ScriptFrenzy is coming

It's getting to be that time of year again when writers begin imagining proscenium stages or subconsciously scouting set locations while they drive to work.

ScriptFrenzy is almost here.

Like NaNoWriMo (and organized by the same bunch of crazy adventurers), Screnzy is a month-long writing event. But where NaNo guides writing a book, Screnzy guides helps writers see they have time to write a play.

30 days. 100 pages of script.

Don't freak out. In script-writing, 100 pages is easy-peasy. There's a lot more white space on a script page than a book page, and if you have a lot of dialogue (versus stage/screen directions), you'll be amazed at how quickly the pages go.

I love writing stage plays. I like the challenge of bringing a story to life just enough to allow a cast to become the story. I don't know that I would ever be a playwright, but it is certainly a fun break from prose.

Last year (or maybe it's been longer than that), I had an idea for a story that was borne out of the collection, but didn't fit into it. I intended to write it as a stage play for Screnzy. Life got a little crazy, and the idea still sits. So I'm going to try and tackle it this year. (Puck and Tink will be with Monty for most of April, so I'll have a little extra time that I can use.) I have plans for it once it's finished, too. But there's lots to do before we get to that point.

If you've ever had an idea for a stage play, screenplay, TV show, radio program, graphic novel, or even a scripted street performance, here's your chance to prove to yourself that you can, in fact, write it! Use the encouragement and motivation that comes from Screnzy to fuel your writing.

The "rules" can be found here, along with a place to sign up, valuable writing resources, and a forum to connect with other writers. There's still lots of time for you to decide whether or not to participate, and come up with an idea for your script. You even have time to create an outline and do some background work!

If you've ever imagined one of your stories on stage or screen, this is the time to take the first step toward making it happen. April will be here soon. Will you take the challenge?

Screnzy pep talk: the final day

Well, ladies and gentlemen, we've reached the final day of Screnzy. Are you finished with your script? Yes? Awesome! No? Good--there's still time! Today is the last day of ScriptFrenzy. It's the last day to scribble stage (or screen) directions, let you characters ramble their speeches, and describe your scenes down to the last fiber of carpet in order to hit 100 pages. If you have to, add a scene in a stuck elevator or an unexpected explosion. Whatever it takes to keep your story going, right?

You can do it!

Remember, even if you don't hit 100 pages by the end of the day today, you still have more written than you did on March 31st. The whole goal of ScriptFrenzy is to prove to yourself that you do, in fact, have time to write a script. And whether you've finished your script or not, you've made time to write something. So that makes you a winner.

Good luck on the last day, and I'll see you on the other side!

Screnzy pep talk: keep your conversations going

How's ScriptFrenzy going? If you're sticking with your schedule, you should be at about 25 pages. If you're not there yet, it's okay. There's still plenty of time, after all.

One of the things I run into sometimes is dead-ends in conversations. When you're dealing with prose, this isn't necessarily a problem. You can venture into a bit of description, reflect on the characters' thoughts or actions, or even make a note of the creepy stalker guy peeking at your protagonist from behind a bush.

Not as easy in script-writing.

Oh, sure, you can make something happen by adding some stage (or screen) directions, but in script-writing, conversations are key. If you have a dead-ended conversation, your scene has dead-ended.

There are things you can to do help keep your conversations (and scenes) going as you progress your plot and work toward 100 pages this month.

Ask questions.

If you feel like your conversation is winding down and it needs to continue, try asking questions of a character (or more than one character). Then, rather than directly answering the questions, ask more questions. Or answer them without actually answering them. Not only can this keep the conversation going, but it can help draw the audience into the story and build suspense.

Interrupt the conversation.


There are many times in life that a conversation is interrupted by someone or something, and after a brief distraction, the conversation resumes. This can be used in your script-writing, as well. If you feel a conversation fizzling out, bring in a character to interrupt, or have something happen to interrupt the characters. After the interruption is dealt with, the characters can go back to their original conversation, or can even discuss the interruption to lengthen the conversation.

We're about 1/4 of the way through the month. Don't worry if you're a little behind in your page count. Just keep pushing forward, adding pages, and before you know it, you'll be over 100 pages, maybe even before the end of the month!

