Storms & Script Frenzy, The Past Few Days

First, the storms. We survived them alright, thank God! I was praying they'd fizzle by the time they reached us; and wouldn't you know it, once they crossed the river, they began to weaken, and they lost their rotation. Greenwood got hit, though, as did other places further south.

I watched the local storm coverage until about eleven o'clock, then I went to bed. Before I quit for the night, I found out that one person died in Atoka County, Oklahoma, and another person was injured (broken leg, knee, etc.) when their trailer flipped over. I can't remember where that happened, but I'm glad the person is alright. Too bad about the other, though. :(

Second, Script Frenzy. I've finished my screenplay! :D

You see? When you have a thorough enough outline, and know how the story's supposed to end, you can finish the first draft of a project rather quickly! :)

It's funny. At several points, I went back and changed things in the outline, like where the major conflicts were going to take place (I was going to have them all go to Mexico, where the Inciting Incident occurred, but decided I wanted everything to happen in Xander's hometown. It worked out much better this way). Another change was that I was going to kill off the villain's younger brother, but things just didn't work out the way I'd planned it.

I'm happy with the overall story. I know it needs a ton of revising, but that will have to wait. I'm setting this story aside for a while so I can work on other things, including my script from last year. It still needs to be revised and rewritten.

Anyway, my screenplay ends at 101 pages plus a cover page, so on the Script Frenzy Web site, it shows up as 102 pages.

And now I'm off to work on other things--like brainstorming and outlining what I'm going to write during this coming Wednesday's 10K Day for Writers! :)

Lois

Day 7 of Script Frenzy 2011:

Just a very brief update. I've just added four pages to my screenplay, bringing the current total to 53 pages.

I've added some good stuff: the villain has stated his true intentions to his brother, and they will fight together for revenge (or justice, from their point of view).

And I've added more conflict between the main character's brother and his girlfriend...important to the subplot.

And now I'm quitting early so I can spend some time on my knitting. :)

Lois

Day 6 of Script Frenzy 2011:

I've been busy today, to be sure! Last night, I went through my outline, comparing it to the eight sequences listed in the articles I linked to yesterday. I made several changes to the outline, and then set about transcribing those changes this morning.

Then I started work on the screenplay. I had to go back and make some changes, and I think I ended up deleting a total of 2-3 pages. It could even have been more than that.

Once I finally got to a really good stopping point, I found out I'd added 14 new pages to the screenplay today (although I could have written up to 17, maybe more).

This story is getting better and better, and it's starting to make more sense. I really am having a great time.

An extra bonus is that I'm reconnecting with one of my favorite characters. :) And I may be onto something in the way of a future story starring Xander's younger brother, Zane. This would make me very, very happy! :D

You can view my Script Frenzy profile page over here. I'm thinking of adding a short excerpt soon, but not today. I've been at this for so long, my eyes are about to cross! :P

Who says hard work doesn't pay?

Lois

Day 5 of Script Frenzy 2011:

A picture I found online and edited

Today has been another very productive day. I've written several short scenes establishing my main character's return home and how it seems like a different world than the one he left fifteen years ago. I've also added a little suspense, and started on the two subplots (which tie in nicely with the Character Emotional Development Plotline).

My page count now sits at 35, not counting the cover page, and at this rate, I'll be finished long before the end of the month. I still have a monologue to write for a Twitter friend, so maybe I can actually work that in, too. ;) (Speaking of which, I think I've finally got an inkling of the subject matter, so I can start jotting down ideas!)

If you want to view my profile on the Script Frenzy Web site, you can find it here.

I'm so glad I know my character well. It makes it so much easier to write the story. The hard part is trying to keep my descriptions / action "short, active, and essential." (This last part was taken from an excellent, albeit very short, article on action vs. dialogue, by Jeffrey Alan Schechter.)

