Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Summing-up Script Frenzy


Well, I did it. I completed my first screenplay on April 30th with 104 pages. Not only did I learn how to format a screenplay, but I learned a lot about persistence, plot, and wombats. Yes, wombats.

I did no planning whatsoever, which resulted in a wild adventure, both for me and my characters. An interesting allegory began to appear, which surprised me, because though I am a believer in Jesus, I've never attempted to put the full Truth of the Bible in a fiction story.  I guess all those books I've been reading are rubbing off on me-- Dragons in Our Midst, Binding of the Blade, The Door Within, The Restorer, etc.

The allegory was only one of the unexpected aspects that turned up. My main characters started out as quirky and comic-bookish, but as the month went on, they began to grow and mature into people with deep and painful secrets, and they revealed strong moral convictions.  All very astonishing when I don't even know what's going to happen next!

But, despite all these wonderful gems I discovered, I know this is one rough story. I may take my newly-developed characters and put them in a future novel someday, but my Script Frenzy manuscript will hide away on my laptop for now, while I turn my attention to bigger projects...