-
Day 3 Assignments
Reply to post your assignments.
-
30 Replies
-
Rebecca’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
Vision: My success in this program will lead me to be the go-to writer for producers looking for incredible scripts for successful movies enjoyed by a vast viewing audience.
I learned from this assignment that I could write 23 additional pages to complete ACT 1 in two days. What I thought was impossible became possible because I could focus on the outline with no worries because I could change things in a future draft.
My experience with using the high-speed writing rules is that I could silence my inner critic and flow through my outline for Act 1 as I added slug lines, description, action, and dialog. Lessons 1 and 2 (8 pages total) were a warmup for the lesson 3 challenge of completing Act 1 in two days. I wrote straight through without a pause as the words flowed onto the page. Often my keyboard had a hard time keeping up with my fingers. That was the only time I stopped, took a deep breath to slow down my brain, and corrected the gibberish created by my fingers on the wrong keys. Sticking to the outline in draft one kept me focused, knowing I could add or subtract scenes in a future draft.
-
Sandra’s Lesson 3 First Draft Part 1
Vision: I am doing what I love to do as a writer with several successful produced movies.
What I learned doing this assignment is that I was able to write five pages a day to complete Act 1!!! However, I did find myself wanting to make corrections, fix things, and fill-in gaps. I’d catch myself and move on to the next scene.
-
Eclipse Neilson: Lesson 3 First Draft Part 1
My Vision: I want to be a great award-winning successful writer, known for her genre, who creates the most beautiful films that inspire others to feel deeply, pause, and ponder ways to make the world a better place
What I learned from doing this assignment is…that some of my structure order needed to be switched.
Title: THE NUN AND THE WITCH
Genre: (Sci-fi/mystical drama)
Concept: A dedicated nun destined to become a saint, bonds with a witch to achieve a sacred task to battle the evils of hatred consuming the heart of humanity, only to find out that time is running out.
How the process went for me: I pasted my outline and have worked scene by scene. I have completed the first act! feel basically good but know it needs lots more work.LOL
-
Farrin Rosenthal’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
Farrin’s Vision: To do what it takes to become a highly paid A-List Hollywood writer whose produced movies will entertain audiences around the world.
What I learned doing this assignment is how fear slows you down. Sometimes we don’t know the answers or how to write a scene and that scares us, but when we forget all that and know things are not to be perfect in a first draft it frees us to just write, just create. We don’t know all the answers, so what? Keep writing! Go from outline to first draft. Let it happen by making it happen. Slowly, we will get into it and the writing will start to flow and take us places we did not think possible. Key is to stick to the outline and concept always! I finished writing some “setup” scenes where I did not know all the answers and just started writing it. Taking time to reflect and process filled in some of the answers and allowed me to write the scene. Is it good or do I have all the answers? No, does it suck? No, it’s good, but not great, and that’s okay. I have now completed writing the first draft of act 1. It was rough going in spots where I had to brainstorm and figure out exactly what happens in the scene, but knowing it did not have to be great or perfect allowed me to just write and complete it. After that, I felt liberated and in that state found myself just flowing through the pages. Sticking to the outline, but having no idea really what the characters were going to say, I started to get into the characters, let them speak through me, and bam! I came up with some cool shit, surprising stuff, something I had not planned or thought about, but came to me in the moment, during the writing. It’s so cool when that happens. It’s why I write. Lesson learned, flow, baby, flow, but stay within the outline, stay on concept, stay on track. Keep moving forward no matter what.
-
Subject Line: Jeffrey Alan Chase’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
My vision: I am an “A” list writer who is known for high concept ideas, great execution, a string of successful movies and is always ready to share his knowledge and do what he can to help another writer on the way up.
What I learned from doing this assignment is: I have 10 pages of ACT 1 done. I’ll be writing another 5-7 tomorrow. I’m still struggling to force myself to write fast and to forget about editing as I go. Getting better at it but it’s a hard habit to break.
Title: Shards
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Logline: A woman with no childhood memory is involved in a cat and mouse game with a cunning hypnotist not knowing the man is responsible for both her amnesia and the death of her treasure hunter father.
-
KRISTIN’S ACT 1 FIRST DRAFT PART 1
VISION: “I want the personal, professional, and financial freedom and joy that come from writing so well that I’m in demand, selling beyond my wildest dreams, and making worthy projects—on a big scale and with my active, collegial participation.”
WHAT I LEARNED in this assignment: It’s interesting to go fast… and not worry about unanswered questions. I felt kind of like a naughty kid writing “???” or something when I hadn’t worked out a question, or a secondary character’s role in a certain area. But it is fun… I like not having the pressure of “figuring it all out” at this point. It’s almost like the summaries in the outline “are scenes” already. Except, one thing I learned is that when I go quickly and just write down their beginning, middle, and end, I’m not doing transitions or writing great dialog or anything. Sometimes, something good pops out (“Oh, this guy should be Scandinavian, and have an accent!”), but I don’t have to do anything but make that note.
