Thursday, August 16, 2007
Monday, July 2, 2007
The Writers Market Resource
The Market List - The Writers Market Resource: "www.marketlist.com is the original electronic writers market resource. Started in 1994 as an online ezine on AOL and Compuserve, and with the first fully comprehensive writers market guidelines index online, The Market List has a ten year history of providing aspiring and professional writers with potential markets for their fiction."
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Frenzy Week Two: Vikings For Victory
What is Script Frenzy? | Script Frenzy is an international writing event in which participants attempt the creatively daring feat of writing an original, full-length screenplay—or stage play—in a single month."
from my email:-
'Dear fellow playwrights and screenwriters (hey, I like the sound of that),
First off, a huge welcome to the 1000 new writers who joined the Frenzy this past week! We are all the stronger for having you in our Viking ship, pulling hard against the oars as we start across the tempestuous seas of Week Two. We may be whipped by the winds of indecision and tossed by swells of fatigue, but just remember all the sea beasts we vanquished in Week One: self-doubt, perfectionism, fear of failure, an attachment to sleep. We will persevere and conquer.
For those of you still standing on the shore, wondering whether to swim for the wild camaraderie of the HMS Frenzy or just sit and watch moss grow on your keyboard, I say make a break for it! Almost everyone - myself included - is still just getting started. Even if you haven't written a single word, you're only 4,000-ish words behind the suggested goal for Week One. You've probably written more than that trying to get out of a parking ticket.
Since everyone is still very much in the race, I'm including a few writing tips to help you gain and maintain momentum:
1) Delete the delete button. Better yet, pry it off your keyboard entirely. There's no time for editing when you have a word goal to meet. Only once you chug past your daily goal should you even dream of trimming and tidying.
2) Ease up on formatting. At this point, all you need to know are four things: action, character name, dialogue, and parentheticals (or for plays: scene, staging, and character directions plus character tags and dialogue). Everything else can wait until July. For a refresher on margins/style for these, check the formatting guides in our Writers Resources section.
3) Hold onto your ideas. Funnier jokes, sharper retorts, a better way to describe your main character's neuroses -- new ideas will come to you at all hours of the day. Put them in an idea notebook or file for safekeeping, but don't implement them right away. Maintain your focus and keep writing the scene at hand. You can act on those brilliant epiphanies after you've met your daily word goal.
4) Watch a lousy movie. This may sound like sheer procrastination, but seeing a horrible film -- or an appalling play -- will banish any remaining worries about bad writing. Your dialogue is clunky? Your scene goes nowhere? It'll still be better than the abomination you just watched. Keep writing as you savor your superiority.
5) Don't write alone. Just like kissing or square dancing, scriptwriting is easier when done with others. Head for your regional write-in, seek out writing buddies in your genre forum, or just invite non-Frenzy friends and family over to pass you Gatorade and mop your brow as you continue your script marathon. When the going gets rough, you'll need the support.
And last but not least, try to have fun with this. We're just not paying you enough to stress out.
Okay, it appears I have a script to write, too. Happy creating, and may we meet on the other side of Week Two with our dignity and stories intact.
Onward!
Kristina
Script Frenzy
1746 words and picking up steam
from my email:-
'Dear fellow playwrights and screenwriters (hey, I like the sound of that),
First off, a huge welcome to the 1000 new writers who joined the Frenzy this past week! We are all the stronger for having you in our Viking ship, pulling hard against the oars as we start across the tempestuous seas of Week Two. We may be whipped by the winds of indecision and tossed by swells of fatigue, but just remember all the sea beasts we vanquished in Week One: self-doubt, perfectionism, fear of failure, an attachment to sleep. We will persevere and conquer.
For those of you still standing on the shore, wondering whether to swim for the wild camaraderie of the HMS Frenzy or just sit and watch moss grow on your keyboard, I say make a break for it! Almost everyone - myself included - is still just getting started. Even if you haven't written a single word, you're only 4,000-ish words behind the suggested goal for Week One. You've probably written more than that trying to get out of a parking ticket.
