.
K

[Rainy Night]

I hate the beginning and end. Those always need the biggest rewrites for me.

Those are always the hardest parts for me too, keep at it!

:partyguy: :snoopy: :hooray:
I'm so happy.
I get a new computer - Brand spanking new. So I'm back in the game!!!! Yeah. I have the last week of June off so I don't need to work. That means I have a week to really blast into this.

WHOOOO WOOOOO!!!!!!!


Kev

That's great !!! Welcome back! When my Dell took a dump on me for the second time last month I trashed it for a new HP and it's been a dream.

[Rainy Night]

On target so far on my horror script...

Human sacrifice ... page 5 ... check
Pregnant woman flying into peril ... page 10 ... check
Naked strippers, fodder for the evil forces ... page 15 ... check

16 pages... 24 behind dPat...

Well... the boss is out of town the next two days, so here's to making up for lost time.

[Rainy Night]

It's oddly silent around here...

Made good progress last couple of days. I'm excited... tomorrow I get to crash the plane in the middle of the Salt Flats and then the fun begins...

How's everyone else doing?

[Siddow]

On target so far on my horror script...

Human sacrifice ... page 5 ... check
Pregnant woman flying into peril ... page 10 ... check
Naked strippers, fodder for the evil forces ... page 15 ... check



Hey...did you steal my plot? :D

I'm a slug, really. Slowly realizing that I am NOT a screenwriter, but I still want to do this. I want to do this REALLY BAD. Literally.

That should ease up the old internal editor, eh? Bring on the bad dialogue and plentiful parenthicals! Wheee!

[Rainy Night]

I'm a slug, really. Slowly realizing that I am NOT a screenwriter, but I still want to do this. I want to do this REALLY BAD. Literally.

That should ease up the old internal editor, eh? Bring on the bad dialogue and plentiful parenthicals! Wheee!

Keep at it... understand that writing a script in a month is not normal practice (except for my wife who can astound me by writing a feature length script in a weekend) ... persistence, determination are key to success. Never surrender...

[NicoleMD]

I'm heading into the final stretch! There seems to be an absence of blood and gore for a zombie flick, though. I have a blood bath planned for the climax. I'll save editing for next month, I guess. And research.

Nicole

[Rainy Night]

Where's everyone at... final stretch here... 10 days to go!

If I write 8 pages a day I'll have it... wrote 7 today... so far all my writing's been done while I'm at work. I do think that if I'm going to finish I'll have to do some writing at home this weekend.

LOOK EVERYONE --- no matter where you are at for page or word count you are still not out of it. Write like crazy, don't worry about structure, format or feeding the cat... just write.

That's my pep talk for today... get back at it.

RN

[nielsty]

And don't worry about getting fired, Rainy :-)

[ALLWritety]

I have end of year at school so LOADS OF EXAMS to prepare and mark. YUCK!!!! Anyway I finish this week and i have ALL of the last week to write. I have already warned my wife and kids that they won't see me next week coz i need to play catch up. I am up to 4000 words after spending about 10 days off coz of that darn comp.

I will make it to the end. I will do it.

Dpat you seriously working on 2 scripts for the Frenzy? Or is this just your major rewrite??? MAN i don't envy you if you are!!! Eat more haggis and knock back the whiskey. That is how i would be able to do that at the moment!!!

Kev

[ALLWritety]

Yeah rrainy what is your day job. If you can spend this much time writing a script at work sounds good to me. Can I come and join you eh?
K

[Rainy Night]

And don't worry about getting fired, Rainy :-)

I'm a contractor (glorified temp)... my contract is up mid July and since the company is moving all the jobs to Mexico there's little chance that they are going to hire me on permanent. So I'm not too worried.

Yeah rrainy what is your day job. If you can spend this much time writing a script at work sounds good to me. Can I come and join you eh?
K

I have boss who likes to keep up appearances, i.e. head count in his department. The more people who work for him the more important he thinks he is.

I lost my 6-figure job in Seattle a year ago when the company I worked for was sold. I've been hanging out in Phoenix doing the contractor thing. When this contract is up I'm seriously thinking of moving my family to L.A. to pursue screenwriting. I've really got nothing to loose.

[Rainy Night]

Come on people, who's still in this? I've got a few days and 1/2 my script to go ... if I can do it so can you !!!

[NicoleMD]

I'm here and running loooonnngg!!!

I think I still have at least 15 pages to go, but I knocked ten out yesterday, so hopefully two more nights and I'll be done.

I might download a demo version of Final Draft to see what that's all about. They're offering a discount to Script Frenzy participants, so maybe that'll be my reward for finishing. I'm really tempted...

Nicole

[Rainy Night]

I'm here and running loooonnngg!!!