I'd planned on comparing my outline to some articles I printed out about the major sequences in a movie yesterday, but I never found the time, so I'm going to do that now. Here are the links to the articles (because these are great for any story told using the three-act structure):

What's A Sequence?
Sequences and Acts
Sequences: Two Principles
The Eight Sequences

This Web site is invaluable to anyone writing a script, or any story, really.

Oh, and here are two great questionnaires to help you with your storytelling:

Character Questionnaire
Story Questionnaire

Okay, back to work. :)

Lois

Day 4 of Script Frenzy 2011:

Sometimes I surprise myself with how much I can actually do when I put my mind to it. Yesterday, I only managed a mere two pages, but I considered it progress, considering how crappy I was feeling. This morning, I still felt pretty crappy, but I was determined to write as much of ACT I as I could with the hope of finishing it.

My script currently sits at page 23 (24 if you count the cover page, but of course, I don't), and ACT I is finished. My character is about to return home, but he'll find that home has changed...or he has...and he will feel very much like a fish out of water.

ACT I began with my character's past, and the end of this brought about changes that will drive the middle forward, as his past will come back to haunt him and endanger those he cares about. He will also struggle to find his place in the lives of his family and friends, the most important of whom will not want to have anything to do with him.

Yes, my character is in for a bumpy ride, but hopefully, all will end well for him and he'll live to see another script...er...day.

Needless to say, I feel very accomplished today. I want to rush into the next part, full speed ahead, but I'm trying very hard to keep myself in check. No need to overdo it, right? After all, I wrote about eleven pages today!

Maybe I'll work on his outline for a bit. An outline can't be tweaked too much, after all...

Lois

Day 3 of Script Frenzy 2011:

I took yesterday off from writing and outlining. It wasn't intentional, but it wasn't unexpected, either. Saturday is Jeff's only day off for a while, so I took it off, too.

Today was a different story. I worked on my outline, moving things around, adding a few details, etc.

Then I managed to write a couple more pages, so it's now at 12 pages (plus the cover page).

I left off where Xander's family are notified of "his demise," and when I resume writing tomorrow, I'll be starting at his "funeral."

Today, my eyes have been bothering me (pollen), and so has my stomach. I'm really tired and lacking in energy, so it's good I got done what I did. I should be feeling a lot better tomorrow, so I'll likely get a lot more done than I did today. :)

Lois

Day 1 of Script Frenzy 2011:

I've surpassed today's official page count goal of 3.3 pages. I wrote almost 9 pages (9 minutes' worth of film time) in my screenplay! :D

I had to do some research. I chose a different "era" for my story, which gave me a real war for the beginning. This also clarified which area of the Middle East Xander would be in, and I even found a hospital for him to wake up in after his almost-mortal wounding.

Things are moving along nicely for me. For Xander, not so much. ;)

I'm babysitting for a couple hours (or so) later on, but I'm hoping to get some work in on the outline, too.

It's been a great Day One! :D

Lois

My Poor MCs!

I've finally reached 70K! :D Right now, my word count is 70,269. :)

I've been putting Zane and Xander through a lot today!  I didn't overdo the violence, but I had to make it clear that Zane has gone through hell.

So, the question now is...will Xander live? ;)

Brainstorming & Road Trip!

We'll be heading out soon to pick up my mom at the airport. I'm taking my laptop, but most of my work will be in a notebook. I'll be brainstorming. I won't have my device either, so I may not connect. We'll see...

I've thought up an alternate ending to the story...one in which Xander proves to himself that he is stronger and more courageous than he thinks. I look forward to fleshing it out. :)

We're going to the bank and to Salvation Army and the car wash before we head for L.R., so it'll be a long trip, but fun. I have CD's and I'm not afraid to use them. ;)

At least until we pick up my mom! :P I don't think she'd like Forever, Disciple, Decyfer Down, Family Force 5 or Demon Hunter...or most of the stuff I like. I'm taking my media player with me, too. ;)

Anyway, I'm not sure if I mentioned this here, but I'm making tomorrow a 10K Day, so I'll still post in the morning, but I won't do anything else online until I'm done for the day. I'm going to start as early as I can. I'd like to get Xander's backstory, at least a good chunk of it, completed tomorrow, if possible.

