2023 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 15

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 15.

Write an entire draft of a script in March — FADE IN. FADE OUT. Or any sort of creative goal you have in front of you.

Feature length movie screenplay. Original TV pilot. Rewrite a current project. Break a story in prep. Generate a month’s worth of story concepts.

Whatever you feel will ratchet your creative ambitions into overdrive…

DO THAT!

As for me, I will spend the month rewriting a feature film spec script.

If you join the Challenge, I will be right there with you writing each and every day in March! Let’s do this together!

Download your very own Zero Draft Thirty calendar — designed and created by Steven Dudley — and track your daily progress!

On Twitter, use this hashtag: #ZD30SCRIPT.

Join the Zero Draft Thirty Facebook Group: Here. 4,800+ members strong.

Today’s Writing Quote

“It’s the words, it always gets back to the words…”

— Julius Epstein

Today’s Inspirational Video

There has never been a late night talk show host who could match the comic timing and sensibilities of Johnny Carson. Witness this classic exchange with Burt Reynolds. This is only a snippet. It went on for several more minutes. But notice how Carson tops the gag at the end of the clip. It’s also a good object lesson about the power of visual storytelling. No dialogue between the pair, yet tons of laughs. I find that inspiring!

Today’s Stax Music Video

I have dedicated the 2023 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge as Stax Music Month. Part of that decision is to honor one of the greatest record companies of all time (check out their history here). But mostly, it’s an excuse to feature awesome R&B and soul music to get you out of your chair, dance around the room for 5 minutes, churn up your creative juices, then sit right back down and write your ass off.

Today’s featured song: “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight

Today’s Dalton Trumbo Award winner: Mateusz Madry!

The Zero Draft Thirty Challenge draws writers from all around the world and Mateusz hails from Warsaw, Poland. Over in the Zero Draft Thirty Facebook group, the other Mateusz posted this little note:

Have a good feeling about this ZD30 Challenge. Let’s do it! And…. Never forget this moment guys. Even if life or your neighbor knocks on the door.

Mateusz included this photo of Jack Nicholson.

I couldn’t place the scene, but it reminded me of the ending of As Good As It Gets, which is great, so here you go!

Never forget this moment. Movies are a series of continuous moments. That means screenplays are, too. We both write about moments and live in the moment when writing. When you sit down to write, you are inviting yourself to dwell in the present … and see what words emerge from your mind through your fingertips and onto the page.

So … go write!

Because of that inspiration, the recipient of today’s Dalton Trumbo Award is Mateusz Madry!

To learn more about Dalton Trumbo and his fascinating career as a screenwriter, go here.

For your chance to win the Dalton Trumbo Award, one given away each day during the Challenge, post something inspiring, here on the blog, via Twitter, or the Facebook group.

Gratulacje, Mateuszu!

For background on how the Zero Draft Challenge came into being and what it is, go here, here, and here.

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Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14

Now Zeronauts, Scamperers, Word Warriors, and Outlaws…

WRITE IN THE MOMENT!

POUND OUT PAGES!

SCAMPER ON!