Quoted from MarkRenshaw I don't think there's anything wrong in referencing the event if it fits into the story and doesn't feel forced in just to tell us all that this is the event. For example, if  J.F.K survived the assassination attempt and you decided to do a story about some soldiers being pulled out of Vietnam early (which is one of the things Kennedy was considering), then referencing the assassination attempt seems relevant, but simply mentioning that Kennedy is still the President is enough to inform us that things have changed.

I don't know - in this particular scenario I might misunderstand the whole thing and thing that the events of the script happened before the assasination.
Or, I'd think that it's about the soldiers that were being pulled out of Vietnam and it wouldn't be about JFK surviving the shooting but about Vietnam war that didn't go too far.
But maybe it's only because I'm not well-versed in that particular part of history.

Although I suppose if I write about capitalizm and that Soviet revolution never happened I don't have to do a reference here. So, yes, you're right, thanks.

But in the case of the story that's on my mind referencing in the story what exactly happened and how is important for the story to make sense. Same thing - I'm afraid people will think the described events took place prior to the change.

Quoted from MarkRenshaw I don't think there's anything wrong in referencing the event if it fits into the story and doesn't feel forced in just to tell us all that this is the event. For example, if  J.F.K survived the assassination attempt and you decided to do a story about some soldiers being pulled out of Vietnam early (which is one of the things Kennedy was considering), then referencing the assassination attempt seems relevant, but simply mentioning that Kennedy is still the President is enough to inform us that things have changed.

JFK
Having survived nine assassination attempts - and afterwards disbanding the CIA, the FBI, the Federal Marshalls and the Postal Service - I say unto you Americans, "Ask not what your country can do for you, because no one works here anymore."

Feel free to take this idea since I'm too busy to enter this time (and besides, I'd like to witness at least one OWC before entering one), but the world event I had in mind was an important invention. The story would revolve around the resource scarcity resulting from not having a quantum leap in efficiency.

Maybe I'm just too new of a writer, but I'd have a hard time making wooden sailing ships in 2018 believable without directly referring to the non-event. "Yeah, some fool Scotsman tried to sell an invention once, said it'd replace the waterwheel. No, of course no one took him seriously."

Dustin is right in that it should be obvious what the event was by the story. Even by the date that I'm guessing perps will have as a super early on. Anyone who knows their history will pick up immediately on it - 'aah, Hitler won the war' etc.

My point about the log is a personal thing - I could write a brief one but I'd rather it be blank and readers go in with no idea of the event changer; well, at least till page one lol

Wait, JFK is dead???!!!!

I have absolutely nothing for this one. I hate history...war... so maybe this one isn't for me. Even if I could come up with something... not sure I want to read that many of these type scripts. I'll read a few if I stay out though.

Quoted from FrankM Feel free to take this idea since I'm too busy to enter this time (and besides, I'd like to witness at least one OWC before entering one), but the world event I had in mind was an important invention. The story would revolve around the resource scarcity resulting from not having a quantum leap in efficiency."

where Charles Babbage has "The Difference Engine" by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling is one of my favorite novels. A bit of steampunk, it' deals with Charles Babbage getting around to invent  the Analytical Engine , which causes technology to advance into the computer age a century ahead of time.

Quoted from khamanna Sean, my question remained unanswered. Could these two intervine - the change and life after the change? (should I reword the question so that it's clear what I'm asking about?)

I apologize, Khamanna. I've been really sick for the better part of a week.

Your story should take place entirely after the event. We don't see the event happen.

I'll try and keep an eye out for more questions, but this hit me on Friday and I've been busy trying to recover since. Still, if you guys have anymore questions, I'll be able to answer them tomorrow. I apologize for not being here more this time around.

No need for apologies, Blondie. You just look after yourself mate

I think with some stories, the event change won't be obvious, but I agree with what was said earlier by someone else, if we can't guess the event then I don't think that should be an automatic point deduction. If Jesus wasn't crucified on the cross and the story was set now for example. Sure, it may be obvious that this story is set in a world where a different religion (or no religion) exists, but how would the reader know this was because of an event didn't happen two thousand years ago?

However, I know you writers and I know myself. I suspect we'll all be working hard to put some obvious and not-so obvious clues in the script as to the event in question!

Interesting challenge, this one. Been waiting a couple days for something to pop into my head, but nothing yet. It’s not the life altering historical event that is the trouble, just the story that goes around it (or because of it). In that respect it shouldn’t be that much different than anything I’ve ever written previously. Thankfully, this is a two week challenge. That said, was this purposely made a 2WC to give us more time to come up with a great story idea, or because of the higher page count?

Extra time for research was the idea I believe.

Could someone remind me - what you use if you need to indicate place and time at the beginning of the script or scene?

For example:

IMPERIAL RUSSIA, 1930s

It's called something, I knew it and everyone does. I just never use it and forgot.

(oh, and this is not going to be my script if you're wondering)

SUPER or TITLE

Oh, thanks!

We can use those by the way to indicate the alternate reality. Although it may go past a reader if he doesn't know the specificity of the challenge. I don't know...

You’re welcome. I actually had the same thought, but there’s other ways to show it, too.