Lesson 5 Assignments

[Timothy Barley]

Tim Barley has finished Act 4 + 5!!!

What I learned from this assignment is that it’s great to have a draft, even though there is so much more I wanted to do within writing the draft. I wanted to edit, re-edit, add lines, etc. but I blazed through. I feel much better with it done and can now work to polish to 50% in the next lesson. Writing the first draft made me see the big picture even more clearly and allowed me to see things I didn’t see, adding notes to the margins as I steadily moved forward.

Taking a 24 hour break and moving on to lesson 6!

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Timothy Barley.

[Elizabeth Dickinson]

Elizabeth Dickinson Finished Acts 4 and 5

What I learned doing this assignment is that Act 5 may be a bit long, but my formatting got screwed up at some point and I’ve lost the page numbers. I’m going to have to contact Final Draft for help!

Rule 1: Use empowering self talk. Cheer yourself on.

Mostly use

Rule 2:
Understand writing in drafts.

Always use

Rule 3:
Choose speed over quality for EARLY drafts.

Still working on this

Rule 4:
Allow yourself to start (or continue) without all the answers.

Getting better at this

Rule 5:
Keep moving. Don’t allow yourself to ever stall out.

Getting better at this

Rule 6:
Even if you can’t create it now, you will be able to at some point in the
future!

Have faith in this

[Avi K]

Avi Kapurala has finished Acts 4+5!

What I learned from doing this lesson is: It’s hard to shake ALL thoughts that my pilot isn’t all that I want it to be. The key is-yet.

Conitnuing to stick to the speed writing rules and pick speed over anything else right now. It’s an exciting time, not a time to worry. I have a finished first draft of my first pilot!

[Laurie Brown]

Laurie Brown Finished Act 4 & 5

What I learned from doing this assignment is that the speed writing has a momentum and working this fast is very gratifying. Especially since I know how many drafts are ahead. Sticking to the outline is going better and it is really smart to do it. Otherwise, my mind starts thinking about the big picture vs. writing scenes and it takes me out of the speed writing zone.

[Wendy Weising]

Wendy Weising Has Finished Act 4 + 5

What I learned doing this assignment is to make sure you have enough information in your outline so that you have enough pages in your screenplay.

I got slowed down because for the first time in my life, I didn’t have enough pages. I had to go back and add some things. It’s still short, but I’m hoping that the other passes will help with that.

[P.G. Sundling]

P.G. Sundling has finished Acts 4+5!

4. Answer the question, “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work.

Instead of a cliffhanger, I end the episode with an upbeat ready to take on the world ending.

I was able to stuff 11.69% of the book, plus a two page teaser from book 2 into the pilot. I’m looking forward to editing it down to hit 65 pages. The first draft is already high quality because of the source material.

3. Tell us any insights you had using the High Speed Writing Rules or writing these final Acts.

Even without editing, I’m only 4 pages above my target of 65 pages. Cramming this much plot in the pilot seems feasible.