Some of these prompts are tough!
Printed From: NYC Midnight : Creative Writing & Screenwriting
Category: GENERAL DISCUSSION
Forum Name: Screenwriting Bar & Lounge
Forum Description: Discuss NYC Midnight Screenwriting Competitions or Screenwriting in general.
URL: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=63614
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 12:32am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Some of these prompts are tough!
Posted By: Suave
Subject: Some of these prompts are tough!
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2025 at 11:54pm
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So, I got Horror, code of ethics, and therapist. Now, they look pretty easy to make a horror story out of, but on reflection, the story will be the same one everyone is writing...haha. Why couldn't they have one a chainsaw? ------------- https://shorturl.at/BYBEf" rel="nofollow - Screenplay Magic and Mayhem https://shorturl.at/FwVkk" rel="nofollow - 500 RomCom/ Making Music FB |
Replies:
Posted By: nickwascreative
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2025 at 11:58pm
I have Thriller, Take the Blame, and Superintendent It took me a day and a half to wrap my head around Take the Blame, and another day and a half to wrap my head around my genre. So yeah, I hear ya, haha. There have been some doozeys from what I've seen. NYCM isn't messing around this year! ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r1-g5-arise-thriller_topic67766.html" rel="nofollow - SWC 2026 - G5 - Arise https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic43498_post516103.html#516103" rel="nofollow - ARCHIVE |
Suave wrote:Posted By: Suave
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2025 at 12:01am
Those prompts don't really scream thriller to me, lol. ------------- https://shorturl.at/BYBEf" rel="nofollow - Screenplay Magic and Mayhem https://shorturl.at/FwVkk" rel="nofollow - 500 RomCom/ Making Music FB |
Posted By: nickwascreative
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2025 at 12:31am
I'm trying my best, Suave. Trying my best. lol. ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r1-g5-arise-thriller_topic67766.html" rel="nofollow - SWC 2026 - G5 - Arise https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic43498_post516103.html#516103" rel="nofollow - ARCHIVE |
Posted By: Jesswarriner
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2025 at 10:31am
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Hi everyone! I'm really struggling with mine - G7, Mystery, Mean Streets, Vigilante. Without writing a straight up Batman knock-off, it's kinda difficult! At least, it is to me! I hope my fellow G7s are coping better. Those two are head scratchers as well. I wonder if they thought we had it too easy last year?
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Posted By: Verdon
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2025 at 12:00pm
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I've finally gotten an idea for mine (G11 - Thriller/taking the blame/superintendent) - but now the Trilby software I downloaded doesn't seem to want to work for me..... ------------- VERDON |
Posted By: nickwascreative
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2025 at 1:21pm
Hey, Groupmate! That's great to hear you've got an idea! Lots of time to go yet (at least that's what I keep telling myself  )If Trilby isn't working, maybe try uninstalling then installing it again? Or try CeltX or one of the other free softwares? Good luck!!! ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r1-g5-arise-thriller_topic67766.html" rel="nofollow - SWC 2026 - G5 - Arise https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic43498_post516103.html#516103" rel="nofollow - ARCHIVE |
Posted By: Verdon
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2025 at 2:27pm
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Thank you! I'll try that! Sadly I'm tech-compromised in general. Good luck Groupmate!!! ------------- VERDON |
Posted By: juliewebb406
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2025 at 4:03pm
This is EXACTLY how I feel about my stupid Historical Fiction/Draft Dodger/Shark Attack prompt. They’re going to get 26 of the same exact storyline. Well maybe 25. I’m one page in to my story that is barely a whiff of a historical fiction. I’m considering throwing myself overboard.
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Posted By: Suave
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2025 at 9:54pm
Download "Fade In", it has a free trial for a month. and it is a good program. ------------- https://shorturl.at/BYBEf" rel="nofollow - Screenplay Magic and Mayhem https://shorturl.at/FwVkk" rel="nofollow - 500 RomCom/ Making Music FB |
Posted By: Jesswarriner
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 1:53pm
How is everyone doing? Any breakthroughs? 
