This One Week Challenge is brought to you by the letter S!

The challenge is to write a short script of no fewer than 5 pages and no more than 10, not including the title page. All submissions are anonymous so DO NOT include your name on the title page.

All submissions must contain 3 criteria:

Criteria 1: Your script must feature sand, snow, or space. It must have some impact on your story or your characters. It doesn’t have to be a desert, it could be a beach, an hourglass, or a sandbox. It could be the arctic or it could be a mountaintop or a snowy backyard. Space...well, it’s space, as in outer space, and it’s vast and full of possibilities.

Criteria 2: Your script must contain a shovel, a syringe, a seed, a shipwreck, a snake, or a skeleton. It must be more than set decoration, it must be part of some action or dialogue. It can be a prop, a macguffin, a plot point, even a character.

Criteria 3: Your script must contain a storm, a song, or a sickness. It must have some impact on the action or your characters. Darken or lighten the mood, set the tone, change the story direction, affect the plot, affect a character. These can be real or made up (I recommend not using a specific real song, but if that’s what you want go for it), they just have to clearly fulfill the criteria.

Feel free to include more than one of each criteria. I’m personally looking forward to the entry that starts in a subterranean cave with a sandy beach in the middle of the arctic and the action blasts off into space through a terrible storm, piloted by a skeleton with a snake coiled in her ribs and with osteoporosis singing a ballad while on the hunt for the last seed of a doomed alien species aboard their ship wrecked on the moon with only a shovel and a syringe to combat the now insane alien hordes inside, and all in ten pages.

So, to sum up:
Genre: any
Budget: any
Pages: 5-10 not including title page
Criteria 1: pick one of sand, snow, or space
Criteria 2: pick one of a shovel, a syringe, a seed, a shipwreck, a snake, or a skeleton
Criteria 3: pick one of a storm, a song, or a sickness
Submissions must contain all three criteria.  

Submissions are due Friday January 24th at 11:59:59 EST as a properly formatted PDF file to SimplyScripts.com/OWC. Multiple entries are accepted.

I hope that’s enough to inspire you. Good luck!

Does dirt qualify as sand

Great challenge, btw. Lots of possibilities with this.

Quoted from SAC Does dirt qualify as sand Great challenge, btw. Lots of possibilities with this.

No, dirt does not qualify as sand, but if a point is made that the dirt is sandy, then sure. The sandiness needs to mean something, not the dirt itself.

Can it be a toy snake, fake snow (the one they use to stage a movie or a theater set)?

And can the sickness be implied? For example someone is dead but he was sick in the past?

Nice sweet simple(not) sicullen..(whatever) challenge btw!

Quoted from khamanna Can it be a toy snake, fake snow (the one they use to stage a movie or a theater set)? And can the sickness be implied? For example someone is dead but he was sick in the past? Nice sweet simple(not) sicullen..(whatever) challenge btw!

Yes, a toy snake and fake snow count.

The sickness can be implied as long as it's obvious. Like if someone was killed by an ebola-like virus it would be obvious they were sick with something by the condition of the body. The sickness should be a point of interest, not the body itself. It would be hard to use a skeleton to imply a sickness though, that would have to be explained through exposition somehow so it wouldn't be implied, it would be stated outright.

Wow!!!!! Awesome!!

Watch out, kids, I'm in!!!

Quoted from Dreamscale Watch out for your kids, I'm out!!!

Oh shit!

Gonna have a varied selection of scripts with this one. Should be fun.

oh you lucky people. I have something forming in my head.

Snakes in space ..,

What could go wrong

Well, this one's scintillating...  
And, multiple entries allowed. Wow.

Stevie! Where are you mate? You love OWCs with tight parameters and strict criteria.

** Meant to say: great idea, Rene. Plenty of scope, open genre, yet we need to be inventive and creative as well.

Quoted from Reef Dreamer Snakes in space .., What could go wrong

Very good. A natural follow up to them being on the plane.  

Can the snow be a single snowflake?

Can the snake just be a snake head?

Can the skeleton be that of a fawn?

Can the shovel be from the early 14th century?

Quoted from LC Well, this one's scintillating...   And, multiple entries allowed. Wow. Stevie! Where are you mate? You love OWCs with tight parameters and strict criteria.

