Creative writing goes hand-in-hand with motivation. The person who can get going on some project on his or her own is a rare sight indeed. Lack of motivation kills even the best idea.
Every April, like-minded individuals get to writing. They aren’t writing books, however; they write screenplays. Dubbed Script Frenzy or Screnzy for short, this month is dedicated to writing a 100 page script. That comes out to 3 and one-third pages every day.
There’s no admission cost and no valuable reward. You get a printable certificate and a finished script. This is for anyone who’s considered writing a script but hasn’t sat down to do it. The time frame may seem constrictive, but it at least gets the ball rolling.
Screnzy’s website, Scriptfrenzy.org, is full of helpful tips, tools, and reminders. There’s a forum where participants can bounce ideas off each other as well as get help with formatting or writers’ block. If you enter your location and email, you may also be contacted for weekly writing meet-ups in your area where you can meet other Screnziers.
For those of you who want to participate but have no idea what to write, have no fear. Their main page features a random plotline generator. Every refresh of the page gives you a new setting, character, and hook. “While on an African safari, a hyperactive supreme court begins training for a life of piratehood.” Where could you go wrong with a plot like that?
One of the best parts is that it incorporates a writing partner. While you can write a script on your own, it’s often fun to get a friend (or a group) and write a script together. The group atmosphere of Script Frenzy keeps you motivated and keeps you writing, even if you end up trashing half of your script afterwards. The organizers send you friendly emails with updates on where you should be, their own funny stories, and more.
This will be my third year of (trying to) write a script. In 2010, a friend and I wrote a terrible script about surviving in a zombie apocalypse that barely made it to 70 pages. The next year, we tried again, writing an obscene comedic parody of video games which blew past the 100 mark to 116 pages. This year, we’re planning on a more serious conspiracy thriller, rather like the Bourne Identity films.
Whether or not you think you’re good at this sort of thing, I suggest giving it a shot. Practice helps, and it’s certainly a good experience, especially if you do it with some friends. Writing start at midnight between Saturday and Sunday this weekend, so get your ideas organized. You’ll even have all spring break to get a head start!
Do you have a really good idea for a script that you’re just itching to talk about? Tell us about it in the comments!