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Posted By: LadyArkham
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 2:30pm
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I'm glad I'm not the only one wrestling with Thriller/blame/superintendent. The only work I've gotten done so far is four tabs of "What is a superintendent/what does a superintendent do" and one for WriterSolo that just says "FADE IN." ------------- https://tinyurl.com/3txbuszm" rel="nofollow - MF250 R2 "Discharge" (SF) |
Posted By: TreeTheGreen
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 4:23pm
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My prompt was 37/political satire/acupuncturist/ "by one's own bootstraps" - I initially wasn't a fan of it, but I think I managed to write something good enough... The issue? Both my readers so far have said my script is a political drama, not a political satire.
 So time to figure this one out! |
Posted By: nickwascreative
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 5:59pm
I always look forward to reading your stories, so I selfishly hope you figure it out! You're also in my group, so I also selfishly want to see what you did with the prompts! I am currently sitting on a 14 page script that whenever I make edits, seems to get longer. I think I forgot how to NYCMidnight... ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r1-g5-arise-thriller_topic67766.html" rel="nofollow - SWC 2026 - G5 - Arise https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic43498_post516103.html#516103" rel="nofollow - ARCHIVE |
Posted By: nickwascreative
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 6:01pm
I keep having breakthroughs that override previous breakthroughs. I'm losing my mind! I definitely have *something* ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r1-g5-arise-thriller_topic67766.html" rel="nofollow - SWC 2026 - G5 - Arise https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic43498_post516103.html#516103" rel="nofollow - ARCHIVE |
Posted By: montmorency
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 6:21pm
I've felt this way in the past when it seems the prompts are so obvious they practically write the script themselves... and I'm always surprised by how creative everyone is and how different the stories turn out. Hopefully that happens this time, too!
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Posted By: CinderMySoil
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 6:52pm
| I can attest to this. I've been using Fade In for 5 years now. Had to when Celtx was rendered useless randomly one day. It's no more than 80 bucks, easy to install, updates few and far in between, you can pdf your screenplays making it easy to email or download to your phone...it's pretty great. |
Posted By: Danilo
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 7:35pm
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Wow, those prompts all sound tough, but Historical Fiction/Draft Dodger/Shark Attack particularly so! And a group full of political acupuncturists? How poignant! I'm happy to have been given Action-Adventure/A wildlife photographer/Infamous, myself. It seems like the kind of combination that would produce pretty varied stories throughout. It's been fun writing what I came up with—just hope it manages to stand out somewhat, and not merely for its overlong action descriptions!
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Posted By: JoySeeker
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 8:17pm
| I like WriterDuet as a free option. You don't even have to install anything if you don't want to. You can work on your script completely in-browser, which is good if you plan on using different computers, tablets, etc. |
Posted By: asterism
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2025 at 1:32am
To be fair, it's nearly impossible to write satire in our current political reality. I'm in your group & I feel your pain. This was definitely not the genre I would have chosen. |
So time to figure this one out! Posted By: Suave
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2025 at 4:19am
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Wellllll, I managed to submit! Simi polished. Will now just polish away. Nice to have a solid day to do this! It was not a slam dunk that I would even finish, the prompts were a real downer, creatively. Hope you are all doing great!
------------- https://shorturl.at/BYBEf" rel="nofollow - Screenplay Magic and Mayhem https://shorturl.at/FwVkk" rel="nofollow - 500 RomCom/ Making Music FB |
Posted By: missalwayswrite
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2025 at 12:01pm
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I had a political satire in the first round last year and went to great pains to not align my Senator character with a specific party. Just made him a generic politician and had the people around him inform what way he swayed. I’d hate to have a political satire right now when every actual news article reads like a satire. How do you even bump up the volume on satire in this economy? ------------- https://shorturl.at/afj29" rel="nofollow - SW24 R1 - Roundabout (1st) https://shorturl.at/lDY23" rel="nofollow - SW24 R2 - Mayhem in the Meadow (3rd) |
Posted By: JMorgan88
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2025 at 6:30pm
| Agree! I LOVE Writer Duet! It's so smooth and it lets you. just type away if you want without having to think about it too much. |
Posted By: csta
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2025 at 4:34am
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Ghost Story // Disco //Bank Teller checking in! Coming down to the wire tomorrow trying to finish this out as my first proper screenplay
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Posted By: SueSS
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2025 at 4:46am
My political satire from R2 a year ago, "Filthy Rich Fun", seems a little too close for comfort now. ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r1-g12-the-lesson-ghost_topic66843.html" rel="nofollow - R1 250MF https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r2-gr18-fantasy-the-final-offering_topic67676.html" rel="nofollow - R2 250MF |
Posted By: ElleJay
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2025 at 8:03am
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Hey Suave, I have just submitted mine, I'll probably go over it again before the morning to check for any last errors. I can't wait to read your script, I hope you post it up when we're allowed. |
Posted By: Suave
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2025 at 8:11am
I always post to the forum! Looking forward to reading yours there as well! ------------- https://shorturl.at/BYBEf" rel="nofollow - Screenplay Magic and Mayhem https://shorturl.at/FwVkk" rel="nofollow - 500 RomCom/ Making Music FB |
Posted By: Annie K
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2025 at 6:31pm
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I'm in group 54 - Suspense - Snowed In - a Gym Rat I am AMAZED to have completed and submitted this after not having written fiction (other than in the last challenge) in twenty years. I'm amazed that, despite my initial reaction to the prompt - EFF this, I might just not do it, forget it- l thought of a plot, and executed it, and have turned it in. I'm amazed that my husband, a classic kind of stoic male, who read my screenplay for the first time this morning, had an emotional response to it and started to tear up! Huzzah! Victory is mine. I hope that each of you feel good and proud to have done this, just for the sake of it. What a thing.