Lol yeah just reading about it now Lib.  Can’t whinge about the openness of this one    Great concept Rene!   I’m still knee deep in my shark script which takes priority but I’ll see if I get any ideas for this     This is perfect comedy vehicle

We had a massive storm here over night   11 inches of rain!  Theme parks are closed and there’s some serious flooding   We didn’t really need that much rain here at the moment as it wasn’t too bad   The poor farmers  out west still need it

Quoted from Dreamscale Can the snow be a single snowflake? Can the snake just be a snake head? Can the skeleton be that of a fawn? Can the shovel be from the early 14th century?

It isn't an OWC without questions like these, is it?  

Yes to all.

Quoted from stevie Lol yeah just reading about it now Lib.  Can’t whinge about the openness of this one    Great concept Rene!   I’m still knee deep in my shark script which takes priority but I’ll see if I get any ideas for this     This is perfect comedy vehicle We had a massive storm here over night   11 inches of rain!  Theme parks are closed and there’s some serious flooding   We didn’t really need that much rain here at the moment as it wasn’t too bad   The poor farmers  out west still need it

Stevie, I think the period key is broken on your keyboard...

Quoted from LC Well, this one's scintillating...   And, multiple entries allowed. Wow. Stevie! Where are you mate? You love OWCs with tight parameters and strict criteria. ** Meant to say: great idea, Rene. Plenty of scope, open genre, yet we need to be inventive and creative as well.

Thanks Libby. I've been sitting on the idea for a while, just waiting for the tap on the shoulder from the Don.  

Multiple entries because with short notice and it being January and all, I didn't expect a huge turnout. Besides, there are plenty of possibilities and someone might come up with a couple of really great concepts.

Niners going down this weekend.

A blast of snow hits San Francisco, and the Niners play like skeletons of themselves, as they're all sick, having been bitten by snakes.

The packers mop up with shovels.

The end.

Quoted from ReneC It isn't an OWC without questions like these, is it?   Yes to all.

Perfect!  I'm in, then.

Sorry Rene!  My mobile phone tends to keep writing without much punctuation lol.

The Packers have about as much chance of winning as of Jeff reading past page 1 of an OWC script

Quoted from stevie The Packers have about as much chance of winning as of Jeff reading past page 1 of an OWC script

  That is some funny shot there, my friend!  HA!!

Quoted from stevie Sorry Rene!  My mobile phone tends to keep writing without much punctuation lol. The Packers have about as much chance of winning as of Jeff reading past page 1 of an OWC script

SF 42. Packers 10.

Quoted from eldave1 SF 42. Packers 10.

Dave, I’ve already voted for your OWC entry based on this prediction   Wont be far off I reckon  

Quoted from eldave1 SF 42. Packers 10.

Pack - 23  Niners - 17

Quoted from Dreamscale Pack - 23  Niners - 17

Who cares about the Packers or the Niners... we're rooting for Tennessee!!!

And ReneC this is a coolness  OWC!!

I'm not sure if I can commit, but I have a seed of an idea. No story.

After a few drinks last night I literally started planning a script around mutant snakes exploring space, with captain mongoose

Guess what....It didn’t work out

But that’s what a OWC does, it sendS you in weird directions.

Now let’s see if I come up with something far more depressing  

New guy here
Not saying I'll definitely partake already, but I'm interested in this and future OWCs. Looking through older ones I think I get the general idea, but I haven't yet found a thread that explains them from the ground up.

Any pointers on how to get started as a OWC-newbie?

Quoted from stevie Dave, I’ve already voted for your OWC entry based on this prediction   Wont be far off I reckon

Not sure I'm going to enter - BUT if I don't, I promise to write a short about Jeff watching the game go down in flames.

Think I will title it:

DREAMFAIL

Quoted from Dreamscale Pack - 23  Niners - 17

You know, I like the pack and as a RAMS fan have no love for SF. Just ain't happening.

Quoted from Pale Yellow Who cares about the Packers or the Niners... we're rooting for Tennessee!!! And ReneC this is a coolness  OWC!!

Don't think they'll win - BUT I would not bet against them. Derrick Henry is a STUD! They are well coached and they literally ran through the PATS and the RAVENS on the friggin road.  They are also bruisers on defense.  

Quoted from Dan_P New guy here Not saying I'll definitely partake already, but I'm interested in this and future OWCs. Looking through older ones I think I get the general idea, but I haven't yet found a thread that explains them from the ground up. Any pointers on how to get started as a OWC-newbie?

Hi Dan. Welcome to the site!

The objective is to write a short screenplay based on the criteria provided, and it's called a One Week Challenge because you have one week to do it.

