Waiting For Guffman (writing prompts!)
Plus screenwriting sprints, and a Cameo sale!
Join me for a Screenwriting Sprint?
Okay, so two weeks ago, I got a call from a producer friend asking if I had any completed Christmas scripts in the drawer. He had financing for a Christmas movie, but they wanted to film this summer to have it ready for this Christmas season. I unfortunately did not have what he was looking for, but I realized I SHOULD.
Every year (usually earlier than this, but timelines always vary) I always hear from producers that they’re looking for Christmas movies. It’s something that Hollywood is pretty consistent about making, maybe more so than any other genre. So I got off the call with that producer and I said to myself, “I’m going to write a Christmas movie in the next two weeks.”
I knew it would likely be too late for that producer, but I decided I should have one ready for next year, and I thought it would be a fun challenge to see if I could go from idea to finished first draft in less than 14 days. And let me tell you…
It completely freed me. I didn’t have time to overthink any choices because I had to hit a certain page count every day. What ended up happening was, I had more fun writing this script than I’ve had writing in a long time. And you can feel that joy in the writing.
Here’s how my fourteen days went, from a page count perspective:
Day 0: I spent the day brainstorming and came up with five possible ideas, wrote loglines for each. (I’m not counting this day as a writing day because I didn’t know what I was writing AT ALL yet.)
Day 1: I chose the story I wanted to write. Spent today brainstorming, taking notes, and writing a VERY ROUGH/LOOSE outline. Just the major story beats. So I knew what I was writing towards.
Day 2: I wrote 7 pages.
Day 3: I wrote 3 pages. Total page count: 10
Day 4: I wrote 13 pages. Total page count: 23
Day 5: I wrote 7 pages. Total page count: 30
Day 6: I wrote 4 pages. Total page count: 34
Day 7: I read through what I’d written so far, did a bunch of trimming and thinking about what comes next. I ended up cutting about 7 pages and writing about 2 new pages. Total page count: 29
Day 8: I wrote 5 pages. Total page count: 34
Day 9: I wrote 8 pages. Total page count: 42.
Day 10: I wrote 10 pages. Total page count 52.
Day 11: I wrote 18 pages. Total page count: 70.
Day 12: I wrote 26 pages today! I could see the end and wouldn’t let myself stop until I got there. Total page count: 96. And I got to the words “FADE OUT.”
Day 13: I spent the day revising and went swimming. We all deserve a dip in a pool whenever we finish something. Finished a draft of the script in less than 2 weeks!
Would you like to join me on my next Screenplay Sprint? I had so much fun with this one that I’ve decided to do it again, starting tomorrow, Monday, June 23. This time I’m gonna write an idea that’s been on my To Do list for ages. Time to get that draft written! Think of it as NaScriWriWe (National Script Writing Week) or something. Terrible hashtag, great idea.
Countdown Until My New Book Comes out!
Write a Romantasy comes out in 64 days. Pre-order it here: https://amzn.to/439nY1x
Need Some Inspiration?
My Cameo is 25% off for the next Three Days!
Your Daily Writing Prompt
Today’s prompts were inspired by the movie Waiting For Guffman.
EXERCISE #1: “I been workin here at the DQ for about 8 months? Y’just do the cones, make sundaes, make Blizzards, and put stuff on ‘em.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Think of something you’ve made and write about the PROCESS of making that thing. Be TOO specific.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist is making something (building something, cooking something, creating something) – and include a conversation about something that they want.
EXERCISE #2: “There’s a saying in Missouri, if you don’t like the weather just wait five minutes. In Blaine, with hard work, I think we can get that down to three or four minutes.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about an improvement you would like to make in your life. Try to include a weather metaphor.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a monologue for one of your secondary characters where they’re talking about how they see the world and things they would like to change.
EXERCISE #3: “I just hate you and I hate your ass face.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Think of someone who you can’t stand (someone you know personally or who’s in the public eye) and write a diatribe about why they’re so terrible. Be as crude and irreverent as you can possibly be.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where one of your characters tells someone that they hate them. Let your character REALLY GO OFF.
EXERCISE #4: “Blaine is the stool capital of the world.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Among your friends and your family, what are you known for? Pick someone you know, imagine you’re them, and write about yourself as if it’s them speaking. How do you think they see you?
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, freewrite/brainstorm about all the things your main character is proud of.
EXERCISE #5: “We don’t associate with the creative types. We have a scrabble club. We associate with people who have babies.
PERSONAL PROMPT: What hobbies do you have?
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist is participating in some sort of hobby activity and getting to know someone new.
EXERCISE #6: “You have to go where the love is. And the love for me, right now, is in Miami, not Blaine.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about a place you’ve dreamed about moving to and all of the hopes and dreams connected to it.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where two of your characters compare fantasies or dreams about their futures.
EXERCISE #7: “We have one shot at this. With Mort Guffman coming to town, we’ve got to hitch up our panties and run.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about a moment when you were in a super high stakes situation. How did you handle the pressure?
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, what does your protagonist want more than anything in the world? Write the scene right BEFORE they MIGHT POSSIBLY get it.
EXERCISE #8: “I imagined that when I moved here, I would have a completely different life. Perhaps a construction worker, on one of those high wire things, with the hat, you know that sweeping sort of hat, and the chaps.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about the costumes that you wear in your daily life.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, freewrite about your protagonist’s personal style.
Thank You For Being Here
Pre-order my new books coming soon from Adams Media/Simon and Schuster!
Write a Romantasy! 99 Prompts to Write a Tale of Heart and Heroism
Write a Dystopian Novel! 99 Prompts to Write a Tale of Ruin and Rebellion
Get my prompt books: https://www.camdenhighstreetbooks.com
Attend a writing sprint with me on Zoom: https://www.patreon.com/erikpatterson
Commission a prompt via Cameo: https://www.cameo.com/erikpatterson
Read one of my plays: https://www.camdenhighstreetbooks.com/plays
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