Since everyone is still very much in the race, I'm including a few writing tips to help you gain and maintain momentum:
1) Delete the delete button. Better yet, pry it off your keyboard entirely. There's no time for editing when you have a word goal to meet. Only once you chug past your daily goal should you even dream of trimming and tidying.
2) Ease up on formatting. At this point, all you need to know are four things: action, character name, dialogue, and parentheticals (or for plays: scene, staging, and character directions plus character tags and dialogue). Everything else can wait until July. For a refresher on margins/style for these, check the formatting guides in our Writers Resources section.
3) Hold onto your ideas. Funnier jokes, sharper retorts, a better way to describe your main character's neuroses -- new ideas will come to you at all hours of the day. Put them in an idea notebook or file for safekeeping, but don't implement them right away. Maintain your focus and keep writing the scene at hand. You can act on those brilliant epiphanies after you've met your daily word goal.
4) Watch a lousy movie. This may sound like sheer procrastination, but seeing a horrible film -- or an appalling play -- will banish any remaining worries about bad writing. Your dialogue is clunky? Your scene goes nowhere? It'll still be better than the abomination you just watched. Keep writing as you savor your superiority.
5) Don't write alone. Just like kissing or square dancing, scriptwriting is easier when done with others. Head for your regional write-in, seek out writing buddies in your genre forum, or just invite non-Frenzy friends and family over to pass you Gatorade and mop your brow as you continue your script marathon. When the going gets rough, you'll need the support.
And last but not least, try to have fun with this. We're just not paying you enough to stress out.
Okay, it appears I have a script to write, too. Happy creating, and may we meet on the other side of Week Two with our dignity and stories intact.
Onward!
Kristina
Script Frenzy
1746 words and picking up steam
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
first draft
Special Effects~!! | Script Frenzy: "What you're doing now is writing a first draft. Just write it, and don't worry about how it will be created. This is not the point when you should be self-limiting.
If it helps you get past it, make a list of effects you'll need to create. Just list them, don't worry about how. Know that you can go back to the list later and figure things out.
If you find later on that there's something you just can't create, fine, rewrite then. But for now write it the way you dream it."
If it helps you get past it, make a list of effects you'll need to create. Just list them, don't worry about how. Know that you can go back to the list later and figure things out.
If you find later on that there's something you just can't create, fine, rewrite then. But for now write it the way you dream it."
Special Effects
Special Effects~!! | Script Frenzy: "The screenwriter is technically not supposed to write anything about effects, camera angle, anything like that. Only if you want to produce it yourself do you include that kind of thing. You can describe what something looks like, but you're not responsible for how to make what you describe."
Holberg' s inspiration
RomanComedy: "Plautus and Terence
The Greek world came to fruition sometime in the 7th c. BC, and was still culturally active throughout the period in which the Roman Empire flourished. By 300 BC Greek culture had subtly shifted over to what would later be called Hellenistic, which refers to the transplanting of Greek ideas and techniques to all parts of the then known world, both East and West. The Jews of Palestine, the populace of Egypt, the Syrians, Armenians and the Romans in their turn were exposed to the indelible influence of Greek thought, just as the Arabs of the 7 c. AD were to be influenced in the same way. It was this fermentative quality in the Greek mind which proved so attractive to less cultivated peoples, and although everybody benefitted, nobody was ever the same again."
The Greek world came to fruition sometime in the 7th c. BC, and was still culturally active throughout the period in which the Roman Empire flourished. By 300 BC Greek culture had subtly shifted over to what would later be called Hellenistic, which refers to the transplanting of Greek ideas and techniques to all parts of the then known world, both East and West. The Jews of Palestine, the populace of Egypt, the Syrians, Armenians and the Romans in their turn were exposed to the indelible influence of Greek thought, just as the Arabs of the 7 c. AD were to be influenced in the same way. It was this fermentative quality in the Greek mind which proved so attractive to less cultivated peoples, and although everybody benefitted, nobody was ever the same again."
