Drew
16 & Under Winner 2007
17 & Over Winner 2008
I'm not one for many words, but what I do have to say is that entering this comp is a brilliant experience for anyone who wishes to be a writer and an easy and fabulous way for those who just want the prizes! It ain't at all that hard! I'm not just saying that because I won in both categories
but it seriously is quite easy if you just put your mind to it. Pick two or three characters, come up with a comical or dramatic story and just write it long enough for 90-seconds! Take in everything that Bevan and Coral has informed us all and just use that to help you along if you're having trouble! If you can't think of anything to write, think of a scene or a story from anything and use that as a basis for inspiration. By the time you structure your scene and put dialogue into it you'll find it's completely different to your inspirational scene and you've written something pretty original (after many re-writes of course!) It works for me, so it could work for anyone else... Not sure if that's the right thing to do, but it works
It seriously is a lot of fun. ENJOY it! USE this opportunity to do something fun or to help you in your career for those who aspire to be a writer (and I know there are a lot of you out there!)
No one should chicken out in the beginning or come up with an idea, and then not use it because they think it doesn't work, because in my mind, any story can work from any basis. Grab a pen and paper and just draw a flow chart or something along those lines. It isn't very hard to construct a scene, the more effort and work you put into it however, the more chance you have of winning from creating a classic scene!
Just have fun guys! SERIOUSLY!
Eduardo Bearo
17 & Over Winner 2007
I have seen a lot of "I'm not sure I will", "I would be crap," or "I don't know whether I should," type posts on the forum in recent weeks as people are thinking about whether or not they will enter this competition. I was just like that, full of self doubt. I automatically think that every exam is the one I will fail, every job interview is the one where I am going to fall flat on my face and make a complete idiot of myself - and that's before they have even asked me a question. What I do not know about self doubt is not worth knowing! So I wasn't going to enter - no way was I going to risk having Coral Drouyn - who would no doubt be some sort of dragon lady in disguise - reading anything I had written. I was too far too wimpy for that.
So how come that I did? Well, blame it on the shrink.
My friend Hales, Chatterbox on this forum, e mailed me the day before
the competition closed and told me she would never speak to me again if
I didn't. (I confess I was sorely tempted to ignore her as she is aptly
named and indeed she never shuts up!) I also needed a distraction from
being a very worried Mum as my son was in hospital and I had come home
to eat and collect some things whilst the medics poked and prodded him
and attached him to drips etc... I put the kettle on, bunged some washing in the machine, made some lunch and pondered an idea which I knew that Chatterbox would like. I then sat down at the PC and wrote it out. Having written it, I made a couple of alterations and then sent it off to Dan before I could change my mind. The rest as they say is history.
I am very pleased that I did enter, as I got some invaluable feedback - and remember that every one who enters gets some feedback. On reflection, if I had had more time, and not been rushing off to the hospital, I would have edited my entry far more than I actually did, and I might have written Morag differently. Morag is much more effective when she delivering pithy one liners than more lengthy dialogue. But hindsight is a wonderful thing - if only Santa could have given me some for Christmas
So what I would say is don't wimp out, it is worth having a go. There is no pass or fail in this process. You will get some constructive feedback whatever you write, and it is actually fun. How many times have you watched the show and commented on the forum about scenes and said "I can do better than that?" Well now is your chance. For some of you it will be a serious toe in the water as you find out a bit more about yourselves as writers, for others it will be a fun experience. Both are just as valid.
Drew has spoken about using flow charts etc... to help you work out what you want to do, and that will work well for lots of people (Personally it would drive me nuts - I like to think about it and then just sit down and do it) . We all learn and work in different ways and you will know what works best for you. You have six weeks to enter once, or twice if you wish. It is possible to get your scene done in half a day if you focus - though I would not recommend having your nearest and dearest admitted to hospital as a means of focusing the mind.
So GO FOR IT - if only so our judges have got something to read - please?