Homer Simpson once said, "Well I'm glad that's over. Now we can go home and act normal again." However, I don't feel that applies here.
For myself and others who have embarked on this writing sojourn over the past 30 days, it has been quite an adventure. A test to push our limits and expand our horizons. Most common people might have looked at us back in late March or early April and said, "You're going to write a 100-page script in a month? That's insane!" Yet, we struck forth and challenged ourselves to complete what those people thought would be the unthinkable.
Some people failed in the process, but were still valiant in their efforts. Do I feel they lost because they didn't reach that 100-page plateau? No. I admire them for willing to take on the challenge. And while they may not have crossed the finish line by the deadline, to them I say, "Keep the dream alive, for there is always next year. And there is no doubt in my mind that come 12 months from now, you'll have broken down that barrier and be victorious."
That being said, during this past month, I have come across some inspirational participants that make me proud to not only know them, but to have fought along side them on this crazy quest. I would hate myself if I did not recognize the following people (as given by their Script Frenzy monickers):
A-Chels - a university student who was in the midst of term papers and exams, yet polished off a 100 page script in 4 days. It's funny because at the start of the month, she was adiment she was not going to partake in this journey; yet she persevered. Way to go, Alyssa.
VictoriaBlack - while A-Chels' feat was remarkable, nothing compares to the come from behind win of "Lil Vix." One of the members of the "RoofHatTree" Club, she had only written 1 page in Screnzy '09, but she blew everyone out of the water when during a late charge she polished off 100 pages in under 72 hours. To me, this young sprite is full of "epic win."
RedParrot - What can't be said about this remarkable woman? The driving force behind our local daily page sprints and weekend challenges. Red wrote an unfathomable 318 pages over 3 scripts this April. She will claim that I helped push her to write such an insane amount because of my 203 pages over 2 scripts, but truth be told, she helped push me along with a lot of others within the Toronto Script Frenzy community.
bunnyhero and NataliaLW - I'd be remissed if I didn't give a shout out to the remarkable Municipal Liaisons from this past month. Their dedication and drive to help organize the live write-ins and social events helped make the past 30 days extremely fun for myself and everyone else who participated and attended these events. You two "reek of awesomeness."
There are so many more I want to thank for making this past month one of the best times I've ever had. It makes me sad that its now come to an end. However, for us aspiring writers, there is one silver lining in all of this.. well, two actually. First, I consider all of the friends and colleagues I have met and made during the past 4-1/2 weeks a special family who have shared in all of our trials and tribulations; cheering us on as we pushed forth to reach our individual, yet common goals. Without all of you, the journey would've been a tougher go. And finally, while we must bid adieu to the 2010 edition of Script Frenzy, we must remember one small glimmer of light further down this dark tunnel: only 6 more months until the start of NaNoWriMo 2010.
Until next time, the views may be from the outside, but I want to thank everyone who allowed me into their lives this April to be part of this madness.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Ohhhh We're Halfway There
One down, one to go.
Earlier this afternoon I finally closed the book on my first script for this year's Script Frenzy. Because the page counting robots, monkeys, or whatever beancounting devices they use include the title page in this (well, it's more Celtx's doing with that inclusion), it logged in at 102 pages; beating the necessary century mark by 2%. Most people would think I now have the rest of the month to relax and start thinking about my NaNo project for this coming November, but those who have read my previous blog entries know that's not going to happen just yet.
With my first script done and out of the way, I can now start focusing on the script I initially set out to write before the one I just put to bed fell into my lap, per se. With 17 days left to plot and write this spin off, if you could call it that, one would think I have an ample amount to chart my course and continue the blistering pace I set forth in writing Script #1. However, there are subtle differences in the planning of the two screenplays.
The first script had a pretty set flow where I was adapting real life events into a workable story. That worked for the first 80% of the script. The back 20 was mostly the lead-in to what is becoming Script #2. The second script does not contain any firm structure or plan unlike the first script. So technically, I'm writing this one "off the cuff" like I almost did with my NaNo last November. But at least with NaNo, I had a rough map of how I wanted the story to flow; which I eventually ended up padding in the end anyway, but that's beside the point. As it stands right now, the only real direction I have so far for Script #2 is the opening sequence which answered the question that was asked during the shocking conclusion of Script #1. Beyond that, I am flying without a net.
However, logic would dictate that in order to hammer out the next set of 100 pages by the 30th, I now have a couple days to chart my course of attack. I already have the main character established, but she'll be fleshed out a little more during the course of my story. I also have to determine what other characters I want to introduce and certain graphicness of the scene descriptions. This is going to be quite an adventure I'll be doing under the gun.
But one thing for sure, win or lose on Script #2, at least I have Script #1 to firm my place across the finish line.
Until next time, the views may be from the outside, but I'm waiting to get into the Halfway Party and see what they have on the menu.
Earlier this afternoon I finally closed the book on my first script for this year's Script Frenzy. Because the page counting robots, monkeys, or whatever beancounting devices they use include the title page in this (well, it's more Celtx's doing with that inclusion), it logged in at 102 pages; beating the necessary century mark by 2%. Most people would think I now have the rest of the month to relax and start thinking about my NaNo project for this coming November, but those who have read my previous blog entries know that's not going to happen just yet.
With my first script done and out of the way, I can now start focusing on the script I initially set out to write before the one I just put to bed fell into my lap, per se. With 17 days left to plot and write this spin off, if you could call it that, one would think I have an ample amount to chart my course and continue the blistering pace I set forth in writing Script #1. However, there are subtle differences in the planning of the two screenplays.