Happy scribbling!

Screnzy Pep Talk: the first week

Welcome to the first week of ScriptFrenzy! Are you in a frenzy yet? This is the beautiful phase of the month in which the conversations and stage (or screen) directions flow freely. You'll find yourself flying through the story.

Enjoy it. Take advantage of it. Use it.

A couple of weeks from now when you're looking anxiously at the calendar and back at your page count, concerned that you won't actually be able to do it this time, remember how you feel right now. Today and this week is the motivation you need to push through to the end of the month, and to push through to hit 100+ pages.

This will not be an easy project. If script-writing were easy, everyone would do it, right? But it's a fun project. It's one that is meant to challenge your skills, stretch your writing muscles, and remind you of why you love writing so much.

So while I urge you to hold on tight to the exciting motivation you're feeling this week, I ask you to do whatever you can to keep writing when the excitement begins to fade a bit. Remember how you feel right now, and know that when you hit 100 pages (and beyond), you will feel it again.

This is just the beginning of a crazy, fun, frightening adventure. And it's worth it to see it through to the end.

Script Frenzy prep: your writing schedule

Screnzy is just a a few days away! Do you have a story and outline? Characters? Are you ready to sit down at your desk (or wherever) and put words to paper? Of course, coming up with the story and characters is only part of the challenge. Because anyone can some up with an idea for a story. What separates these people from writers is that writers actually do the writing. Now is the time to start thinking about how you're going to get it all done. That is: when are you going to write?

When you write depends, of course, on your daily schedule, and what kind of person you are. For example, I work from home full-time. Since my kids are still very small, I have to work around their schedules. So I've just transitioned into an early-morning schedule. I do as much writing as I can in the few hours before they wake up, try to do a little while they're napping (if possible), and then finish once they're in bed at night. My intention is to incorporate Screnzy writing into my regular daily schedule, maybe substituting freelancing during nap time for script-writing (since little gets done during that time, anyway).

I know that, often, life gets in the way of writing challenges like Screnzy, but having a schedule may help you feel like you don't have to spend every spare moment writing. Just be sure to budget enough time to get in your daily page count, and when it's time to write, you have to actually write.

Screnzy is an exciting writing challenge. I always look forward to it because I rarely write scripts. I'm either writing articles for clients or the coffee house book, which is prose. Screnzy is a nice break from the usual for me. And even in the years I didn't participate, I enjoyed reading other people's adventures in script-writing, encouraging them, and looking forward to the next time I could participate.

Screnzy is fast-approaching, and for all those participating, it's going to be crazy, hectic, and very, very fun! If you haven't decided whether or not you're joining in, you still have time. Check out the website, talk to other writers who are taking the challenge. And when April 1st rolls around, just start writing!

Screnzy Prep: crafting your characters

How's your ScriptFrenzy prep going? Do you have your story? There's still plenty of time to get ready so you can join the big, crazy adventure of writing 100+ pages of script in 30 days.

Part of the background work for script-writing is creating your characters for the story. The more you know about your characters before you start writing, the easier it will be to write them. This is especially important in scripts since it's all dialogue; you need to know your characters to be able to make their conversations believable, after all.

I use the life interview in Atkinson's Gift of Stories as the foundation of my character biographies. It's quite extensive, and may not be needed for something like Screnzy, but it's a great resource for writers. You don't have to use that, of course. You should use whatever works best for you and your characters. Some people just jot a list of character traits for each character, some people write quick biographies, and I've known some people to invent journal entries for their characters to better get in their heads.

When you create your characters, you have to think about how they fit into your story. What is each character's role in the story? That will help guide your bios. For example, if you have a minor character who is only in a scene or two, you probably don't need to have a full background with family history, quirks, preferences, and what the character's house looks like. Conversely, if you have a character who is in nearly every scene, he or she is likely going to need to be more three-dimensional.

You don't have to write character biographies. Just like you don't have to outline. But it can help. It might make Screnzy go a little more smoothly. Take some time today and think about the characters in your story.

Screnzy prep: crafting your story

Dear readers, Screnzy is fast-approaching, and the more background and organizing you can do now will mean more time to actually write when April 1st rolls around.

