Zero Draft Thirty: Day 9
Zero Draft Thirty: Day 9.
November 1: Type FADE IN / The Beginning.
November 30: Type FADE OUT / The End.
30 days. 1 script. Movie script. TV script. First draft. Rewrite. Whatever.
I’m doing it. You’re invited.
To learn everything you need to know about the ZDT Challenge, go here.
To download your very own Zero Draft Thirty calendars to track your progress, go here and here.
On Twitter, use this hashtag: #ZD30SCRIPT.
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Join the conversation for a chance to win The Trumbo Award!
Today’s Writing Quote
I reached out to several screenwriters whose scripts have been selected for the annual Black List, asking them this: What do you focus on when writing a first draft? Here are some thoughts from Joshua Golden (2014 Black List):
While a big part of writing the first draft is simply about getting the words onto the page, it’s also a test run of sorts. Sure, you want to follow the outline that you’ve been sweating over for months, but the first draft is the best time to divert from that outline if you feel it’s necessary. If another path feels more natural for your story, take it. The first draft is about getting comfortable in the skin of characters. How do they sound? How do they act? How do they interact with one another? Hopefully you’ll come to like your characters enough to stay on this journey with them through the next draft, and the next draft…and the next draft.
Today’s Inspirational Video
If New Zealand’s famous rugby squad The All Blacks doing the traditional Maori haka doesn’t get your creative juices surging, I don’t know what will. I’d seen this performed numerous times, but never understood what they were saying. Here it is translated into English:
Slap the hands against the thighs!
Stamp the feet as hard as you can!
As hard as you can!
I die! I die! I live! I live!
I die! I die! I live! I live!
This is the hairy man
Who fetched the Sun
And caused it to shine again!
One upward step! Another upward step!
An upward step. Another. The Sun shines!
Rise. Dawn.
I wish Joseph Campbell were around to interpret this, but what if we looked at these words strictly from the perspective of the writer’s experience. Yes, it’s the Hero’s Journey, but come on, people! One upward step! Another upward step! An upward step. Another. The Sun shines! Rise. Dawn.
That’s the writing experience, am I right?
I die! I die! I live! I live!
That’s the writing experience, yes?
So today, slap your hands against your thighs! Stamp your feet as hard as you can! Sit your ass down in your chair. And make Sun rise again… through the words you write!
If you have a writing quote appropriate for pounding out a zero draft, post to Comments, Twitter, or Facebook.
If you have a video to inspire or perhaps give us a laugh, post to Comments, Twitter, or Facebook.
But here’s the biggie: Head to Comments, Twitter, and Facebook to support each other!
How many pages did you write in the last 24 hours? Or if you’re prepping the story, what did you work on? How are you feeling about your story? Are you loving or hating your writing process? Did you have a good day or a bad day? Do you have any questions about your writing process? Ready to give a virtual hug… or maybe you need one.
Comments, Twitter, Facebook. That’s where the Zero Draft Thirty community gathers. Remember: Every day I’ll be handing out the coveted Trumbo Award to the best Comment, Tweet, Photoshop, anything you come up with to get our collective juices going.
And each day in November, I’ll be dishing out a special batch of ZDT-flavored creative juju for everyone who posts.
Nothing else to say. Just. Write.
Onward!
UPDATE: We’ve had people posting about the ZDT Challenge, here and on Facebook. We’ve had hundreds of tweets. We’ve had photoshop pics. But I believe this is a first: A daily vlog of the month-long experience. Via Nick Friend. Here is his video clip from Day 8:
Cool, huh! You can see all of Nick’s ZDT vlog here. For your efforts, Nick, you win today’s coveted Trumbo Award!
Vlog on!
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