How/When do you write?

    Hey All,

This is my second year in the contest. I'm wondering from those of you who've competed before, how and when did you do your best writing last year.

I finished my script on Thursday and hated it. After calling in sick to work on Friday, I wrote a second script I was happy with and won my heat.

Any similar experiences?

keyeski38 wrote:      Hey All, This is my second year in the contest. I'm wondering from those of you who've competed before, how and when did you do your best writing last year. I finished my script on Thursday and hated it. After calling in sick to work on Friday, I wrote a second script I was happy with and won my heat. Any similar experiences?

First, that is an amazing recovery, pulling out an entirely new script on the last day.

I tried to write mine all week, but didn't start writing until Thursday. I'm hoping this year inspiration will strike sooner.

Chris
    

I find the key is a workspace that is free of clutter and distraction... which is why I've had my most clarity up at a cottage where there's nothing of my regular life to distract me.

Also, my best ideas come to me in the bathroom in the morning when I'm barely awake and/or not preoccupied with anything else.

I don't generally find it easy yet to read out my entire scripts aloud, but you'd be surprised what doesn't sound natural once you try saying it.

I write best like Thoreau says - I think it was Thoreau, "...when the iron is hot..."  I walk with digital recorder, pen and pad and whenever the inspiration hits me - no matter where I am or what's going on - I write.  I'm blessed enough to have a night job; so, there's no one working with me and I have slots of free time. 

I always research my topics to some degree.  I need to feel like I know something about what I'm writing and I love splashing a little fact in my fiction.  Once I research, I start brainstorming.  The idea usually stands out way above the rest.  Then I start writing.  Almost all my stuff is character driven; so, I come up with some interesting characters next.  I come up with the ending, then the beginning, and just fill in the gap(s).  I have bad habit of rambling or taking one or two points too far, making the story too long which hurts when I'm on a deadline because I end up having to cut out a lot of stuff and cramming the ending.  That's exactly what happened to me this time around.  This is my 1st screenplay contest, but I've done some peotry and short story contests. Screenplays are more difficult for me, by far.

well i didnt particiapte last uyear, but now that this comp is underway i can tell you how i did it  :)