I know many people cringe at the mere mention of outlines, but when you're facing a writing challenge like Screnzy, outlines can be helpful. You don't have to create a complex, detailed outline to get yourself ready for April. Even just jotting down your story arc or a list of scenes will give you an idea of where you want your story to go when you start writing. It will help keep you from writing yourself into a corner.

When you write an outline, it forces you to develop your story beyond the one-line idea you had when you first started brainstorming for Screnzy. My one-line idea is "A collection of vignettes that center around people waiting for something."

When I started outlining the script, it became a story. As I thought about the different vignettes, I had to flesh out the idea into something more substantial than an idea. I needed story arcs for each of the vignettes, and before I knew it, I had something ready to actually be written.

If you really can't handle outlining, think of it as crafting your story. You need to know what you're writing about. Jotting some notes about how the story is going to go, how many acts and scenes you're writing, etc., will help make sure you can hit 100 pages between April 1st and April 30th.

What are you writing for Screnzy this year?

Screnzy prep: committing to the challenge

Ladies and gentlemen, Screnzy is just around the corner.

For those who don't know, Screnzy is short for ScriptFrenzy, an April writing event put on by the same awesome people that do National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The official website says the challenge is to:

Write 100 pages of original scripted material in the 30 days of April. (Screenplays, stage plays, TV shows, short films, and graphic novels are all welcome).

Let me tell you that, compared to 50,000 words in November, 100+ pages of script is easy peasy. Not only is it easier to do a challenge based on pages rather than word count, but the script allows for quicker writing based on page count. Have you ever looked at a script? Lots of white space. Easy peasy.

If you're thinking of doing Screnzy this year, now is the time to commit to it. Sign up on the website, start thinking about your script, and get ready for a crazy, fun adventure. You don't have to sign up on the website to do it, but it will give you access to the support offered by the forums, and will let you "officially" check in once you complete your script.

Whether you want to participate officially or not, giving yourself the challenge to write a script in April is a good challenge for writers. It forces you to sit down and actually write, and shows you that you can make the time to write if you set it as a priority in your life. I enjoy participating because it reminds me--a prose writer--that other mediums can be fun, too. I don't know that I'd ever pursue a career as playwright, but it's fun to write scripts sometimes. Just for something different.

Last year, I did not participate. I was quite pregnant with Bunny during April (she was born the 26th), so it just wasn't possible. However, I would like to participate this year, using an idea that I came up with last year (or the year before...?) and never wrote.

My idea is a stage play called Wait, which will be a collection of vignettes in which someone (or more than one someone) is waiting for something or someone. I'm looking forward to writing it, and will be spending some time in the next few weeks outlining the vignettes.

If you haven't decided whether or not to do Screnzy, there's still time. It doesn't start until April 1st. Get on their website to look around a little, spend some time brainstorming. The important thing to remember is that it's not about creating some prolific work of art for stage or screen. It's not even about what you get in the end. Screnzy is about proving to yourself that you can make time to write, and that if you make the time, you can write a 100+-page script in 30 days.

Are you in?

It's coming....!

It's mid-February. For many that means starting to think about spring, about St. Patrick's Day, about Ash Wednesday and Lent. However, for others, it means something different. It means thinking about ScriptFrenzy.

I know, I know. It's early. But, really, is it ever too early to start thinking about a writing challenge?

For those new to the idea, ScriptFrenzy is like NaNoWriMo, except that it's for scripts. ScriptFrenzy (referred to from here on as "Screnzy") offers flexibility in what kind of script is written. Screenplay, stage play, radio, television.... it's about writing not about following a long list of rules for how to do it. It's 100 pages in 30 days (which is super easy when you're writing a script, by the way, and especially compared to NaNo!).

I already know what I'm doing. The reason is because I came up with a script idea in 2010 and didn't write it. So I'm using that script idea for this year's challenge. It's called Wait, and is a collection of vignettes about... (you guessed it) waiting. And though I've outlined the script already, I think I'm going to start from scratch with the outline. I'm a very different person than I was two years ago, and I want the play to reflect the person I am today.

Again, I know it's early to be thinking about Screnzy. But the earlier, the better. Start thinking about whether or not you want to commit to writing 100 pages in 30 days. It can be done, and though it sounds nuts, it's a lot of fun to do.