I think I still have at least 15 pages to go, but I knocked ten out yesterday, so hopefully two more nights and I'll be done.

I might download a demo version of Final Draft to see what that's all about. They're offering a discount to Script Frenzy participants, so maybe that'll be my reward for finishing. I'm really tempted...

Nicole
Excellent work ! You can cut and edit your script down in your rewrite, for now just get it finished.

I have both Final Draft (5.0) and Movie Magic. I like both, but prefer Movie Magic. There are a lot of contests where you can win software as opposed to buying it. Final Draft I bought on eBay really cheap, it was an outdated version so less expensive, but still it does the job. I'm using it on this script.

[NicoleMD]

Excellent work ! You can cut and edit your script down in your rewrite, for now just get it finished.

I have both Final Draft (5.0) and Movie Magic. I like both, but prefer Movie Magic. There are a lot of contests where you can win software as opposed to buying it. Final Draft I bought on eBay really cheap, it was an outdated version so less expensive, but still it does the job. I'm using it on this script.

Thanks! You too!

I've read some of the heated debates and complaints about the different software packages out there, and it makes me nervous. I'm pretty software-phobic (despite that it's what I do for a living) and don't do well adjusting to new things. I've got a good Word template, so really, I'm not sure what the software would do for me. But I guess that's what demos are for.

Good luck, and may the words fly!

Nicole

[Rainy Night]

Thanks! You too!

I've read some of the heated debates and complaints about the different software packages out there, and it makes me nervous. I'm pretty software-phobic (despite that it's what I do for a living) and don't do well adjusting to new things. I've got a good Word template, so really, I'm not sure what the software would do for me. But I guess that's what demos are for.

Good luck, and may the words fly!

Nicole
The software's just a tool. If the Word template works for you and you feel comfortable using it then keep at it. :Thumbs:

[Rainy Night]

Arrrgggg... 7000 words to go and I just got called for a job interview and have to fly to San Diego tomorrow... this is really going to cut into my writing time.

Is anyone else still in this with me?

[dpaterso]

I'm still adding words every day, tho' other stuff has intruded and slowed me up. I'll just keep writing after the "deadline" -- I don't care how long it takes, the scripts are started and under way, I'll finish 'em in the real world.

-Derek

[Dominic]

I came, I wrote like h***, and now... I sleep! Kinda, but I'm done!!!

20,098 words (and another page which I'm about to finish up)

Have a good interview.
Dominic

[ALLWritety]

Yep I am still in the game. I am clocking more and more on the word count. I am basically just going to write until it is finished but I will do it before the deadline!

Congrats on interview hope it goes/went well.

See you at the finishing line in the winners box.
Kev

[Rainy Night]

I learned two things yesterday:

1. Southwest Air is never on time. Four flights last month on Southwest, three of them delayed - that's a 25% on time percentage. I had to wait yesterday while they repaired the deicer... I know it's an important part, but come on, I'm flying from Phoenix to San Diego and its 110 degrees outside.

2. The San Diego airport needs more electrical outlets. The battery on my laptop died and I could have written more if only I could have plugged it in.

I've got today and tomorrow... 5000 words to go, about 20 pages. It's going to be close, but I think I'll get it in on time.

[Rainy Night]

Well, tomorrow's the day... 3500 words to go and I have to work a 1/2 day tomorrow... so far I've competed 95% of this while at work.

Let's see what tomorrow brings.

[ALLWritety]

Howdy
I did it. WHOOO HOOOO!!!!!! YEAH!

Sent it in at 10:30am this morning after writing all night. I got stuck at about 18,000 words and i needed one more idea to put in, which came at about 6am. Then once I had finished my script i put it into word so i could post it but found out that nearly 100 word difference. SO I had to scribble some more to get the word one over the finishing line. Finally got it done.

YEAH!!! Now I can sleep, then shave, eat and things normal bods do. That is until the next time!! ;-p

BTW how do i put my SF winner dooby into my signature? I looked before but maybe i was tired but it did not compute.

Rainy we are waiting for you. You can do!! Your name will be amongst the winners

Kev.

[ALLWritety]

I hope that they will have Script Frenzy next year. I think doing this once a year is about right. If i had to do this every month i would be mush ut would have written loads of stuff.
It was fun eh????

[Rainy Night]

Done, 20,009 words... I'll write an update later.

[Dominic]

Grats Rainy and KCPotatohead. So far it seems most people are eeking into the winners circle, but we are getting there. What's your plan from here?

I intend to pursue production of mine, but I'm throwing it on a shelf for four or five weeks before doing my next draft. My goal is to have it in front of the right people by the end of September.