Friday, May 25, 2007
Screenplay Structure: Three Acts & Five Points | Script Frenzy
Screenplay Structure: Three Acts & Five Points | Script Frenzy: "You’ve heard of the one-act play. And if you’ve ever watched “Law and Order,” you’ve seen a five-act TV show. So what’s all this talk about a screenplay in three acts? Aren’t the number of acts ultimately up to the screenwriter? Well, the truth is that almost every movie you’ve ever seen was constructed in three well-delineated acts. Some filmmakers take greater pains to disguise their act breaks, but trust me, they’re there, bubbling beneath the witty banter and gravity-defying stunts. ET moves into Elliot’s house? Act break! Guido visits his mother’s grave in Fellini’s 81/2? Act break! Derek Zoolander retires from the world of professional modeling? You got it—a big old obvious act break"
formats
Script Frenzy | Your ticket to creative adventure: "You know what a play is, and you've probably seen published versions before but for the purposes of writing it looks a little different. Some of the formatting of your play is done as you write. Setting up your master file with your tabs and margins makes this much easier. You can use formatting software, but it's certainly not necessary even the most basic word processing program can handle these specs."
Monday, May 21, 2007
script or novel?
Hi Brummies! Anybody from Birmingham (UK) and surrounding areas? | Script Frenzy:
"I have no tv or radio and am spending a lot of time thinking
One thought I would like to share with my fellow Brummies
the basic difference between a novel and a screen play is that the novel is a completed artifact - with a little editorial pruning may be - BUT a screen play is a blue print which a team will work from and modify
a novel is a sculpture
a screen play is a house and you are the architect with the drawings - which you will hand over to a contractor whom you have little control over.
I don't know of a better placing on the boards for this
ideas anyone?"
"I have no tv or radio and am spending a lot of time thinking
One thought I would like to share with my fellow Brummies
the basic difference between a novel and a screen play is that the novel is a completed artifact - with a little editorial pruning may be - BUT a screen play is a blue print which a team will work from and modify
a novel is a sculpture
a screen play is a house and you are the architect with the drawings - which you will hand over to a contractor whom you have little control over.
I don't know of a better placing on the boards for this
ideas anyone?"
Friday, May 18, 2007
5000 participants in over 20 countries
about Script Frenzy | Your ticket to creative adventure
from my email:-
Dear Script Frenzy Participant,
Greetings! From time to time, we'll be sending you missives about major new site features that have launched, cool things afoot in the Script Frenzy universe, and, in June, some pep-talking from the scriptwriting front.
We know that your inbox is overcrowded, so we'll keep the emails infrequent and essential.
Which brings us to the great news at hand: Script Frenzy regions are up! This means that you now have your very own regional lounge on the Script Frenzy site where you can exchange advice and encouragement with participants in your area. You can also find out about the Script Frenzy kick-off parties and write-ins being organized by our awesome group of Municipal Liaisons.
To join the merriment in your region, just log in and head to the My Script Frenzy page. In the left-hand navigation, you'll see "Regions" (it's below "My Community" and above "Subscriptions"). Pick the region that's the best fit for you, and click "subscribe," then confirm that you want to subscribe to that region.
Life at this point becomes much more interesting. You can subscribe to as many regions as you like, and you can visit the lounges under the separate "My Regions" block in the left-hand navigation of the My Script Frenzy page. For each region you subscribe to, you'll receive notices from Municipal Liaison/s about events and get-togethers, and have the opportunity to get to know fellow Frenzies in the area as well.
If this sounds confusing, don't worry---it'll all make sense once you see it. Just log in and head on over to My Script Frenzy. Eventually, we're going to append all the regional lounges onto the bottom of the Forums, so they'll all exist in one convenient place. For now, your regional lounge awaits.
In other news, Script Frenzy is on the grow! We have more than 5000 participants signed up in over 20 countries, with more coming in every hour. The more writers we have, the more raucously fun June will be. (And the more people you know personally who are taking part in the adventure, the easier time you'll have staying focused on your scripty epic when June's sweet summery distractions loom.)
Which is why we're encouraging everyone this week to reach out to that creative soul in their cubicle, classroom, or family tree who could use an imagination-expanding summer challenge. We're setting a goal of having 10,000 writers rampaging---er, typing---through the streets of Script Frenzy by next Thursday.