In addition to participating, I will be offering virtual support throughout the experience, beginning with helping you prepare. Throughout the month of March I will post weekly prep posts to get your script ready to write, and throughout April I will post pep talk posts to keep you going. And you can know that I'll be right there along with you, scribbling away.

It's a wild and crazy adventure. And worth every moment of sleep lost to get it done.

Stage or screen awaits your story!

Back in November, writers all over the world sat down at their computers and took on the adventure of writing 50,000 words in 30 days. Next month, writers all over the world will once again get creative and undertake a new challenge: ScriptFrenzy.

ScriptFrenzy is the sister event to National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). As its name suggests, ScriptFrenzy is a script-writing event. The goal is to write 100 pages of script in 30 days. Just as NaNoWriMo is more inclusive than exclusive about what constitutes a novel, ScriptFrenzy is welcoming toward different kinds of scripts. According to their website, "Screenplays, stage plays, TV shows, short films, and graphic novels are all welcome."

Like NaNoWriMo, the prize for "winning" ScriptFrenzy is the sense of accomplishment that comes from having written 100 pages in 30 days.

For those who have never written a script, it's a good opportunity to try it. The resources available on ScriptFrenzy's website give information on laying out scripts and advice for writing. The homepage even has a "plot machine" to help get your writing ideas started. For example, "On a snowy day in Hawaii, a typewriter-shop owner befriends a young runaway with a secret." For those who have always wanted to try script-writing but never had the time, this is the chance to make the time and write that script you've always wanted to, with the support of writers from all over the world.

There's still plenty of time to get ready for ScriptFrenzy! Register on the website, think about what you're going to write, and then when April 1 gets here, start writing!

Happy scribbling!

Learning from ScriptFrenzy: writing dialogue

Now that ScriptFrenzy is over, many writers will be leaving the stage (or screen) behind to go back to writing prose. But just because you're setting aside playwriting for another year doesn't mean you can't take it into your writing the rest of the year.


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ScriptFrenzy is easier with support from Orlando writers

ScriptFrenzy is nearly here, and while thousands of writers have already committed to writing 100 pages of script in 30 days, there are many of you who may still be nervous about this big, scary adventure.  After all, if  you've never written a script before, it can be an intimidating venture.  Fortunately, the ScriptFrenzy website offers a lot of support and information about script-writing to get  you ready for the month.

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What is ScriptFrenzy?

Back in November, Orlando writers, as well as thousands of writers all over the world, sat down at their computers and took on the adventure of writing 50,000 words in 30 days.  Next month, thousands of writers all over the world will once again get creative and undertake a new challenge: ScriptFrenzy.


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Post-Screnzy Frenzy

Well, now that April is over, so is ScriptFrenzy 2009.  I'm happy to say I "won" this year, with about two weeks left over to focus on new clients and new freelancing projects.

Writing Table 4 was a good experience for me, and one that has given me a lot of good insights into the coffee house book.  In fact, I'm using the outline from my script as a jumping-off point on the new outline for my book.  I liked the way the story developed in the script, and I think it would work well for the coffee house, with some variations.  Just as I'd hoped, writing the script has gotten me even more excited about working on the coffee house book!

My goal is to finish (at least) a full first draft of the book before my little java bean arrives in August.  I have a strict timetable for myself, and just as I broke down my writing for Screnzy to scene by scene and word count averages for each day and week, I'll be breaking down the writing of my coffee house book to chapter by chapter and weekly word count averages.

Whenever I finish a big event like Screnzy or NaNoWriMo, I get a feeling like I've been running full speed for a long time, and suddenly I've stopped at the edge of a cliff.  (Okay, not the most eloquent analogy, but I have been scribbling a lot lately, so this is what you get today.  Wanna fight about it?)  I'm never sure quite where to go or what to do next, and I have all this nervous writing energy pent up and waiting to be spilled onto paper (or my laptop screen).  I think that, since I'm going to jump right in to the coffee house book, this transition from April to May will be less...traumatic...than last year's transition from November to December.

How did your scribbling go in April?

