2019 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 12
Write some scenes. Win a great prize.
For the seventh straight year, August is Scene-Writing Month here at Go Into The Story. Every Monday-Friday, I will upload a post with a scene-writing prompt. Each day, write a scene per those guidelines. Upload your scene here in the response section of the original post. That way you can critique others’ pages and receive feedback on your scene as well.
Why scene-writing? If the average scene is 1 1/2 to 2 pages long and a script is 100–120 pages, then a screenwriter writes between 50–80 scenes per screenplay. Thus in a very real way, screenwriting is scene-writing. The better we get at writing scenes, it stands to reason the better we get as a screenwriter.
To provide extra motivation for this series — to get people to WRITE PAGES — I am giving away some of my Core classes to Scene-Writing Challenge participants. That’s right: For free!
Everything you need to know about screenwriting theory in this unique curriculum based on eight principles: Plot, Concept, Character, Style, Dialogue, Scene, Theme, Time.
CORE I: PLOT — A one-week class which begins with the principle Plot = Structure and explores the inner workings of the Screenplay Universe: Plotline and Themeline. Start date: August 26.
CORE II: CONCEPT — A one-week class which begins with the principle Concept = Hook and examines multiple strategies to generate, develop and assess story ideas. Start date: September 9.
CORE III: CHARACTER — A one-week class which begins with the principle Character = Function and delves into archetypes: Protagonist, Nemesis, Attractor, Mentor, and Trickster. Start date: September 23.
CORE IV: STYLE — A one-week class which begins with the principle Style = Voice and surfaces keys to developing a distinctive writer’s personality on the page. Start date: October 7.
CORE V: DIALOGUE — A one-week class which begins with the principle Dialogue = Purpose and probes a variety of ways to write effective, entertaining dialogue. Start date: October 21.
CORE VI: SCENE — A one-week class which begins with the principle Scene = Point and provides six essential questions to ask when crafting and writing any scene. Start date: November 4.
CORE VII: THEME — A one-week class which begins with the principle Theme = Meaning and gives writers a concrete take on theme which can elevate the depth of any story. Start date: November 18.
CORE VIII: TIME — A one-week class which begins with the principle Time = Present and studies Present, Present-Past, Present-Future and time management in writing. Start date: December 2.
Each is a 1-week online class featuring 6 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.
NOTE: I provide feedback and am actively involved in our online chats. That includes a 90 minute teleconference for each Core class.
A popular option is the Core 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. If you sign up now, you can have immediate access to all of the Core content.
“I’m a huge fan of Scott’s classes, and I signed up for his Core Package, which I cannot speak highly enough about. If anyone wants to take a serious look at improving their writing, there is more than enough material to keep you busy for a few… dare I say, lifetimes? He’s the best. No bones about it.”
~ Heather Farlinger
In August, to qualify to take one of my Craft classes for free, write and submit ten [10] Scene-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 Core 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 scenes?
ISN’T THAT AN AWESOME IDEA?!!!
That’s what I’m prepared to do to encourage you to write pages.
A couple of logistical notes:
- Limit your scenes to 2 pages. First, most scenes are 2 pages or less in length. Second, out of fairness to everyone participating in the public scene-writing workshop, let’s not abuse anyone’s patience or time with really long scenes.
- Don’t be concerned about proper script format when you copy/paste your scene, 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: B.O.B. (Bit Of Business)
I call it a B.O.B., a Bit Of Business. It’s where there’s something the characters are doing, but what’s really going on plays under the action and dialogue — emotional and psychological subtext.
The scene above in Bull Durham, the B.O.B. is Crash and Annie taking batting practice. Here’s the scene from the movie script:
EXT. A LOCAL BATTING CAGE DAY
ANNIE DIGS IN AT THE PLATE -- Bat in hand. Crash a
few feet away. Annie spits on her hands, wear batting
glove, pumps the bat back and forth.
THE MECHANICAL PITCHING MACHINE DELIVERS -- Kawoosh.
ANNIE SWINGS -- Lashes out a line drive. Crash
smiles.
ANNIE
See my hips?
CRASH
Yep.
ANNIE
I think Thomas Pynchon's a genius.
CRASH
When you're hitting you shouldn't
think about anything but hitting.
(beat)
But you shouldn't think about it too
much. The trick is to use your brain
to not use your brain.
ANNIE
But you were pulling your hips last
night.
CRASH
So... Wanta make love?
ANNIE SWINGS AND MISSES the next pitch.
ANNIE
I'm committed to Nuke for the season.
You had your chance the other night.
CRASH
What'you see in that guy -- he's
dim, pretty boy. A young, wild...
ANNIE
Young men are uncomplicated.
(Crash mutters)
And he's not "dim". He's just
inexperienced. My job is to give him
"life-wisdom" and help him make it
to the major leagues.
CRASH
That's my job too.
ANNIE SWINGS AND MISSES another pitch.
ANNIE
Damn.
CRASH
You're pulling your hips out.
ANNIE
But they're nice hips.
(beat)
I looked up your records -- You've
hit 227 home runs in the minors.
That's great!
ANNIE FOULS ONE OFF and digs in gamely.
CRASH
Don't tell anybody.
ANNIE
Why not? If you hit twenty homers
this year you'll be the all time
minor league champ! The record's...
CRASH
247 home runs in the minors would be
a dubious honor, if ya think about
it.
ANNIE
Oh no, I think it'd be great! The
Sporting News should know about it.
CRASH
No. Please.
ANNIE SWINGS AND MISSES another one.
ANNIE
Damn.
CRASH
Let me.
CRASH STEPS IN TO HIT -- He takes his familiar
stance. The pitch comes. Crash drills it.
CRASH
Your place or mine?
ANNIE
Despite my love of weird metaphysics
and my rejection of most Judao-
Christian ethics, I am, within the
framework of a baseball season,
monogamous.
CRASH
Fact is you're afraid of meeting a
guy like me 'cause it might be real
so you sabotage it with some bullshit
about commitment to a young boy you
can boss around --
(whack -- a line drive)
Great deal. You get to write self-
indulgent little poems all winter
about how hard it is to find a man
even though you just sent him packing --
(whack -- a line drive)
So what do you really want? You wanta
be a tragic woman figure wallowing
in the bullshit of magic?
(whack -- a line drive)
Or do you want a guy?
The pitching machine arm flaps. Empty. Silence.
ANNIE
Oh Crash... you do make speeches...Here’s the movie version of the scene:
Today’s challenge: Write a scene with a B.O.B. and have something else going on which plays under the action and dialogue.
Write a 1–2 page scene, then copy/paste in comments.
If you are interested in qualifying for 1 free Core 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 Core classes, you need to submit ten [10] Scene-Writing Challenge posts, then provide feedback on ten [10] posts from other writers. One post and one feedback per scene prompt.
FEEDBACK TIP: Think of an even better — or worse — pickup line.
You can check out the fruits of our collective labor from the last six years:
Scene-Writing Exercises (2013)
Scene-Writing Exercises (2014)
Scene-Writing Exercises (2015)
Scene-Writing Exercises (2016)
Scene-Writing Exercises (2017)
Scene-Writing Exercises (2018)
Finally, if you have what you think is a good suggestion for a scene-writing prompt, please post that as well.
It’s the 2019 Scene-Writing Challenge! Give a jolt to your creative and writing muscles… and win one free online class with yours truly.
NOTE: When you can verify the 10 scenes you’ve written and the 10 scenes on which you provided feedback, email me (GITSblog at gmail dot com) and let me know which of the eight Core classes you’d like to take. That’s all you need to do!
Onward!
