Starting today, screenwriters around the world will join the fifth annual Script Frenzy–writing 100 pages of an original script (screenplay, TV script, stage play, or comic book script) in 30 days. If you are taking the challenge, keep us posted in the comments. Follow along on Twitter as well.
Here’s more about the event: “Script Frenzy is an international writing event in which participants take on the challenge of writing 100 pages of scripted material in the month of April. As part of a donation-funded nonprofit, Script Frenzy charges no fee to participate; there are also no valuable prizes awarded or “best” scripts singled out. Every writer who completes the goal of 100 pages is victorious and awe-inspiring and will receive a handsome Script Frenzy Winner’s Certificate and web icon proclaiming this fact. Even those who fall short of the word goal will be applauded for making a heroic attempt.”
To help all the aspiring screenwriters in the audience, we will feature a new script writing tool or tip every day this month. At the Script Frenzy site, screenwriter Greg Marcks offered our first piece of scriptwriting advice: Make an outline first.
Marcks explained: “If you cut corners in the planning stage, saying you’ll figure it out ‘in the writing,’ you will be like Bugs Bunny tunneling blindly underground to get to Pismo Beach. When you pop your head back above ground and take a look at your finished draft, you will most likely find yourself wishing you had taken a left turn at Albuquerque. Do yourself a favor: Plan your route and consult your map en route…This blueprint, your script ‘treatment,’ can vary from one to forty pages. The more detailed your work at this stage, the less chance your script will derail in the writing.”