happy script frenzy!

It's April 1, which means aside from playing practical jokes on your friends, it's also time to start Script Frenzy. That means writing 100 pages in 30 days. Now go.

This will be my first time participating in Script Frenzy, and I have big goals. Using my experience from two consecutive successful National Novel Writing Month challenges, and my failures in both Camp NaNoWriMo sessions last year, I hope my plan will keep me on the path to finish those pages.

Last week, I shared a few of my planning devices. For both NaNoWriMo experiences, I started the process with a detailed working synopsis broken down by chapter. With the plot in place, all I had to do was write. During Camp NaNoWriMo, I started without plans. While I started both stories, I eventually got to a place where I had to stop and think about where I was going. It slowed me down and I completely lost my momentum. Having my plot already established, and several scenes imagined in my mind, I hope to spend the next 30 days just writing.

I also downloaded free screenwriting software, which is a big help. A screenwriter friend suggested Celtx, which is what I will use. We used Final Draft in college, but it is not in my price range at the moment. Why is screenwriting software important? It's much easier when it comes to formatting. Doing it on your own in a word processor can be a major time suck, and not entirely accurate. I'll let you know how this software works as I go.

For the next 30 days, I also have smaller goals I will work toward. I did this last year for NaNoWriMo, and it worked well for me. Even if I didn't reach that day or week's goals, it made reaching them seem more plausible. My goal this time is pretty basic: 25 pages each work. That means I hope to have 25 pages done April 7, 50 pages April 14, 75 pages April 21 and 100 pages April 28. That gives me two days of grace period, including one full weekend day, to play catch-up if I must.

With that, I'm off to begin my web series. I'll check in throughout the month with updates and lessons learned during the process. Best of luck to the rest of you participating.  Let the frenzy begin!

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