adventures in speccing

03 02 2015

Quick Update: I Officially Completed My First Spec Script

ConStar Adventures in Speccing, ConStar Writes, TV Shows adventures in speccing, nick writing program, nickelodeon writing program, script chat, script writing, Spec script, spec writing, tv scripts, tv writing 2

This weekend I finished my first official spec script! I call it my first official script because I actually sent it out to the Nickelodeon Writing Program. It was due to be postmarked by midnight on the 28th and I arrived at the post office 45 minutes before they closed at 4pm.

That face on the bottom right says, “Ahhhh!”

Since completing it only a few days ago, I been trying to figure out how I feel. I am definitely glad I finished a script. I have two three-quarters finished scripts (for Parks and Recreation and Scandal) and a finished Castle spec that will never again see the light of day because of how bad it is (it was my first real attempt at script writing ever). So finishing feels… good. I guess. I think I am just trying to be realistic. Cautiously optimistic, maybe? Because having just one completed script isn’t enough. I need to do so much more. Thankfully, since sending my spec in, my brain has opened up a little more with ideas for some of the other (original) projects I want to work on.
But the sense of accomplishment is muted. So here I am making a post about it so it feels more real, feels more like a joyous occasion that I should celebrate. Not many people finish things. I never thought I’d finish anything. But I am finding that once you finish one thing, you start to feel more like you can finish another, and another, and another.
So here’s to finishing the next thing.

02 22 2014

Spec Inspiration: How to Raise the Stakes by Challenging a Character's Identity

ConStar Adventures in Speccing, Quotes, Scandal, Shonda Rhimes adventures in speccing, cope without pope, eli pope, fitzgerald grant, olitz, olivia pope, raising the stakes, rowan pope, scandal, screenwriting, shonda rhimes, spec writing, tv writing, writing 2

Spec Inspiration: How to Raise the Stakes by Challenging a Character’s Identity

Make the character prove his point. Once your character’s identity has been challenged, make him or her prove that the challenge is incorrect.

This idea might help me with my Scandal spec. I’ve been struggling with giving Olivia more to do. She has some role in the major plots of the episode, sure, but a lot of that is easily delegated. I’m struggling with her wanting something, more than “to clear his name” or whatever the case may be. But this helps.
I’ve been trying to find a way to explore Olivia’s relationship with both Fitz and her dad and by using this idea, I can have one refer/label her relationship with the other, then have her rebel against the idea. Haven’t figured out which way yet.
Shonda used this herself, when she had Cyrus question Fitz’ “balls.” Fitz went off and proved himself and went back to Cyrus asking, “How presidential are my balls now, Cy?” The audience loved it, but it also gave Fitz something to do, something to want in that episode. I need to use it with this one.
More spec updates soon! Once I stop distracting myself with other blog thoughts (new blog coming soon lol).
via How to Raise the Stakes by Challenging a Character’s Identity [Read to Write Stories]

02 11 2014

A Brief Update on How My Scandal Spec is Going

ConStar Adventures in Speccing, TV Shows adventures in speccing, drafts, fitz, Gotham Writers Workshop, olitz, scandal, scandal spec, screenwriting, scriptwriting, shonda rhimes, Spec script, tv writing, writing 1

A Brief Update on How My Scandal Spec if Going

later:

Ok. It’s not nearly as bad as that (there’s a vague idea of a plot and characters are interacting blah blah blah), but it’s somewhere in the vicinity. Every time I think I have a handle on my outline, I write to a later scene and everything before comes into question.
Recently I heard the quote that “The first draft is just you telling the story to yourself,” so, in addition to the mentors and teachers telling me to continue to write forward, I’m at the moment resisting every urge to scrap everything I’ve done and just make notes of things that will need to change. That’s the hardest part for me, resisting the urge to start over, but I’m gonna try to just vomit draft this plot and then go back… We’ll see how it goes!