Half-Time & Western Carolina University

Over the writing weekend, I did reach the half-way mark.  Woo-hoo.  And while I didn't reach my page goal, I realized that I'd made those projections based upon a false memory.  I thought I'd remembered writing thirty pages on a writing weekend when I was working on An Uncivil Union... but I'd only written 25 and it was a 3-day weekend.  So, I need to reconcile myself with what I did get done.  Today, after adding 3.5 new pages, I reached page 50!  Ta-daaa.

So, the half-time tradition in the play is toasts.

Here's to the second-half writing itself!

Yesterday, I also got to "guest lecture" in novelist Pam Duncan's creative writing class.  They're about to start their playwriting segment, so she asked me in to give them some tips.  Being such a newbie, I tried not to come across as an expert, but just tried to share some things that worked for me.  Or didn't work.  I hope they found it as helpful as I found it fun.  They had good questions and I wish I could see what they come up with for their 10 minute collaboratively written plays.  Maybe they'll tape 'em and post 'em on YouTube.  Hint hint.

On the drive home, though, I kept thinking of all the things I forgot to mention.  So, here they are:

A Very Helpful Book 

#1 - The book I recommended is called Save the Cat because the author says that in every good film, usually within the first 2 minutes, there is a seemingly insignificant moment where the hero performs some random act of kindness for someone.  i.e. saving the cat stuck up the tree for a kid, returning a dropped $20 bill, holding the elevator door for someone,  helping an elderly person across a street  This "save the cat" moment aligns audiences with the main character, we just know he/she's a good person underneath whatever flaws come next.

#2 - blakesnyder.com for more 

#3 - there is a version of Nanowrimo for playwrights called Script Frenzy that happens each April.  Their website has a document already set up like plays should be formatted as a Word .doc that you can download.  Makes formatting much easier.  Scroll to bottom of this page: http://scriptfrenzy.org/howtoformatastageplay  

#4 - I have found that having a character on stage re-enact a story (or imitate another character) allows them to be over-dramatic and can be a quick gimmick to add a laugh. 

#5 - Unsolicited Advice:  There are going to be lots of people who tell you "no" in your writing life, just never say it to yourself.