All submissions are anonymous because at the end of the submission period the scripts will be posted for everyone to read. Feedback is provided during the reading period, and at the end of the reading period, usually also a week, the writers get a chance to score the scripts. The names are revealed at the same time as the results, and the one with the highest score wins the respect of your peers and usually a highly coveted crappy mug from the esteemed Don, but that is not a guarantee.

It's meant to be a fun challenge that hopefully inspires you to write something and to learn some things too.

Quoted from Dan_P New guy here Not saying I'll definitely partake already, but I'm interested in this and future OWCs. Looking through older ones I think I get the general idea, but I haven't yet found a thread that explains them from the ground up. Any pointers on how to get started as a OWC-newbie?

We welcome fresh meat! Dive in head first and don't give yourself away. That's all you need to know

Jeff will tell you the rest with a smile on his face.

Quoted from JEStaats We welcome fresh meat! Dive in head first and don't give yourself away. That's all you need to know Jeff will tell you the rest with a smile on his face.

Don't get upset about the feedback you receive.  It may be negative...you never know.

Quoted from Dan_P New guy here Not saying I'll definitely partake already, but I'm interested in this and future OWCs. Looking through older ones I think I get the general idea, but I haven't yet found a thread that explains them from the ground up. Any pointers on how to get started as a OWC-newbie?

You’re not new, I saw you before!

Quoted from khamanna You’re not new, I saw you before!

Still unpacking, but settling in. So far the neighbors all seem really nice  .

@ReneC @JEStaats @Dreamscale

Thanks, guys. Love the concept .

I have an idea I'm going to tinker with today.

Well I wrote three pages when I started thinking why S's. Why not F's? Or any other noble letter. Why S?

Quoted from khamanna Well I wrote three pages when I started thinking why S's. Why not F's? Or any other noble letter. Why S?

Letters are noble?

Quoted from SAC Letters are noble?

Well, I highly respect them.

Quoted from khamanna Well, I highly respect them.

Fair enough

Quoted from MarkRenshaw I have an idea I'm going to tinker with today.

How many nipples does it have?  

Quoted from khamanna Well I wrote three pages when I started thinking why S's. Why not F's? Or any other noble letter. Why S?

SimplyScripts

I thought it fitting. Besides, what the F is wrong with S?  

Quoted from Zack How many nipples does it have?

First draft done but I completely forgot about the nipples, so I'm going to have to scrap it all and start again, goddamit!

Very solid idea here.  Ready to start writing tomorrow.

You guys and gals are gonna dig this one!  Yeah...right.  

Thanks for all the well-wishers regarding my mom.



I have an idea. Not yet a good one. But, an idea.

Not sure I'll have the time to write it up. But, if I get a chance, I will.

Either way, can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with!

I have a sneaky feeling that Stevie is VERY HAPPY right now!

Niners rolling.  DAMN!!

Quoted from Dreamscale I have a sneaky feeling that Stevie is VERY HAPPY right now! Niners rolling.  DAMN!!

The Packers are being buried with a shovel.

It's a shit storm

Watching it can cause sickness.

OWC eligible.

Do not understand why the Pack think that the same game plan that got them smacked last time would work this time.

Quoted from eldave1 The Packers are being buried with a shovel. It's a shit storm Watching it can cause sickness. OWC eligible. Do not understand why the Pack think that the same game plan that got them smacked last time would work this time.

Agree, Agree, Agree, Agree.  Very sad to watch!

Quoted from Dreamscale Agree, Agree, Agree, Agree.  Very sad to watch!

Well. Should be a good Super Bowl match up

Quoted from eldave1 Well. Should be a good Super Bowl match up

Agree again.

I was rooting for the underdog Titans, although I like Mahommes and Coach Reid, and Packers are #2 for me, and 49ers are # 30.  HA!!

Quoted from Dreamscale Agree again. I was rooting for the underdog Titans, although I like Mahommes and Coach Reid, and Packers are #2 for me, and 49ers are # 30.  HA!!

Yep. Rooting for KC

Dave, google ‘Aussie  slang term root’   Lol!!!

Quoted from stevie Dave, google ‘Aussie  slang term root’   Lol!!!

Egads!

Lol I didn’t think you knew of the true meaning of it   We Aussies have a little giggle every time our US buddies root for their team    I’m rooting for the Niners right now but I’m alone lol

Quoted from stevie Lol I didn’t think you knew of the true meaning of it   We Aussies have a little giggle every time our US buddies root for their team    I’m rooting for the Niners right now but I’m alone lol

Yep.  Had no idea!

Quoted from eldave1 Yep.  Had no idea!

