Hi folks
We have reached the midpoint of the month - day and challenge 15 of 30!
No matter how much writing you've done or haven't done over the past two weeks, well done, everyone!
Every day you write something (no matter how good or bad you think it might be in the moment) is a better day than one where you don't write. These are just first drafts, you can go back and fix whatever you want later. For now, just let the pages flow.
Happy writing to all!
And also remember, you can ignore this prompt and write whatever you like.
Just write some pages and turn them in before 8am. That's enough to satisfy the challenge.
Let’s get you that writing prompt…
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Challenge #15 - Fake Adaptations
Due: Wednesday, November 16th, 12pm noon Central Time
(1pm Eastern Time, 11am Mountain Time, 10am Western Time for the US Time Zones)
In reviewing the week’s play submissions to Threshold Theater to log them into our tracking system, I ran across something out of the ordinary that intrigued me.
The cover sheet of the script from a writer named M. Sloth Levine (no, really, their name is Sloth) said:
“Nancy Pearl
Mario Zoga
Solange Farewell
Carol Anne Pritchard
IN
‘At Hotel MacGuffin’
From Arnold Ribbon Productions
An Ernest Marcos Film”
And then on the next page it says:
“This is an adaptation of a beloved film that does not exist”
And then further down under some casting notes it says:
“I don’t know when this play is set or where this hotel is do not ask me it’s none of my business and frankly I don’t care.
For the love of god please”
And then on the next page it says:
“Robbed:”
Followed by a list of what I believe are all the influences on the play from other media - old movie stars, divas, gay icons, big names in film noir, comedy, horror and drag.
And certain letters are highlighted in this list of names to spell out the message:
“Help
Kill Me Now,
valentine”
There was also another script I read recently that was framed as a presentation of scenes rescued from a film in the blaxploitation genre of the 1970s that had been feared lost, complete with a discussion with the filmmaker and stars of the picture - which was a set-up used in order to get those tropes of the genre to exist onstage in a way they hadn’t before.
Which got me thinking…
What book or film or TV show do I wish existed that I could write a fake stage adaptation of?
If that sounds like a fun thing to play with, go for it.
Or ignore me and write whatever you want - either way, we’re halfway there!
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If you’re not interested in this prompt, you can try 2021’s challenge #15:
Endings
Or, you know, just ignore the prompts altogether and write whatever you want - as long as you’re writing and turning it in by the deadline, that’s all that matters for the challenge :)
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Friendly Reminders - Answers To Common Questions:
(Follow the links to read me expounding on these items :)
Don’t Stress About Writing A Full Play
Don’t Stress About Sticking To The Writing Prompt
No. Really. I Mean It. Don’t Stress About Sticking To The Writing Prompt
Don’t Stress About Finishing An Idea (You Can Add Later)
Don’t Stress About Thanksgiving
Don’t Stress About “Succeeding” or “Failing”
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How to submit your work for Challenge #15
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 paste 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 #15
(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 very challenge on the writing
challenge blog below
Again, this is: Due: Wednesday, November 16th, 12pm noon Central Time
(1pm Eastern Time, 11am Mountain Time, 10am Western Time for the US Time Zones)
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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.
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 12 noon Central Time on Wednesday to write if you need it. When you’re done, you’re done.
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 15 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.
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And that something can be:
Lights up.
A person walks onstage wearing the costume of a beloved cartoon character I just made up.
Someone who is a big fan of that cartoon from when they were a kid sees this life-size version walking around and is immediately enchanted.
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.
Just write.
Matthew A. Everett
Literary Director
Threshold Theater
(he/him/his)
Coming Up:
Threshold Theater’s New Play Reading Series
A reading of “Leviathan” by Bethany Dickens Assaf
Saturday, November 19, 2022 - 7pm
The Black Hart of Saint Paul - 1415 University Avenue West in St. Paul
Our video recording of our third live play reading in the New Play Reading series, Sam Walsh's "The Visible," is up on our YouTube channel (available to stream through the end of November) -
Support Threshold Theater on Give to the Max Day, November 17th
(Or feel free to give early, any time between November 1st through 16th)
Here's the link: https://www.givemn.org/story/Kssucf
"Write. Find a way to keep alive and write. There is nothing else to say."
- James Baldwin
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