Challenge #12 - Random Phrase Generator, part 2

Hi folks

We had a useful question the other day so I thought I’d share the answer with the group.

A writer has run into the issue of having more to write but running out of time because of the deadline in the morning and needing to stop and just post what they had.

They were wondering if it was OK to add to posted scripts after the fact.

The answer is, of course, yes.

Submit something by the deadline but if you want to add more later you certainly can.

(To clarify, this doesn’t mean you can keep going back and revising the same five or six pages or lines day after day.  That’s re-writing.  The challenge is about creating significant new material each day - writing new words, new lines, new pages.)

Now, if you also want to get credit for that new material, to fulfill the writing quotient for the day whether it addresses the new day’s challenge or not, you can also do that, but you should submit it as a whole new submission for a day, not just refer us back to an older post.

Many of you are doing this already, continuing to add on to a script that you worked on in previous days.  And you’re either just sending the new stuff, or sending the whole script with a marker of where the new material for the day begins.

I did this a lot during the writing challenges that were run by Red Theater in Chicago.  

An example:

If you scroll to the bottom of this post (apologies for the sex scene at the beginning, shield your eyes), you’ll see a note, (to be continued)…

Then, several days later, after writing other scenes, I returned to continue this one, starting by tacking on the last few lines of the previous post and then continuing on from there with more scene…

Any variation on a theme like this is fine, just keep pushing forward and creating new stuff.  If it’s building on previously submitted stuff, that’s fine, just indicate where the old ends and the new begins (again, many of you are already doing this.  For new folks contemplating such a strategy, yes, by all means, do.)





Let’s get you that writing prompt…


Challenge #12 - Random Phrase Generator, part 2

Due: Saturday, November 13th, 8am
(whenever 8am arrives in your time zone; we’ll do the math here in the Central Time zone, no worries :)

My friend Dan’s writing prompt generator has so many peculiar and useful options, I figured we should revisit it once or twice more before we’re done.  Here’s another list of random phrase options to take as jumping off points:

- 2 fish, 1 chicken
- Can you put that away?
- Maybe you are a robot
- Maybe we can make some time
- I will never run away

And of course, you can always go right to the source and find other phrases you like better to play with.

https://danbernitt.com/writing-prompts/

When I checked in with Dan, he was grateful for the reminder.  He likes to periodically go in and load a bunch more new phrases in the mix to keep it fresh.

And, like last time, Dan’s always curious to see what kind of work the phrases inspire in other writers.  So if you don’t mind my sharing your work with Dan, just let me know when you submit.




How to submit your work for Challenge #12

You have options.  They are:

Save your script as a PDF or Word Doc and send as an attachment to an email sent to ThresholdWritingChallenge@gmail.com

OR

Copy and past your script in the body of an email and send it to ThresholdWritingChallenge@gmail.com

OR

Post your script online (as a Google doc, or in a blog post, on your own personal website, etc.) - email a link to this script to ThresholdWritingChallenge@gmail.com
(If you’re going to Google doc route, just make sure to have the document public, or give permissions to our email address to open it)

When emailing us, make the subject line of your email - Challenge #12
(That just helps us sort through the email more quickly)
(Or, you know, just reply to this email if you want :)

OR

Post the link for the online document option above in the comments section on this very blog post for this challenge on our writing challenge blog.



Again, this is: Due: Saturday, November 13th, 8am
(whenever 8am arrives in your time zone; we’ll do the math here in the Central Time zone, no worries :)

 

And, just to reassure you, no, we are not going to be sticklers about you following these directions down to the minutest detail - the important thing is that you write, and then that you share it with us, so we can keep track of who’s writing every day.

We will be VERY understanding about technical difficulties and how they can screw up making the deadline on the first few days.  No need to fret about anything except the writing (and hopefully that’s not something causing you to fret too much either :)

Also, no, there is no penalty for finishing and submitting early - but it also isn’t a race, so give yourself all the time up til 8am on Saturday to write if you need it.  When you’re done, you’re done.

A friendly reminder - you don’t have to write to the prompts if they don’t inspire you.  You can ignore them and just write whatever you want, just as long as you’re writing (that’s the main thing, not what you write)

Someone had a good question about the overall goal of the month, are we supposed to write a full-length play, or two one-act plays, etc.?  The short answer is no (unless you want to).  The longer answer is here if you’re curious.

For those concerned about format, we’re pretty liberal about that, too - just as long as it’s legible and in English.  More on that here.

Again, remember, it doesn’t need to be great, it doesn’t even need to be responding to this prompt (the prompt is just there so you’re not staring at a blank screen to start with no idea what to write about :)

Doesn't even need to be complete - you could have the beginning or the middle or the end of an idea, maybe two out of three but not all, that's still fine. This is all about getting things started, you can write more later. You have 18 more days to build on whatever you come up with today, if you want. Just get anything on the page, even if won't make sense to anyone else, as long as it make sense to you.

It just needs to be something.

And that something can be:

Lights up.

Two fish, one chicken and a robot sit down together and make some time to plan their future.

Lights down.

The End

That’s always your escape hatch, every day.

That’s your base line.

Build on it.

Have fun.

Don’t stress.

Make an impulsive decision and run with it.

Breathe.

You’ve got the day (and a half).

Just write.