------------- https://tinyurl.com/3kynb8tw" rel="nofollow - Archive https://tinyurl.com/3x5cmkm4" rel="nofollow - R1 FLASH |
Posted By: DavidBelle
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2025 at 7:33pm
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Well done! I'm in the same boat. Never done a screenplay and I drew Mystery, sightseeing and living in a car. GAH! I've never written a mystery, and have barely read any mysteries. I'm sure it's a train wreck, but after much thinking I'll give up, I actually got it done! And I don't hate it. Haha
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Posted By: lesleykg
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2025 at 8:53pm
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I got romance / a stopover / a dentist. That one took quite a bit of time just to come up with a basic concept . . . the dentist part was the hardest for me to fit in. Like, what's romantic about a dentist? ------------- http://bit.ly/4sOTUUB" rel="nofollow - 100 MF R1 http://bit.ly/40zamLP" rel="nofollow - Screenplay R1 http://bit.ly/3CqUl1V" rel="nofollow - Archive |
Posted By: SumFemina
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2025 at 11:21pm
Stiff competition in group 11, I see! ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic58489_post631823.html#631823" rel="nofollow - Screenplay: The Perfect Downward Dog |
Posted By: swilki
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2025 at 1:10am
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Mine was 50, Romance, Clueless, a custodian. After staring at a blank page for a week I finally scrabbled enough together and submitted on the dot. It's awful. But it's in. It's honestly the hardest writing I've ever done. I always suspected I don't have a romantic bone in my body, now I know it's true! ------------- https://tinyurl.com/2wxm2mec" rel="nofollow - 250 R1 https://tinyurl.com/566e2wya" rel="nofollow - 250 R2 https://bit.ly/3CprYfx" rel="nofollow - All Writing |
Posted By: SumFemina
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2025 at 1:16am
This was my experience too. The whole week I wondered about a thriller where someone takes the blame. Ugh! Then I started on it in the last 24 hours and submitted something sh-tty. (Perhaps that could have been the plot! There’s no one to blame but myself for starting late!) But it’s done! ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic58489_post631823.html#631823" rel="nofollow - Screenplay: The Perfect Downward Dog |
Posted By: swilki
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2025 at 1:23am
I blame society. And shiny things. And that loud music we kids listen to these days. (but yes, I'm totally to blame for procrastinating myself out of a decent draft!) But at least we managed something, and we can relax now... I really thought I wasn't going to! ------------- https://tinyurl.com/2wxm2mec" rel="nofollow - 250 R1 https://tinyurl.com/566e2wya" rel="nofollow - 250 R2 https://bit.ly/3CprYfx" rel="nofollow - All Writing |
Posted By: UK5AM
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2025 at 6:03am
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Group 10, Thriller, tennis player, brunch. Ugh. ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic67075_post714336.html#714336" rel="nofollow - 2025 R2 Scary Story - The Laiska |
Posted By: SumFemina
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2025 at 6:59am
lol this is even worse than having someone who takes the blame! ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic58489_post631823.html#631823" rel="nofollow - Screenplay: The Perfect Downward Dog |
Posted By: Suave
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2025 at 7:08am
There were quite a few really bad sets of prompts, lol. I thought I was in a bad way with horror, code of ethics, therapist. (by the way, I have just thought of a great story for my prompts, an AI therapist, always a dollar short and a day late)) ------------- https://shorturl.at/BYBEf" rel="nofollow - Screenplay Magic and Mayhem https://shorturl.at/FwVkk" rel="nofollow - 500 RomCom/ Making Music FB |
Posted By: SumFemina
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2025 at 7:33am
That sounds like fun, Suave! You should write that story! ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic58489_post631823.html#631823" rel="nofollow - Screenplay: The Perfect Downward Dog |
Posted By: slinkylink
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2025 at 9:57am
