Week #3: Sunday November 22

And you still haven't finished the whole play yet, is what I'm getting from what you wrote! Yay! Good for you!

Don't apologize for feeling enthused about your progress. Enjoy it! If it isn't fun, you shouldn't be doing it!

And don't worry about your work being finished and polished. It is a first draft, as you said, but don't worry. People post their work, and everyone knows it's a draft. don't worry, we're all in the same boat!

Not sure of the mid-level details, but the high end is in place. Accepting that this is a first draft - with some polish - and knowing that revisions after November 30 will crunch things down and streamline the whole play, the mark seems hit and destined to stay above 75 pages as a finished play.

The ending can mostly be seen but there is still a dash to run.

Don't know how other playwrights' efforts have been received, but NaPlWriMo has actually gotten some fairly blase cohorts to be impressed.

Don't wany to enthuse too much, but this is enjoyable.

Best wishes to everyone,

William
# 30 #

The end of week three brough a jam packed conference with lots of teaching, long distance traveling and brain mushing.

Actually, the travel part was great for working on re-writes. I was happy to have created so much material for the collection in the first two weeks, so that I didn't have to be creative on my trip! Re-writes demand a different kind of focus and seem to work for me when my brain isn't 100%.

One week to go and there are ten short plays to go through. There is a great possibility that I'll get all this done! I was thinking that I might, but wasn't going to beat myself if I didn't. But I just may do it. Tomorrow and Wednesday will be the key as they're the days this week when I have nothing to do but write.

Don't let go of your play. It might be helpful for your soul as you hear all that hard hard stuff to have a place of retreat, where things are under your control, and where the characters are, no matter how crazy, safe.

Hugs!

The problem I am having is that I did write 80+ pages but it wasn't finished THEN I discovered that the play really started about three scenes into it, so lots of the previous pages are just background preamble that, other than a few bits and pieces, just isn't part of the picture any more.

So, I'm back at about 25 pages but I'm very excited about the new direction the characters want to take me and so I am still very hopeful that I'll have it done by the deadline.

And that it will make sense, too!

So I'm not where I wanted to be, in terms of pages, a week before the 30th, but I still feel that I'm on track to finish the play by the end of the month. And now, back to work!

you can definitely make it still. Go go go!

Yes, this is an exciting time. Go for it! :)

Like a polaroid picture! You can do it. :)

this weekend, I ran writing workshops. And I did the exercises alongside the group, and two of them turned into scenes for "Going Somewhere?" - very useful! And last night I focussed, and wrote ten pages in an hour. Ten pages I like and am proud of!

I'm stalled at the moment. Started jury duty today, and while it will be great material for the future, the trial I got was for rape and incest offences over a decade. I tried working on the play in the breaks but it just seems ridiculous.

Personal life is full also, so play and characters are in the background a bit.

I will try and get it together soon, and make a big rush before the end of the month. I'm very happy with play and won't let it go easily.

Maybe because I'm writing about a dysfunctional family at Christmas. Or maybe because I'm only on page 32. In any case I will press on.

Past page 67 and on to 68. Unfortunately, I kind of ran out of plot about page 60...so I'm improvising like mad. Oh, well, the point is to write a new 75-page play, whether it's perfect or not (likely not). I can always go back and tweak in December -- or start on something new, having developed a writing habit.

"Aux armes, citoyens,

Formez vos bataillons,

Marchons, marchons !"

-- La Marseillaise

So I've got 40 pages ... I had really hoped to have a full draft earlier, but that didn't happen. Kinda scared about this next week, but as of right now I'm remaining optimistic about cranking out 75 pages. I think it could be done. I've made some radical changes, and I think some more radical changes may still occur.

Phew! 10 minutes to spare on my check in.

On page 65 now. Hoping to reach the finish line tomorrow. I'll then spend Big Push Time shaping, going back and tweaking for consitency, adding (but not subtracting!) material.

Or I might just spend Big Push Time enjoying the holiday. We'll see.

it's a fine balance to keep yourself on task while still editing. You can do it though!!!

Really 55.5, but our widget doesn't have halves.  Still wondering if I can find the full 75 pages.  I do have some ideas for things that can be fixed/developed, so perhaps in my next session I will go back to what's previously been written.  I don't like what I've done to one character early on, so I may get a few pages out of fixing that conunundrum. 

I'll give myself permission to edit, as long as it keeps me headed to 75. 

Carry on!

god. I cant belive there's only 8 days left. I've got a lot of tail feathers to shake.

Keep it up, William! You are so close to the finish line. Just keep chugging along!

Broke through 60 pages this morning with sufficient plot and character points to make 75. Time is becoming scarcer to accommodate all the fun.

Edits have been at a minimum. Growth point for me as I tend to re-write my material in excrutiating manner.

Have enjoyed the month and have tweeted about it elsewhere.

Big, big push to hit the Rhino mark.

Best to all,

William

# 30 #

There's no way to stretch the play out so I am going to have to call this draft done. I know it's not a winner, but it feels good to be done. I'm already working on new plays and submissions--this has been a good recharge for me. I hope it has been for you too. See you guys on the flipside. :)