Each November non-profit organisation National Novel Writing Month (NANOWRIMO)
encourages writers around the world to buckle down and churn out a 50 000
word novel in 30 days. The idea behind the campaign is to kick commitment and
creativity into high gear and to provide inspiration and guidance throughout the
process. From 2007 to 2012 NANOWRIMO included a similar scriptwriting challenge
called Script Frenzy, but the initiative is no longer running.
This year, screenwriter Scott Myers (K-9, Alaska, Trojan War) has
initiated his own version of the 30 day scriptwriting challenge and has called it Zero
Draft Thirty (ZDT). Every day in November, Myers will compose and upload a
motivational ZDT post on his blog, Go
into the Story. The initiative will serve as a workshop for screenwriters which
will play out in a 30 day online forum where participants can support each other
throughout the process.
“I encourage writers who have taken up the challenge to come by each day, head to comments on the ZDT post, and share some thoughts on your process. You may just write something generally about how you’re feeling… good, bad, happy, sad, uplifted, and frustrated. Perhaps you will note what page count you managed for that day or the week,’ advises Myers, who adds: “Don’t upload actual pages!!! Keep those to yourself.’
If you’re up for the challenge head over to the Go into the Story blog and join in on
the conversation on the ZDT post. Twitter users
can share in their experience using the hashtag #ZD30SCRIPT