ScriptFrenzy Update

Well, as you can see from my word count on the right of the blog, I've met and exceeded the word count goal for the month!  Hooray!  Yesterday I finished the first draft of the script at 115 pages.

I considered taking the rest of the month to work on revisions, but to be honest, I'd much rather take what I've learned, as well as the inspirations I've gained, to get back to work on my coffee house book.  So that's my next big writing project.  In fact, some of the dialogue from Table 4 may just appear in the coffee house book!

Working on ScriptFrenzy this month has helped get me all fired up about working on my coffee house book again.  It's been sitting stagnant for a while, but with some changes I'm going to make to the structure (based on what I did with the play this month), I think the writing is going to go much better, and I'll be able to finish it and get to editing much sooner than I originally expected.  I won't say I'll be editing before my little java bean arrives, but I expect to have it written by then certainly.  Then I can let it sit for just a little bit when the baby comes until I'm ready (and can) edit it.

Writing for NaNo and Screnzy always motivates me to get back to a stricter writing schedule.  Those are the times I remember why I wanted to be a full time writer so badly, and why I can't imagine pursuing anything but a career in writing.

It shouldn't be too much longer until I'll be seeking the eyes of beta readers!

Wordless Wednesday: 100 pages and counting

Coffee-Stained Scribbling

So...scribbling about a coffee house for Screnzy is making me wish I could run out and get an iced mocha.  And one with caffeine would mean I'd get a lot closer to my 100-page goal!

The weather is finally Floridian here, and I could definitely use a delicious, cold drink.  Unfortunately, in trying to keep Wyatt healthy, I've been minimizing my caffeine intake, and even decaf coffee contains some caffeine.

I wonder if I could get away with it if my little java bean is craving it?  Hrm....

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Screnzy Update

I didn't start at midnight.  I was asleep instead.  I'd been up since 6 a.m., had a crazy busy afternoon, and couldn't bring myself to stay up past midnight when I had to get up at 6 a.m. again yesterday morning.

However, I did get quite a bit of writing done yesterday.

If I distributed the writing evenly throughout the month, I only need to write 3 1/3 pages each day.  At the end of the day, I'd completed 12 pages of script.  So I'd say I'm off to a pretty good start!

I was right about preparing for this script.  Basically I put together a loose outline, and it's the actual writing that's cementing it.  If I'd tried to structure the outline any more than I did, I think it would have limited me, and wouldn't be as organic a script as it's going to be.

My darling hubby loves the idea for my script, and he thinks I should develop it into other aspects of my writing, as well.  He thinks I could do well to write several pieces (novels, short stories, or whatever) that each center around a different location, whether it be as broad as a coffee house or as narrow as a high school locker.  He thinks they'd be fun to read (and write!), and that it would be just the kind of quirky niche-type of writing that would do well.

Leave it to my hubby to help me think of ways to be a successful writer!  I love him!  I told him that if it works, he'll be my business manager.

In the meantime, I'll be focusing on Table 4.

What's your word count after the first day?

13 hours and 3 minutes...

Approach Your Starting Mark!

Ladies and gentlemen, lights up is nearly upon us!  

I can hardly believe it's been a year since I wrote Do You Remember? (which was inspired by a scene I wrote for a college playwriting class) for last year's ScriptFrenzy, but here we are again.

This year's plot is inspired by my coffee house book.  The entire play takes place at a single table in a coffee house over the course of one day.  Essentially, it explores the types of people that go to this coffee house, giving readers (and me) a bit of an insight into the characters in my coffee house book.  I'm hoping to use some of the dialogue in my coffee house book, in fact.

As I mentioned before, I'm not as prepared for Screnzy09 as I'd like to be, but I feel like some of what I'm going to write needs to come as the scenes develop through writing.  So I may have to spend a bit of time during April doing a little background information, but it's a small price to pay for the play I think will develop from this idea.  I think it's going to be a lot of fun to write.

One of the things I've done to get ready for Screnzy09 is to go back through my script from Screnzy08.  I've used it to refresh my memory about formatting, but it's served to remind me that I really do enjoy playwriting.  I could see myself writing plays more often.

I know that, in my heart, I'll always be a prose writer, but playwriting is a nice change of pace for me.  So I'm counting down to April 1st with eager anticipation.

Are you ready?