Writing challenge

[KidGalactus]

Ok. I've noticed that the writing board has been languishing, which is a goddamned travesty.

Writing is kind of an intrinsic part of the comicking process, even if words are only a third of the finished product. So, I propose a weekly writing challenge. Nothing too fancy. 2-5 pages of script inspired by a weekly theme.

The contest would work like this, somebody (I'd probably do the first one) would propose a phrase, or word as the weekly theme. You don't have to LITERALLY use the theme in your script, or make it the title the script. You'd have a week to write somewhere between two and five pages of script. Post them in the corresponding 'Writing Challenge' thread, where they'll be voted on by the WebComicsCommunity at large. The winner of each challenge will get to set up/host the next challenge.

Make sense?

Right now, I'm just kind of gauging interest. So if you want to start this in the coming week, vote yes.

If you have any questions, I guess post them below

[Dr. BlkKnight]

Sounds cool, though I'm still a bit burnt out from writing and defending my dissertation to participate just yet.

[GaborBoth]

I don't have my own comic yet but I'd love to try out writing like this - voted for yes.

[Hazumirein]

Sounds like fun :]

My only question is, what exactly constitutes a "script"? Like, a movie/play script-style piece, or just any writing that could be potentially put into comic form? Because, personally, I write my comic script in story format, just because it's easier for me that way. It's not a big deal I guess, just thought I'd ask. Voting yes regardless.

[KidGalactus]

My only question is, what exactly constitutes a "script"? Like, a movie/play script-style piece, or just any writing that could be potentially put into comic form? Because, personally, I write my comic script in story format, just because it's easier for me that way. It's not a big deal I guess, just thought I'd ask. Voting yes regardless.

Comic scripts are pretty loose and varied in terms of general format, but if there's enough interest, I'll post a little scripting tutorial before we get started.


Cool?

Cool.

[D.Z.]

This is cool, but you know what'd be cooler? If we spaced it out over more than a week, and one of the resident artists volunteered to sketch up the winning scripts. (Spaced out over more than a week because I doubt anyone has free time to draw three extra pages of something every week.)

[GaborBoth]

I don't think that's a very good idea, that'd mean much less writing. Also, no guarantee anyone will go ahead and draw that.

Maybe we should make page sketches by the beginning, just stickfigures and such. You gotta write a story with paneling in head, so I think that'd be good. This way we'd have to write just as much, and also practice paneling and test how our storytelling is understandable for others.

[KidGalactus]

I'm with Bothy insofar as I think that having a secondary art portion of the challenge just kind of muddies the water and takes the focus off of writing.

That's more an art forum type activity anyhow.

And yeah, when writing a script, thumb-nailing  your page layouts is kind of invaluable. Whether you're drawing it yourself, or having someone else draw it.

[Funderbunk]

I'm in.

[amanda]

Sure, I'm game.

[KidGalactus]

Alright. The writing challenge will kick off on Friday. I'll try and work up a crash-course to scripting tutorial before then.

[Gibson]

Yeh, this sounds like a really good exercise, I'd definitely like to take part. One thought, it might be more constructive if, instead of or in addition to being a contest, it could be a sort of workshop, or maybe just have separate threads where people can post the scripts/ideas they're working on and invite other writers to offer advice.

[Rob]

Kid if you want to run with this then do it to it. We aren't getting any Gunbaby stuff anymore so if you want me to front page the Challenge on Sunday say the word and I will abide.
;)

[KidGalactus]

One thought, it might be more constructive if, instead of or in addition to being a contest, it could be a sort of workshop, or maybe just have separate threads where people can post the scripts/ideas they're working on and invite other writers to offer advice.

Ideally, yes. The writing forum should be used for work-shoppy stuff as well as challenges, or just plain old advice. I'd prefer it, though, if for our purposes here (That's getting people writing), the writing challenge will remain, well, a challenge.

I'd suggest that if you need help with a script, just start a new thread and name the subject like this:

WORKSHOP: Living Dangerously with Jake Dangerous



Also, and the final post will parrot this as well, the scripts we're writing should be for all intents and purposes self-contained complete stories. Which means, we're all coming into this with no idea about your world or your characters so don't assume that we know/love them. Ideally your challenge scripts will center around entirely new characters, created for the challenge. Also, in the interest of completeness and clarity stories should have a beginning, middle and end and again, be understandable with absolutely  prior knowledge.



Robby:

Haha. At least wait for the challenge to go up!