Well, I guess I'd better hurry up and finish here so I can get ready to leave.

Have an awesome weekend! :D

Lois

Bad Day for 10K

I only managed to squeeze out about 3,571 words today. My unofficial word count is 54,765, but the Nano word counter says it's at 52,595. I've lost 2,170 words. I knew this would happen though, so I'm not surprised. But now that their word counter says my novel's over 50K, I'll be going by that total.

Anyway, today was a bad day for trying a 10K because I forgot we've got to go grocery shopping tonight. So I'll be making Sunday a 10K Day, instead.

Xander has gotten out of the country and is now in France, where he's been approached about joining an elite black ops team. He's been given 24 hours to mull it over.

And that's my writing day today. :)

I can't wait to work on this some more on Sunday! Until then, I plan to do a little brainstorming for his first mission in which he has to prove himself.

Have a great evening!

Lois

Slow Day Today

I managed to do a little writing today, but not the 2K+ I was hoping for. I only managed to write 1,037 words, but they were good words. :) I'll be making tomorrow a personal 10K Day, since I didn't get much written today and Saturday will be iffy, since we'll be heading to Little Rock to get my mom.

Xander and Aarronn, the old Iraqi man, have gone to the village where Aarronn's nephew, Salim, lives. Salim is going to help Xander get out of the country.

Xander is about to find out just how much he has to sacrifice for his freedom. :(

50K? Piece Of Cake!

I did it! I reached 50K! :D I think I reached 50K at about the two-week mark last year, so I reached it sooner this year! *happy dance*

I have reached the end of the book, but it's far from over. Since Xander's taken over the story and turned it into greatness in the making, I've decided I need more of his background, so I'm adding some scenes from when he was in the military and the black ops team. There are some other scenes I want to add later on, too. And then I need to add more descriptions. After all that, I'll be interspersing some Mi'kmaq stories throughout the novel. Not too many, but a few. Zane and Xander are Mi'kmaq, after all. :) I'd also like to include a sweat lodge scene in there somewhere.

I wasn't ready for this book to end so soon, so it's a good thing I've got more material to add! :D

I've already begun writing the scene where Xander kills his C.O. (after he ordered Xander to line up the innocent men, women and children in the village and kill them) and then is wounded and dragged off by an old Iraqi man. So far, I like it. I'll continue it tomorrow.

This has been a great day! :D

Maybe I Can Squeeze Another 5K Out Of Today

Well, I've got one feedback to write, then I can work on my novel! :)

Milli told me that she's noticed I've been doing a lot better with feedback. That makes me feel great! :D I was beginning to wonder.

The sun is back! :D I'm loving the blue sky and the red leaves on the Bradford Pear outside my window. :)

I've reached 40K. I wrote 1,503 words yesterday, bringing my total to 40,407! :D Xander is now in Juarez, Mexico (the town, not the city). Xander, Lucas and Anna are about to cross the border into Mexico.

The funny thing about this novel is that Zane is supposed to be the main character, but more and more, he seems to be taking a back seat to Xander. Xander's the one going through a lot of emotional turmoil. He's got a mild case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He's got so many bad things in his past that he can't forgive himself for. And now he's got men wanting revenge for one of the bad things he did years ago. Because of all this, his part in the story seems to be the main focus.

I guess I'll have to write a sequel and make it more about Zane. ;)

Anyway, I still love Zane and Xander...and I'm liking Anna more and more, too. She's surprised me with her self-assurance and her stubbornness (in a good way).

I'll be doing some writing sprints later...around noon-ish. I can't wait for that!

And now I need to hurry up and finish my online stuff so I can work on that feedback, then my novel.

Have a great day!

Lois