Can we do it? With your help, we can. We'll be posting the total number of participants on the front page of the site every day from now until Thursday.
See you in the Forums!
Chris
Script Frenzy
script frenzy - Google Search
from my email:-
Dear Script Frenzy Participant,
Greetings! From time to time, we'll be sending you missives about major new site features that have launched, cool things afoot in the Script Frenzy universe, and, in June, some pep-talking from the scriptwriting front.
We know that your inbox is overcrowded, so we'll keep the emails infrequent and essential.
Which brings us to the great news at hand: Script Frenzy regions are up! This means that you now have your very own regional lounge on the Script Frenzy site where you can exchange advice and encouragement with participants in your area. You can also find out about the Script Frenzy kick-off parties and write-ins being organized by our awesome group of Municipal Liaisons.
To join the merriment in your region, just log in and head to the My Script Frenzy page. In the left-hand navigation, you'll see "Regions" (it's below "My Community" and above "Subscriptions"). Pick the region that's the best fit for you, and click "subscribe," then confirm that you want to subscribe to that region.
Life at this point becomes much more interesting. You can subscribe to as many regions as you like, and you can visit the lounges under the separate "My Regions" block in the left-hand navigation of the My Script Frenzy page. For each region you subscribe to, you'll receive notices from Municipal Liaison/s about events and get-togethers, and have the opportunity to get to know fellow Frenzies in the area as well.
If this sounds confusing, don't worry---it'll all make sense once you see it. Just log in and head on over to My Script Frenzy. Eventually, we're going to append all the regional lounges onto the bottom of the Forums, so they'll all exist in one convenient place. For now, your regional lounge awaits.
In other news, Script Frenzy is on the grow! We have more than 5000 participants signed up in over 20 countries, with more coming in every hour. The more writers we have, the more raucously fun June will be. (And the more people you know personally who are taking part in the adventure, the easier time you'll have staying focused on your scripty epic when June's sweet summery distractions loom.)
Which is why we're encouraging everyone this week to reach out to that creative soul in their cubicle, classroom, or family tree who could use an imagination-expanding summer challenge. We're setting a goal of having 10,000 writers rampaging---er, typing---through the streets of Script Frenzy by next Thursday.
Can we do it? With your help, we can. We'll be posting the total number of participants on the front page of the site every day from now until Thursday.
See you in the Forums!
Chris
Script Frenzy
script frenzy - Google Search
Monday, May 14, 2007
forums on Script Frenzy
How to Format A Screenplay
How to Format A Screenplay | Script Frenzy: "Almost 99% of your script will involve just four elements: Sluglines, Action, Character Names, and Dialogue. Learn how to format the Big Four and you're in the clear."
FONT, MARGINS, AND SPACING
Screenplays live on letter-sized paper (8.5 x 11 inches). They're always written in Courier font, 12 point, 10 pitch. No bold, no italics.
Page Margins:
Left: 1.5 inches
Right: 1 inch
Top: 1 inch
Bottom: 1 inch
Screenplay Element Margins
- Slugline: left margin 1.5 inches
- Action: left margin 1.5 inches
- Character name: left margin 3.7 inches
- Dialog: left margin 2.5 inches, right margin 2.5 inches (or 6 inches from left edge of page)
- Parentheticals: left margin 3.1 inches, right margin 2.9 inches
Spacing Between Elements:
- Between Slugline and Action: double space
- Between Action and more Action: double space
- Between Action and Character Name: double space
- Between Character Name and Dialogue: single space
- Between Dialogue and the next Character Name: double space
- Between Dialogue and Action: double space
- Between Character Name and Parentheticals: single space
- Between Parentheticals and Dialogue: single space
- Between Action and Slugline: double space
- Between Dialogue and Slugline: double space
You know, it's probably a lot easier to remember that in a single character's speech, made up of Character Name, Dialogue, and possibly a Parenthetical, there are single spaces between the elements. Between everything else, double space.
Microsoft Word Templates:
American (uses Styles)
A4 with Metric (uses Styles)
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