2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 13

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

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. It’s based on a story concept I came up with late last year and it may be the strongest comedy idea I’ve ever worked on. Now to take it to the next level.

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. 5,100+ members strong.

Today’s Writing Quote

“A great script creates an irresistible narrative flow that propels a reader to an inevitable dramatic conclusion.”

— Javier Grillo-Marxuach

Today’s Inspirational Video

What a compelling story. God bless both Dad and the heart recipient. And godspeed to you, Abbey.

Today’s Motown Music Video

I have dedicated the 2024 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge as Motown 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 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: The Supremes, “Stop! In the Name of Love” (1965).

Today’s Dalton Trumbo Award winner: Mark Mackey.

Over at the Zero Draft Thirty Facebook Group, Mark shared this:

Yep. That’s the spirit of the zero draft. As I tell my students, “Get the damn thing done.” First draft. Fade In. Fade Out.

You MUST get to The End.

By getting there, you will not only know so much more about your characters and your story …

You will also have …

SOMETHING!

Your story is no longer some ethereal concept floating around in the vapor of possibility.

No.

When you reach The End, you have an actual “thing” you can print and hold in your hands.

Ready to read … reflect … and revise.

Thanks to Mark for that bit of inspiration. Here’s a Dalton Trumbo Award to inspire YOU and YOUR writing.

Congratulations, Mark!

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.

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

Zero Draft Thirty: Day 1
Zero Draft Thirty: Day 2
Zero Draft Thirty: Day 3
Zero Draft Thirty: Day 4
Zero Draft Thirty: Day 5
Zero Draft Thirty: Day 6
Zero Draft Thirty: Day 7
Zero Draft Thirty: Day 8
Zero Draft Thirty: Day 9
Zero Draft Thirty: Day 10
Zero Draft Thirty: Day 11
Zero Draft Thirty: Day 12

Now Zeronauts …

SPREAD THE WORD!

GO WRITE!

MAKE THAT FIRST DRAFT … EXIST!

SCAMPER ON!