So far, I haven’t stalled out. Sometimes I take a little walk around the house, but this is feeling FUN. I’m not dreading it, or worried. In fact, I can’t wait to finish my work-work so that I can get back to it. Hooray!
-
Joe McGloin’s High Speed Writing Rules Day 2
Vision: I am a talented, highly regarded, efficient, relaxed, happy, WGA screenwriter
Title: Will This Angel?
Genre: RomCom
Concept: A future female vice president has a guardian angel who abandons his mission when he falls in love with her.
How the assignment went for me: It went fast because the outline is extremely thin here owing to putting just a few of the elements from all the previous lessons. Looking forward to later drafts when I can beef things up. Not a big deal; my first drafts are nearly always short.
How it went using the rules: It went very fast because 1) I used the high speed writing rules and 2) because the outline is so thin, the entire scene as outlined only took one half page.
-
Subject Line: Peter’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
My vision: I write powerful horror movies that people remember long after they’ve left the theater.
What I learned from doing this assignment is: I can write 6 pages in under an hour when I’m not shackled to perfectionism. I listened the module lecture 3 times to underscore the principles of high speed writing and I am happy to report that it works! Despite being laid low by COVID, I’m just about caught up to class.
Title: Highway to Hell
Genre: Horror
-
Micki’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
My vision: Be recognized as a writer that will work with the industry and would do what it takes to be that WRITER.
What I learned from doing this assignment is find a place to write without any distraction and I found it. The fast pace rules are kind of hard to do. I have been listening to music for ten minutes and now, I am up to twenty minutes. Trying to type faster and think faster as the scenes in the outline are being written. I have been working on the script, writing about five pages per day. Some days are not good days, I do get two to three pages done. And also staying with the outline. Today, I have reached the ACT II.
-
Pat’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
Vision: I have the courage, conviction and talent to create contest winning screenplays, and I will go on to have my scripts optioned and produced.
What I Learned: The high speed writing rules empowered me to start writing and not quick, don’t look back, move forward. This has not been my habit in the past, which is why it’s always taken me forever to produce something that’s halfway decent. Moving forward with confidence that I’ll make improvements down the road has enabled me to complete my first draft of Act 1. And if I hadn’t committed to sticking to my outline, I definitely would’ve strayed from it and created something that would’ve taken the rest of the script way off track. I swear, I should have the high speed writing rules tatooed on my arm!
-
ROBERT SMITH’s LESSON 3 FIRST DRAFT PART 1.
MY VISION FOR SUCCESS AFTER THIS PROGRAM:
I want to become a great writer who delivers entertaining, informative, and uplifting scripts that sell and get produced.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS…?
Don’t push yourself. The idea is to keep pressure off yourself which frees up the creative
process.
HOW IT WENT FOR ME USING THE RULES OF SPEEDWRITING.
Rule #1: CHOOSE SPEED OVER QUALITY: I am keeping this as my guiding principle in writing. I find it works better.
Rule #2: MASTER WRITING IN DRAFTS: Okay, still in Act 1 but it is solace to know that there will be other drafts to come.
Rule #3: KEEP YOURSELF EMPOWERED. I find that these are a happy ‘must do.’
Rule #4: ALLOW YOURSELF TO START WITHOUT ALL THE ANSWERS. This
was also very liberating.
Rule #5: KEEP MOVING FORWARD/DON’T STALL OUT. I DID STALL OUT. So, I did stall out but kick-started myself back into action but could only complete 4 pages today.
RULE #6: ANYTHING YOU CAN’T SOLVE QUICKLY, GIVE IT TO YOUR
CREATIVE MIND TO PROCESS IT, KNOWING IT WILL COME TO YOU. This rule has been especially helpful. I have envisioned a new way to film an opening using the material I have written. But that will come in a later draft.
-
Bobby’s Lesson 3 First Draft Act I pages
MY VISION: A writing life that is mine to do with as I please. Independently wealthy, always creatively engaged, sought after, and utterly fulfilled.
Title: JASON VS THE ZOMBIES
Genre: Horror/Comedy
Concept: A tortured, aspiring serial killer has to join forces with the bullies that were his intended victims when the cabin they’re partying in is attacked by zombies from a nearby Civil War graveyard.
HOW IT WENT: Going great. Got half of Act I done early this week. Especially fun when I realized I had 15 minutes to write, and challenged myself to just bang out a scene.
