It is the end of January and I am happy to say that I have finally submitted my Radio Play, Voodoo Magic. Not a very imaginative title, I know, but I couldn't think of any more creative. The month of January literally kicked my ass. This was one of the most emotional months I have ever had and it had a huge impact my writing.
No excuses, but here is a recap of how things went:
I had made the decision to write 12 in 12 in December of last year. I found out about the BBC sponsored radio play writing contest near the end of December. On December 27, my Paw Paw passed away. On December 31, I celebrated my fourteenth wedding anniversary. On January 3, I finally started working on my play. On January 8, my Grandma passed away. And I was lost. I didn't pick my computer up again for nine days. So finally on January 17, I started working again. I didn't work much on the weekends simply because of the difficulty of getting things done with three kids being stuck in the house during the Winter season. The deadline for submission was midnight on January 31st. My goal was to submit my work on the 30th because I didn't want to risk the time difference between us and Great Britain disqualifying me.
Again, no excuses, but all in all I only worked on my script for maybe half of the month. So what I turned in was essentially a rough draft with one revision. How embarrassing. My best and my worst critic is my husband. When he read the first version, I cried. I had gotten so focused on making sure the length was right that I lost the story along the way. He couldn't figure out what I was trying to do; what my characters were trying to accomplish. I ended up spending two entire days dedicated to stripping my story down and building it back up. I cut scenes out and tried to focus on building characters and strengthening dialogue. I made sure that everyone knew what was going on. That no character just assumed anything. It made me feel that I was repeating a lot of information, but for a format that relies entirely on aural information, that is probably necessary. I haven't asked him to read it again. I'm afraid he'll tell me it still is't strong enough, but it's too late now.
I feel bad that I will be judged on something I feel is sub-par. I'm not comfortable with that. But on the plus side, I have a pretty good starter script to build off of for future projects. And I also have no idea what the judges are looking for. I never enter a contest expecting to win. I enter because of the opportunity to write something new and for the rare opportunity to get feedback. If I do win something, that would be great! But I never expect it.
Now to look for something for February...
Friday, January 31, 2014
Monday, January 6, 2014
An Education in Radio
Having never written a radio script before, I have had to go back to my Middle School days of Speech and Drama and also had to rely on my good senses. As I mentioned previously, this will be the first radio script I have written. The other scripts I have written are two dinner theatre programs that were performed but not published, a one act that is currently awaiting performance and two shorts that I previously submitted to contest, but sadly did not win. I also have a full length play that I am ever revising. I have one fiction and one non-fiction book in the works, too. Meaning they are on my computer and in my brain, but haven't been shopped around or anything. So, there you have my very small unsuccessful writing accomplishments.
As for experience with radio scripts, when I was in the seventh and eighth grades, I took Speech and Drama with Mrs. Norman. One of our many exercises was to read radio commercials and shows aloud. Granted, many of them were fake and written specially for school programs, but it was good practice. During these times, I'm sure there were lessons about the job of the Foley artists, how to read for radio, and the history and evolution of radio and such. I assume this, otherwise I wouldn't remember the things I do. Makes sense, right?
While writing this script I have been reading a lot of other scripts that have been written specifically for radio. They aren't terribly different from what I am used to writing. Slightly different format. Slightly more descriptive. I am trying to think of it like this: Shorter, more exciting scenes that keep the plot moving. After all, the story needs to be told in 53 minutes, not unfold in two hours. I have to keep in mind that the story will be heard, not seen. Character descriptions are important, but in different ways. What kind of shoes or jewelry will someone wear? How do they walk and talk? What season is it? Is it rush hour? Day time? Night time? What kind of music is in the background? Mugs or glasses? Iced or hot beverage?
Without making myself go crazy, it's a little like taking a virtual tour through my characters' minds. And I think it is going to make me a better writer overall. Maybe I will finally quit revising the one full length play I have written and finally find somewhere to submit it to. Maybe there will be one month this year I can do that. This is the year, after all, to go and put myself out there!
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you!
As for experience with radio scripts, when I was in the seventh and eighth grades, I took Speech and Drama with Mrs. Norman. One of our many exercises was to read radio commercials and shows aloud. Granted, many of them were fake and written specially for school programs, but it was good practice. During these times, I'm sure there were lessons about the job of the Foley artists, how to read for radio, and the history and evolution of radio and such. I assume this, otherwise I wouldn't remember the things I do. Makes sense, right?
While writing this script I have been reading a lot of other scripts that have been written specifically for radio. They aren't terribly different from what I am used to writing. Slightly different format. Slightly more descriptive. I am trying to think of it like this: Shorter, more exciting scenes that keep the plot moving. After all, the story needs to be told in 53 minutes, not unfold in two hours. I have to keep in mind that the story will be heard, not seen. Character descriptions are important, but in different ways. What kind of shoes or jewelry will someone wear? How do they walk and talk? What season is it? Is it rush hour? Day time? Night time? What kind of music is in the background? Mugs or glasses? Iced or hot beverage?
Without making myself go crazy, it's a little like taking a virtual tour through my characters' minds. And I think it is going to make me a better writer overall. Maybe I will finally quit revising the one full length play I have written and finally find somewhere to submit it to. Maybe there will be one month this year I can do that. This is the year, after all, to go and put myself out there!
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you!
Thursday, January 2, 2014
The Die Has Been Cast
In 2014, I have decided to embark on a personal journey to expand my horizons and stretch my comfort zones. This year, my goal is to write and enter into different writing competitions every month of this year. I made this resolution for myself back in early December and started the search back then for writing competitions for January, February and March.
Shortly before New Year's Eve (Happy Anniversary, Victor!), I finally found one that I didn't have to pay to enter into. If you're like me, I don't particularly enjoy spending much money right after Christmas, especially with three children I love to spoil once a year. The competition I found is a BBC sponsored radio playwriting competition ending January 31, 2014.
The competition consists of writing a 53 minute radio play complete with rich characters, diverse backgrounds and full sound effects. I have never written a radio play before, but I look forward to the challenge of combining my limited knowledge of playwriting with the unfamiliar landscape of writing a radio play. I think, if nothing else, it will be fun learning to write for a new genre.
Their rules and guidelines are laid out very specifically. There are certain ways they want stage directions and sound effects written. Plays can be submitted via snail-mail and e-mail. When I submit my final play, I also have to include the entry form and synopsis of my radio play. As long as I can follow the rules, I figure I have as good a chance as any other struggling writer.
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you!
Shortly before New Year's Eve (Happy Anniversary, Victor!), I finally found one that I didn't have to pay to enter into. If you're like me, I don't particularly enjoy spending much money right after Christmas, especially with three children I love to spoil once a year. The competition I found is a BBC sponsored radio playwriting competition ending January 31, 2014.
The competition consists of writing a 53 minute radio play complete with rich characters, diverse backgrounds and full sound effects. I have never written a radio play before, but I look forward to the challenge of combining my limited knowledge of playwriting with the unfamiliar landscape of writing a radio play. I think, if nothing else, it will be fun learning to write for a new genre.
Their rules and guidelines are laid out very specifically. There are certain ways they want stage directions and sound effects written. Plays can be submitted via snail-mail and e-mail. When I submit my final play, I also have to include the entry form and synopsis of my radio play. As long as I can follow the rules, I figure I have as good a chance as any other struggling writer.
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you!
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