The first script had a pretty set flow where I was adapting real life events into a workable story. That worked for the first 80% of the script. The back 20 was mostly the lead-in to what is becoming Script #2. The second script does not contain any firm structure or plan unlike the first script. So technically, I'm writing this one "off the cuff" like I almost did with my NaNo last November. But at least with NaNo, I had a rough map of how I wanted the story to flow; which I eventually ended up padding in the end anyway, but that's beside the point. As it stands right now, the only real direction I have so far for Script #2 is the opening sequence which answered the question that was asked during the shocking conclusion of Script #1. Beyond that, I am flying without a net.
However, logic would dictate that in order to hammer out the next set of 100 pages by the 30th, I now have a couple days to chart my course of attack. I already have the main character established, but she'll be fleshed out a little more during the course of my story. I also have to determine what other characters I want to introduce and certain graphicness of the scene descriptions. This is going to be quite an adventure I'll be doing under the gun.
But one thing for sure, win or lose on Script #2, at least I have Script #1 to firm my place across the finish line.
Until next time, the views may be from the outside, but I'm waiting to get into the Halfway Party and see what they have on the menu.
Monday, April 5, 2010
After the First Furlong
"There's the horn and they're off!"
I don't know what it is, but for some strange reason, starting off this year's Script Frenzy has gotten me about as pumped as seeing the chuckwagon races when I attended the Calgary Stampede nearly 21 years ago. It's chaotic and exciting at the same time.
I think what has helped me so far is the fact that I had a vivid gameplan to start and it has paid off. After the first weekend, I have completed over a quarter of the intended 100-page goal. (As I write this, I'm currently sitting on page 31.) I have been polishing off pages right, left, and center, and the dialogue has been flowing from my brain and onto my computer. At this rate, it might appear that I'll be finished what I hope to be my first of the two scripts I'll be attempting to write by mid-month. However, there is something that does concern me.
I think back to last November when I started off my NaNo project with such vim and vigor; polishing off nearly a third of the necessary 50,000 words within the first five days. The only problem is, I started to rest on my laurels soon after the blistering pace to start. With that, combined with nearly running out of story (which I confess I ended up padding), I eventually crossed the finish line on Day 24 of 30. I'm concerned about the same thing happening to me with Screnzy. While I don't intend on slowing down - even if I did, I do have something in the bullpen waiting to be called in - the fact that the first half of this script has been an adaptation of something personal has aided in my pace. I'm just worried what's going to happen when I switch from the adaptation of life to the fictional half.
As it stands right now, I plan on starting Act II as a hypothetical what-if where my main character starts a new life and befriends someone who is actually the MC from my second script; kind of a bit of "Resevoir Dogs" and "Pulp Fiction" overlap with the difference being the ending of Script 1 is the beginning of Script 2. It's just a matter of figuring out how to get to that first ending. I have an idea of the course I want to chart to arrive there, but the actual execution is what worries me and to make sure it seems halfway credible in the process. I want to make sure Script 2 gets an ample opportunity to be told, but if I can't get just the right lead-in with the proper time to spare, I feel Script 2 might not be given its proper due.
I'm currently about to start telling the fifth of the seven-day adaptation for Act I, which I've dubbed "My Week From Hell." That gives me three more days of story adaptation before I come face-to-face with the mystery of Act II. I would say "wish me luck," but I think the add-on line of "I'm gonna need it" seems rather self-explanatory.
Until next time, the views may be from the outside, but a character that's only been heard in voice over's so far is about to come in (-to my story).
I don't know what it is, but for some strange reason, starting off this year's Script Frenzy has gotten me about as pumped as seeing the chuckwagon races when I attended the Calgary Stampede nearly 21 years ago. It's chaotic and exciting at the same time.
I think what has helped me so far is the fact that I had a vivid gameplan to start and it has paid off. After the first weekend, I have completed over a quarter of the intended 100-page goal. (As I write this, I'm currently sitting on page 31.) I have been polishing off pages right, left, and center, and the dialogue has been flowing from my brain and onto my computer. At this rate, it might appear that I'll be finished what I hope to be my first of the two scripts I'll be attempting to write by mid-month. However, there is something that does concern me.
I think back to last November when I started off my NaNo project with such vim and vigor; polishing off nearly a third of the necessary 50,000 words within the first five days. The only problem is, I started to rest on my laurels soon after the blistering pace to start. With that, combined with nearly running out of story (which I confess I ended up padding), I eventually crossed the finish line on Day 24 of 30. I'm concerned about the same thing happening to me with Screnzy. While I don't intend on slowing down - even if I did, I do have something in the bullpen waiting to be called in - the fact that the first half of this script has been an adaptation of something personal has aided in my pace. I'm just worried what's going to happen when I switch from the adaptation of life to the fictional half.
As it stands right now, I plan on starting Act II as a hypothetical what-if where my main character starts a new life and befriends someone who is actually the MC from my second script; kind of a bit of "Resevoir Dogs" and "Pulp Fiction" overlap with the difference being the ending of Script 1 is the beginning of Script 2. It's just a matter of figuring out how to get to that first ending. I have an idea of the course I want to chart to arrive there, but the actual execution is what worries me and to make sure it seems halfway credible in the process. I want to make sure Script 2 gets an ample opportunity to be told, but if I can't get just the right lead-in with the proper time to spare, I feel Script 2 might not be given its proper due.
I'm currently about to start telling the fifth of the seven-day adaptation for Act I, which I've dubbed "My Week From Hell." That gives me three more days of story adaptation before I come face-to-face with the mystery of Act II. I would say "wish me luck," but I think the add-on line of "I'm gonna need it" seems rather self-explanatory.
Until next time, the views may be from the outside, but a character that's only been heard in voice over's so far is about to come in (-to my story).
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