What have I done?
Posted on | March 29, 2008 | 7 Comments
Pretty much everyone reading is, I’m sure, aware of NaNoWriMo. Well, it seems that there is a script writer’s alternative. Script Frenzy seems to be a newish endeavour, designed along the same lines.
Basically, the idea is to write a 100 page script in the period from April 1st to 30th. The average, feature-length script is in the 90 to 120 page ballpark so this basically means writing a movie in a month. Granted, similarly to NaNoWriMo, what’s required is a first draft in this time period. To ask for more is really the stuff of madness for normal people.
Again, similarly to NaNoWriMo, there are no actual prizes to speak of. Unless you count a spiffy icon that I can pop on my blog to boast at how I managed to do it and the sense of achievement at having completed the script. Both seem like pretty poor prizes to me, which begs the question, why have I signed up? Because it’s there or something. I don’t really know. I’m anticipating that the sense of community and arbitrary deadline will encourage and motivate me to great things. Or, if not great, then, at least, things.
Nevertheless, it is a scary prospect. A feature-length script in a month is a tall order. I am deeply worried that my Inner Critic, never one to keep his derogatory trap shut, will chide and condescend so much that I’ll never manage it. I know that I’m going to find it extremely difficult to shut him out sufficiently that I actually finish a first draft in that time. Still, I know that doing so will be an extremely useful exercise as it’s that Inner Critic that makes me ponder and fuss and obsess over everything I write (not here obviously) so much that I end up doing eight rewrites on each sentence. As I go. This is why I don’t get enough stuff done. I’m trying to stop this insanity but it’s hard. I’m hoping that Script Frenzy is the answer.
So, there you have it. When I get around to fiddling with code, there will be an icon over in the sidebar to announce, to the world, my participation and make it more difficult to pretend that I just forgot. In the meantime, there is one below.
April is shaping up to be a busy month. Wish me luck. Better yet, offer to babysit.
Comments
Gerry Hayes
I mostly sit around all day and drink tea. Occasionally, I write stuff and send it to strangers so they can humiliate me and deride my efforts. Other than the self-harm to dull the shame of failure, it's not a bad life. Like I say, there's tea.
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It’s a sure-fired way to push you further into the fetal prone position in the shower. Sounds like.
I did nanowrimo one year. It was good for shutting up the inner critic b/c of the time pressure. I’ve never managed to find the time again. Between work and the god damn Mista in my life (oh, and the dog, but she’s cute and furry so I can’t resent her!) there just isn’t time.
Shut the IC up and good luck!
Indeed, the time. That’s a big worry. I’m hoping that this will be a good push to get around that though. If I can just turn off Lost and go and write something instead, I might just do it.
Hmmmm. What are the chances?
Thanks for the good wishes. Most kind.
Whew – that is tough but good though. Remember – story story story – don’t worry abut the number of pages for now. Don’t get bogged down with narrative arc’s straight off either – a sure fire way to paint yourself into an awkward corner. And don’t be afraid to turn things on their head if they are not working ie: what would this person say, what would happen if they were male instead of female, old instead of young for example – it is good to try those things out now and again. Pah – hark at me! I have done script development – can you tell?! Good luck with it all. I am sure you will do really well.
Story, story, story, narrative arcs, head-turning, transsexuals … Got it, RM. Thanks. Script development too, eh? Huzzah for you, you multi-talented minx. Rest assured that I’ll be emailing you with any old shite I write in the future.
Thanks to you for the good wishes too, RM. I’ll need all the help I can get.
I don’t know anything about script writing, but all the best with your creative endeavours.
Me neither. How hard can it be though?
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