-
Andrew Kelm’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
Vision: I am going to do whatever it takes to be a great writer of TV and movies who is sought after by people I respect within the industry and has multiple successful TV series produced.
What I learned doing this assignment is… how to trust the outline. I think I finally have an outline that I really believe in, so the speed writing is no big deal at all – I can do 3-5 pages a day.
-
Claudia’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
Vision: To become such an excellent writer that I know every script I write will be well received by the industry, that my scripts will sell and be produced, and I’ll live the life of my dreams. To also become so empowered that fear is to be laughed at, instead I relish and look forward to pitching, meetings and much more.
TITLE: CLEAN SWEEP / ROM-COM
Concept: After her father has a heart attack, a germophobic organizational expert must take over the family cleaning business and meets the love of her life, not knowing he’s a terrible slob.
What I’ve Learned Doing This Assignment: I had a difficult time focusing on writing this week, we’ve got a fire burning close to us (the Fairview Fire) and several friends have already evacuated. That and being hot and exhausted from work I was only able to do a 1-2 pages at a time and one day I didn’t write at all. Yesterday (my day off) I sat down and popped out 6 pages and today I finished Act 1 with 3 more pages (thankfully it’s cooler today!)
I need to practice speed writing and not letting things interrupt me or having to fix things, etc. I didn’t strictly follow the outline; I added some very short scenes. I stopped myself several times trying to speed write… finally yesterday I put on some music and was able to focus!
I only have 15 pages for the first act, which tells me I need to fix this in the next draft!
-
Tom’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
Tom’s Vision: Working projects with producers, I quickly suggest exciting ideas to improve the material.
Doing this assignment, I learned I am able to write faster when I’m on a timer.
I find using High Speed Writing Rules is a real shot in the arm to get me moving quickly through the material.
-
Terrie’s Act 1 First Draft
Vision:
I get paid to write screenplays that get made into crowd pleasing successful films using a process that allows me to keep up my equestrian hobby.What I learned doing this assignment is that I need to allow myself to work even if I only have 5-10 minutes.
How it went? It wasn’t going great (tired, work, sick). Mastery session 16 was really helpful. Progress not perfection I guess needs to be a motto.
I also learned I can learn a lot reading other’s replies – good lessons shared above.
-
Veronica Turowski’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
My Vision: I want to be a successful writer who writes several scripts a year and sells them to producers who are eager to make my vision a reality by bringing my scripts to completion so everyone can watch my movies on the big screen.
What I learned from doing this assignment is that when I changed an important scene in the beginning, it changed a few other important things in my script. I still need to let go if I can’t solve a problem. Although I had to change a major element in the beginning to improve my script, it is easier to write when I have a complete outline because I know where the story is going.
-
Leona Heraty’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
My Vision: To be the best family comedy screenwriter in the industry where my screenplays are produced into fabulous movies, making audiences laugh a lot and making me independently wealthy!
What I learned from doing this assignment is… to use the high speed writing rules with a timer…it works! <b style=”font-weight: bold;”>
Title: Tara vs. the Termo-Lytes
Genre: Comedy (Sci-fi)
Concept: A teenage tour guide with no sense of direction and an extreme fear of bugs takes a wrong turn and leads her group to an abandoned country club overrun by giant mutant termites.How I used the High Speed Writing Rules and insights I had about writing a first draft: I set a timer and tried to write each scene in five minutes. That was tough, so I ended up writing each scene in ten or fifteen minutes. But the process works, and I just kept going. The high speed writing rules freed me to just write without editing as I go, so the process works!
-
This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by Leona Heraty.
-
This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by Leona Heraty.
-
This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by
-
Linda’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
My Vision is: I will do whatever it takes to be a sought-after profound writer with many successful movies produced and an Oscar on my mantel.
What I learned doing this assignment is it helps tremendously to have the beginning, middle and ending already figured out. I did realize I will have to go back and take a look again at the interest techniques I identified during that process – with writing fast I’m sure I can make them more powerful once I spend more time with them.
How I used the High Speed Writing Rules: Although I was very tempted to read over my scenes to make changes, I wrote fast instead and didn’t worry that much of my dialogue will need improvements.
-
WIM Module 5: lesson 3: Act 1. Write 3 to 5 pages a day
I got so caught up writing my scenes – I forgot to post the daily assignments!
CJ’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
Vision: I am a confident and empowered writer who embraces challenges and changes and writes produced highly sought-after projects with fresh and exciting ideas.
WIL: With a strong outline – and staying true to the outline makes it easy to power through scene after scene. I am not striving for perfection but I admit when I go back to get my baring’s on where I am at with the outline – I still fix a few things but I don’t let it slow me down!
