2015 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 6
As noted in this post last month:
What if in February, we put the spotlight on writing dialogue?
A Dialogue-Writing Challenge!
Here’s my idea: We crowdsource a bunch of dialogue-writing prompts. From that, we choose the 20 best ones. Then next month, Monday through Friday, much like the scene-writing exercises, I invite people to take each prompt, use it to write dialogue, then upload the dialogue to the site for peer feedback.
People submitted some great dialogue-writing prompts, so let’s do this!
Every Monday-Friday at noon Eastern / 9AM Pacific in February, I will upload a post with a prompt for writing dialogue. Each day, write a scene per those guidelines. If you really want to get in the spirit of things, upload your scene here in the comments section of the original post. That way you can critique others’ pages and receive feedback on your dialogue as well.
To provide extra motivation for this series — to get people to WRITE PAGES — I am giving away some of my Craft classes to Dialogue-Writing Challenge participants. That’s right: For free!
The Craft classes highlight key principles and practices tied to the nitty gritty of writing a script. Here is the Craft lineup, the only time I will teach each of these courses in 2015:
January 19: Craft: Pixar and the Craft of Storytelling
February 2: Craft: Story Summaries
February 16: Craft: Handling Exposition
March 30: Craft: Character Development Keys
April 27: Craft: Create a Compelling Protagonist
May 11: Craft: Write a Worthy Nemesis
May 25: Craft: Scene Description Spotlight
June 22: Craft: The Coen Brothers and the Craft of Storytelling
Each is a 1-week online class featuring 7 lectures written by me, lots of screenwriting insider tips, logline workshops, optional writing exercises, 24/7 message board conversations, teleconferences with course participants and myself to discuss anything related to the craft of scriptwriting.
A popular option is the Craft Package which gives you access to the content in all eight Craft classes which you can go through on your own time and at your own pace, plus automatic enrollment in each 1-week online course. All for nearly 50% the price of each individual class.
To qualify to take one of my Craft classes for free, write and submit ten [10] Dialogue-Writing Challenge posts, then provide feedback on ten [10] posts from other writers. The former to get you writing, the latter to work your critical-analytical skills.
A chance to take any of my eight Craft classes, interface with me online along with the usual stellar group of writers who take Screenwriting Master Class courses, while using writing exercises and feedback to upgrade your skill at writing and analyzing dialogue.
ISN’T THAT AN AWESOME IDEA?!!!
A couple of logistical notes:
* Limit your post to 2 pages. Out of fairness to everyone participating in the public dialogue-writing workshop, let’s not abuse anyone’s patience or time with really long scenes.
* Give your scenes a beginning, middle and end. You may enter late and exit early, but provide an arc to each of your posts. Even monologues or telephone conversations, both of which we will be doing this month.
* Don’t be concerned about proper script format when you copy/paste your pages, rather the content and execution are the important thing. So as a default mode, do this: (1) Don’t worry about right-hand margins on scene description or dialogue, just keep typing until it manually shifts each line. (2) Don’t worry about character name position, rather do this:
SCARLETT: Rhett, Rhett... Rhett, if you go, where shall I go? What shall I do?RHETT: Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
Today’s prompt: A one-sided telephone conversation in which a character has an argument with a person on the other end of the phone.
Sometimes you want to write both sides of a telephone conversation. But sometimes, it’s better to stick with one character. That allows us to stay with them in their emotional upheaval. Here’s a good example:
One thing to focus on in this writing exercise is to know what the other side of the conversation is, even if it doesn’t appear as actual dialogue.
Focus on the dialogue, not the action to drive the scene. In most movies, it’s the other way around because movies are primarily a visual medium, however sometimes the script requires a dialogue-driven scene and we need to hone our chops at being able to do that effectively.
Write a 1–2 page dialogue-centric scene, then copy/paste in comments.
If you are interested in qualifying for 1 free Craft class with me, please note in each post you submit the number of scenes you have written. If today is your first effort, note that it is Scene 1. The next one, Scene 2. And so forth.
Also when you provide feedback on someone’s scene, please note in each reply the number of comments you have uploaded. So if today is your first response, Feedback 1. The next one, Feedback 2.
You are on an honor system, as I don’t have time to check every post, so do the right thing!
Remember: In order to qualify for one of my free Craft classes, you need to submit ten [10] Dialogue-Writing Challenge posts, then provide feedback on ten [10] posts from other writers.
FEEDBACK TIP: Record one of your own phone calls. Track how many times there are interruptions. People speaking over other people. In fact, why not do a dialogue transcript of some calls? This will help you make your scripted telephone conversations read more realistic.
Want to join in? Here are the previous challenge prompts:
Day 1 challenge: Two characters flirt at the drive-thru window.
Day 2 challenge: Multiple characters in an argument where no one actually gets to finish a sentence.
Day 3 challenge: A ‘conversation’ one character has with someone buried in a cemetery grave.
Day 4 challenge: A new member of a support group reluctantly introduces him/herself… and their addictions.
Day 5 challenge: Write a scene built around the line “You need to get out”.
It’s the 2015 Dialogue-Writing Challenge! Give a jolt to your creative and writing muscles… and win 1 free online class with yours truly.
NOTE: My Craft: Handling Exposition class starts Monday, February 16. If you have done all 10 exercises and provided 10 feedback posts by Friday, you are eligible to take that class for free. It’s an important class that dovetails directly into writing dialogue, so use that as some motivation this week!
Onward!
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