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Yeah, I generally immediately discount my first idea because I assume it will be a lot of people's first idea. And horror / therapist / code of ethics feels very hand-in-glove. And try as I might to come up with a fresh take, I suspect I went the same direction as many others. Originality is no guarantee of success in these comps, but it certainly doesn't hurt. ------------- https://tinyurl.com/mwms666p" rel="nofollow - 100 R1 https://tinyurl.com/5cxkcu38" rel="nofollow - Archive |
Posted By: John.Needham
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2025 at 2:12pm
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I got Political Satire, Smoke and mirrors, an apologist. I guess I went for the obvious topic, but apparently I can't say what for 72 hours ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r1-g40-miss-s-donuts-tramp-political-satire_topic63688.html" rel="nofollow - R1 G40 Miss S. Donuts Tramp, Political Satire |
Posted By: LadyArkham
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2025 at 6:20pm
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Well, I thought the deadline was tonight and not last night, so I'm out. I've been sick all week and home with sick kids, so I don't feel bad, except that my husband let me take a whole day off today to write while he made dinner and did all the housework and childcare. So I have a terrible last minute 12 page screenplay and a loving husband, so I guess in some sense I've won. :) ------------- https://tinyurl.com/3txbuszm" rel="nofollow - MF250 R2 "Discharge" (SF) |
Posted By: Frey_a
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2025 at 11:54pm
I had horror/ a doppelgänger and I went through exactly the same process, right to circling back and going with the first idea! Can’t wait to read yours! ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/author-archive_topic43498_post581969.html#581969" rel="nofollow - Author Archive http://www.tinyurl.com/2mwfxxen" rel="nofollow - SWC FINAL |
Posted By: Jesswarriner
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 1:50am
| That's definitely a win <3 |
Posted By: John.Needham
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 4:08am
Genre: Romance Subject: Brain Fog Character: Husband ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r1-g40-miss-s-donuts-tramp-political-satire_topic63688.html" rel="nofollow - R1 G40 Miss S. Donuts Tramp, Political Satire |
Posted By: Jesswarriner
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 5:07am
| This. |
Posted By: LadyArkham
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 8:22am
Ahhh! This delighted me, thank you. :) ------------- https://tinyurl.com/3txbuszm" rel="nofollow - MF250 R2 "Discharge" (SF) |
Posted By: Aporia
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 11:14am
This prompt sounds like the TV show Hannibal, where a lot of the exposition was spent in a therapy office discussing Hannibal’s questionable worldview.  |
Posted By: Msnow83
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 12:37pm
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I got the Superintendent Thriller too. Didn't finish it until Saturday night and it's not very good. ------------- https://tinyurl.com/57ammydp" rel="nofollow - He wants you to be part of his "perfect" family and you better not disobey! Read my disturbing psychological thriller: A Modest Family Home |
Posted By: nickwascreative
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 12:59pm
Hey, Groupmate! Honestly, just finishing a script in this contest is a huge accomplishment, so congrats on that! Don't be so hard on yourself  . The beauty of this challenge is when we return each year, we're better writers than we were the year before! I hope you'll post your story when we're given the green light to do so! ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r1-g5-arise-thriller_topic67766.html" rel="nofollow - SWC 2026 - G5 - Arise https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic43498_post516103.html#516103" rel="nofollow - ARCHIVE |
Posted By: themodvictorian
Date Posted: 26 Apr 2025 at 5:37pm
I also switched from Celtx to Fade In at the end of 2023. Best decision ever! I was a Celtx user of over a decade, but the program just wasn't worth it anymore. I loved the desktop installation version, but the online version sucked - and their annual fee was horrendous. After a work in progress crashed (twice!), I finally looked into other programs. Been using Fade In ever since, with no issues.
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