Title: MEMORY HUNTERS
Concept:
In a future with technology to retrieve memories, a Memory Retrevalist, caught in the mind of a psychopath struggles to find a way out before he destroys her mind and kills her.
-
Lori Lance’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
Vision: I want to be a professional screenwriter recognized by the industry as the go-to for family-friendly scripts and have multiple successful movies produced.
What I learned: I wrote scene 3 today. It’s a little short, but I stuck to my outline and used the high-speed writing method. It feels good to have another scene done.
-
Peter’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
WIL: I can do this!
Vision: I am a prolific screenwriter with a reputation for writing successful horror movies that terrify the audience long after they leave the theater.
-
Jane’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
MY VISION: I will make my living as a screenwriter by selling my own narrative scripts and successfully fulfilling writing assignments.
By doing this assignment I felt like I really have a good handle on these characters and the journey they will take. I have more confidence in my project and myself.
-
VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!
WITHOUT RECOURSE
My story has changed from “Based upon” to “Inspired by” which changed the dynamics and forced me to write my ass off and quick. I love the concept/subject and have a great deal invested so I WENT OUT OF THE BOX and changed character and just how to present the story and I did it. Certainly not how I wanted it to be…through all the MOD’S, because I found those MOD’S to be very important and very helpful for a great outline. But for now, this is what I have and I do believe it will be a better story. Typing and thinking FAST is really helping. I don’t give it pause for anything…even spell check. I’m in Act 1 and it is longer than I thought but it has to be told for the character’s main conflict/problem. Now I have to ask myself…WHAT DOES SHE WANT/NEED? IS IT CLEAR? Who she is works well and the descriptions can be cut back a lot but I’ll be doing that later on. For now, I’m working away.
-
Jacqueline Murphy Act 1 First Draft Part 1
MY Vision: To empower myself to be an A+ List writer, actress, producer whose scripts are optioned, sought after and made into TV shows & Film Feature films that inspire, receive critical acclaim, awards and are financially successful and emotional satisfying.
What I learned to just keep going and power through. The empowerment exercise and the lesson for the day help to keep me inspirerd and focused. More than anything is the state to activity as it connects me to my passion, desire to write and puts it in a positive focus! The more I do it the more I see how effective and helpful it is! Also: My vision reminds me of what my dream is and I want to make that a reality.
1. Do State-To-Activity empowerment process.State: I absolutely love…Activity: …writing this first draft!
-
Amechi’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
What I learned from doing this assignment is to stay focused on the outline that I’ve built. It makes it easy, even though there are now obvious holes in what I have. I’ve just made a few notes for what I will fix later. -
Lesson 3: Act 1. Write 3 – 5 pages a day.
JACK P. Act 1 First Draft Part 1
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
I absolutely love writing this first draft!
What I learned: Purpose of Act 1, Draft 1: Introducing main
characters in action, enticing audience into going on the journey with my
protagonist. I have already completed Draft 1 of Act 1, so I am using the
insights of this lesson to rewrite faster. -
John T’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
Vision: to become a reliable box office success and entertain audiences all over the world
What I learned doing this assignment is that by sticking to the outline, it both limits and frees the creative mind. It limits you by establishing the lanes – no detours. It frees you because you can focus on what will make that particular scene or set piece more easily defined and further enables the high speed writing process – the more you practice HSW, the better you get at it. There’s obviously a lot of room for improvement with regard to what makes for a good inciting event and journey beginning but both of these can be refined once the first draft is finished. The HSW process gives one the sense of urgency to get er done, especially when you’re waaaaay behind! There’s light at the end of the chunnel.
-
Joaquin “Ibn Gray’s” Act 1 First Draft Part 1
My vision is that I am an A plus screenwriter who scripts are produced into profitable films that I benefit financially from.
I learned that several ideals come to you that aren’t in the outline but fit what you are writing in the scene.
Joaquin “Ibn Gray”
-
Valeriya’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
My Vision: I am a masterful, ahead-of-the-game, and outside-the-box writer. Ideas and creative energy pour through me in abundance. My writing is fresh, impactful, iconic, beautiful, and genius. My projects deliver outstanding commercial and artistic success. I am the leading edge. I create a lot, and it’s a lot of fun – sheer pleasure. My whole life is that way. I love it.
I absolutely love writing this first draft!
What I learned from doing this assignment is…
– I used to shy away from actual writing while my writing is so welcoming, exciting, and engaging.
– I give up ignoring the fact that my writing is calling.
– It’s always easier to just write than resist writing.
Tell us how you used the High Speed Writing Rules and any insights you had about writing a first draft.
– This time I didn’t look at the rules, but I’m sure I followed some. I just wrote what was coming and it was great.
Log in to reply.