Fictional Skies

I'm not going to talk about the present or future James Moran and his two feature films up for release this year. No - it's about that new writer on the scene and prolific blogger, and curse word user, who had just sold his first spec script we know as 'Severance' back in 2005. James has been blogging in his writing journal for around 9 years now. This tempted me to travel back in time and see what he was like in the beginning . Although, it's not the actual beginning from when he first started writing, but from when he won the Sci-Fi Channel's Sci-Fi Shorts Competition, got his ten-minute script entry made, and got an agent. I flicked through a few more early entries from 2003 - 2005 which are interesting and quite fascinating, as he talks about the umpteenth draft of Severance, then named P45, which was becoming quite a nuisance. But what interested me and thought I would pinch and share are some great and insightful words from 2005.  So I will unless ...

It's never wise to write a script solely for a competition. The only thing on your mind being: The Reward & Winning Write a script because you enjoy the process; are interested in the exploration of story, character and form; saying something about the human condition; forming an emotional and entertaining journey; and developing as a writer and person. Not because you want to pimp it out to a competition and get something back. Script competitions are great for a previously completed script that may be ready or just needs a rewrite/polish. They are ideal for an experienced writer who has a body of spec work and is looking for some recognition and a way forward. They are also good for beginner writers entering once or twice to test the waters, or for fun as a screenwriting hobby. If you get a kick out of the process and thrill of writing a script for a competition: enjoy the challenge and creating to a deadline. Keep on doing what you're doing. But keep i...