Dominic

[NicoleMD]

I know! This was totally fun. I think I'll let my script sit for a while while I catch up on other projects half-neglected during June. Hopefully I'll have it polished up and ready for some critical eyes before Nano hits!

Congrats everyone.

Nicole

[ALLWritety]

Grats to Nicole, Dominic, Rainy and of course my self. Also to any others that have not posted here yet.

Well done for those that tried but didn't get there. You have a 1st draft completed to some point. And Dpat sarted with one then had twins and now has two scripts. WHOO HOO!! These are scripts that you can work and finish. The way I work is that I like to have the script written as I find it easier to change rather than writting it bit by bit. Each to his own!!! I too will leave the rewriting for a while.

So Dominic you got contacts or leads for your script?

Hopefully it will run next year or we could just do it for our selves in AW? What ya think?

Kev

[dpaterso]

Hopefully it will run next year or we could just do it for our selves in AW? What ya think?
KC, see msg #2 in this thread. :)

Yeah congrats to everyone, I'm a long way from finished but I'm happy with what I got out of this, and will continue writing.

-Derek

[ALLWritety]

So you guys up for the challenge again in Nov with the NaNoWriMo???? Or is that toooooooooooooooo soon? Have the summer to rest up. Think of your idea, plan it out and away we go, another month of sleeplessness, stress, isolation etc! But just think of al that writing you can get done or it this too much punishment for you to endure?

If a few of you are in then I too will have another crack at it.
Please let me know.
Kev.

[Dominic]

KC, Nothing definite on the contacts and leads. I know an assistant production editor for Ridley Scott Productions, so I may have an in there. But if I don't try, why write?

As for NaNo, I've never done it before because of ignorance, but it is my intention to participate this November.

[Rainy Night]

So I finished my script, what I’m calling a “rough” rough draft. I’m going to need a re-write just to get it to the rewrite stage. The problem that I had was with the word count requirement. My initial intention was to write a 90-95 page horror script, keep the scenes short and packed with action, but the whole time in the back of my head I kept thinking that I needed many more pages to make the 20,000 words.

I realized on Thursday while sitting at the airport in San Diego (about page 90) that I was being very wordy and that the scene I had just written should really be on page 50. I also realized that if I continued this way there would be no way I’d have a complete script. So I jumped ahead and wrote the ending. Then I went back and wrote everything that happens in between in treatment style, no formatting. I wrote most of Friday night and Saturday morning at work wrapped it up at 20,009 words.

So, while everything is still fresh in my head I’m going to go back in and flesh out those pages that I wrote in brief, which if I estimate correctly should bring me to about 150 pages. The second draft re-write will be tough as I think this story should go no longer than 95 pages, lots to cut, but at least I’ll have the material to work with.

This was a success for me. One of my constant complaints has been that I just don’t have enough free time to spend writing. I mentioned a couple of times that I was doing this at work. I got the idea from Elmore Leonard who used to write while at work by keeping a drawer open in his desk with a note pad inside. He’d keep his hand in the drawer and write, closing the drawer when anyone stepped in his office. I did about the same keeping a window open on my computer keeping it small and minimizing it when someone walked past my cubicle. I’d write for 10 – 15 minutes between tasks, at lunch and during some dead time in the afternoons, before I went home when there was nothing to do. About 90% of this was written that way.

I can’t vouch for the *greatness* of my script, but it’s a finished rough first draft and all the edges will be smoothed out in the subsequent re-writes. Great job everyone who finished and even to those who didn’t because you’re got something you didn’t have thirty days ago - and Dpat … trying to finish off a bottle of Glenmorangie single malt while writing a script is not called “juggling two projects”… ;)

[Rainy Night]

I've posted the first 10 of my script in the SYW room. I'd like to see what everyone else wrote (no matter how bad you think it is) so please go post if you'd like to share.

[Dominic]

I misunderstood the first 10 initially, but that's fixed now. The first ten pages of my script are up as well.

Dominic

[Rainy Night]

I see Dpat and KC posted also... very cool, now I have something to read over the weekend.

Write on people !

[dpaterso]

Don't feel obliged to read or comment, I just posted so y'all would get a taste of what I was doing, both scripts are still works in progress and subject to change. Both might end up chucked into the waste bin and burned. I'm ruthless, me.

-Derek

[ALLWritety]

hey Nicole

WHERE ARE YOU? We want to see your work. Post it in SYW in the Script Frenzy thread.

AND anyone else who was in Script Frenzy.
Kev.

[NicoleMD]

hey Nicole

WHERE ARE YOU? We want to see your work. Post it in SYW in the Script Frenzy thread.

AND anyone else who was in Script Frenzy.
Kev.

Hehehehe...