One of the most frequent questions I get about Script Frenzy boils down to this: OK, maybe I’m willing to go out of my comfort zone and try writing a script but what would I do with it once I finished?
If you’re one of those people who are thinking this, I want you to check out Playscripts #PitchNPlay contest.
All you need to do is write a comedic, PG-13 stage play script of 20 to 40 pages with at least 8 characters based on one of these three general pitches:
- The real Puck messes with hearts of teens during high school prod of A Midsummer Nights Dream.
- Young girl wins a TV singing competition, but to launch her career, her agent says she’ll need to create a tabloid scandal.
- Sweethearts take Course of True Love: zen of snoring, white lies, multitasking, accept shortcomings Profs=historical figures
You can take these basic ideas in whatever direction you want, they’re just starting points. Playscripts will pick their favorite and it’ll not only get a traditional publishing deal… they’ll sweeten the pot with a $1000 advance on future royalties. Not bad for 20 to 40 pages! 😉
This free to enter contest’s entry date is May 5th, meaning you can write a play during Script Frenzy and still have time to edit and submit it on time for the contest. With the 100 page Screnzy goal, you could write five twenty page scripts (or two 40 page scripts or two 30 page scripts and a 40 pager… you get the idea) on these themes and pick the best one to enter.
If you don’t have an idea for something to write this Screnzy, this could be just the thing to get your creative juices flowing. While it may take the fun out of it for you to start off of someone else’s basic idea, there’s also the satisfaction of writing to spec, knowing there’s a payday on the other end. It can also help focus your Screnzy effort to know there’s a real, tangible reward waiting. To me, it’s just another great way to stretch yourself creatively, especially if you’re a first time script writer.
And if one of these ideas ends up inspiring you to write something that wouldn’t be eligible for the contest at all because it’s too long, too adult or has too few characters? That’s fine too! Whatever gets your ideas flowing and words on the page is definitely a good thing even if you later decide not to enter what you write.
So check out the official rules for the contest over on the Playscripts blog (where you can also ask any questions you may have) and see if this contest might be just the thing to give your Screnzy experience an extra edge. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that someone from Script Frenzy wins!
(Disclosure: Playscripts is my publisher. They publish The Love of Three Oranges. I like them. But I’m not entering this contest because I’m already writing something else for Screnzy and don’t have time to write something else. In case you cared.)
Which of the three pitch ideas above speaks to you the most?
Hillary DePiano is a playwright, fiction and non-fiction writer who loves writing of all kinds except for writing bios like this.