Much like the Packers   They were rooted most of the game lol

Quoted from stevie Much like the Packers   They were rooted most of the game lol

You better "root" a script for this OWC, Brother!  No more weakarse excuses

Just enter an weakasrse effort and be done with it.

Congrats to your Niners...fantastic season already. Shocking, but great!!

Quoted from ReneC SimplyScripts I thought it fitting. Besides, what the F is wrong with S?

Oh ok makes sense, right.

I’m writing... something. Not sure what the hell it is, but it’s something.

Quoted from SAC I’m writing... something. Not sure what the hell it is, but it’s something.

You're way ahead of me. I've a thought, but that's about it right now.

Quoted from JEStaats You're way ahead of me. I've a thought, but that's about it right now.

No writing here, either...yet,

Sorry to say, but I'm out on this one. Gotta focus on my current project. Sucks too, cuz I had a pretty wild idea.

Still, gonna read as many as I can. Will I be allowed to vote even if I don't enter a script?

Quoted from Zack Sorry to say, but I'm out on this one. Gotta focus on my current project. Sucks too, cuz I had a pretty wild idea. Still, gonna read as many as I can. Will I be allowed to vote even if I don't enter a script?

As long as you're voting for mine, you're allowed to vote, Zack.

I am 6 pages in but don’t think I’m going to finish. I have too much going, my studies just started, just this week and I’ve got to do everything to pass. It’s a fun challenge though and I could do a more or less decent (for me I mean) script. Too bad for me. This really makes me sad as I wasn’t in last time either.

I want to be in, I've gone as far as picking a thing from each group. I really need to write something but I'm so uninspired at the moment.

Will keep mulling it over and try submit, but not loving my chances at this point.

I got the snow thing nailed. Going to have Jon Snow as my lead and Richard Snowden is a B character - that satisfies the requirement for sure.

Came up with a decent idea that could be pretty good in the right hands... Not sure whether or not I can find and hire those hands in time, though.

You only need to write the script, Dan.

Quoted from LC You only need to write the script, Dan.

Currently working on it. We'll see how it goes

I've got something I'm pretty happy with, going to play around with a few ideas and tidy it up but looks like I'm in this one.

There are nipples but they are all subliminal.

Quoted from Dan_P New guy here Not saying I'll definitely partake already, but I'm interested in this and future OWCs. Looking through older ones I think I get the general idea, but I haven't yet found a thread that explains them from the ground up. Any pointers on how to get started as a OWC-newbie?

Step 1 - Write a script that you believe to be super badass that everyone will love (pay attention to the criteria)

Step 2 - Submit said script, sit back with a glass of wine and bask in that awesome proud feeling you get when finishing a masterpiece (TIP: Enjoy that feeling of optimism while it lasts)

Step 3 - Check the site and see your entry has a couple of comments. With heart in mouth (and clinging on to that optimism from step 2), read the comments.

Step 4 - Cry in a dark room and try to stitch back together the pieces of your script that have been brutally dissected.

Step 5 - Read and comment on as many scripts as you can

Step 6 - check the latest comments on your entry, scream to yourself "YES I KNOW THAT BIT SUCKS! 6 PEOPLE HAVE POINTED IT OUT ALREADY!"

Step 7 - The dust begins to settle. You come to terms with the negative comments and your mind will go 1 of 2 ways (Pick the appropriate one below)
              (A) You take on board the comments, see others point of view, maybe even patterns
                     emerge in the array of advice, and you use them to advance your writing
              (B) You think "Fuck them! what do they know? they can't see that this is a
                    masterpiece!" and vow never to grow or adapt as a writer

Step 8 - (If you picked 7A) - Wait for the next OWC and vow to do better
             (If you picked 7B) - Flee SS with your tail between your legs


Seriously though, have fun  

I only have two bits of advice:-

1) Read and comment on as many entries as you can
2) Being anonymous, everyone is judged by the same standard (Whether seasoned or novice) so some of the comments can seem brutal at first (More so than comments on the general submission). But most people here genuinely want to help - nothing is personal.

Well, If you're going to play in the circus, someone has to be the ringleader... and everyone else is clowns.   Oh... and I'm just gonna leave this here... just to give you guys/gals something to think about-A

Oh I’m agonizing here. I don’t have time for this! I do not

3 and a half days remaining...there's still time for inspiration to strike or a flurry of fast-paced writing to bang out an entry. You can squeeze 5 pages into a busy schedule. 5 little pages. Just 5. I dare ya.

Quoted from Matthew Taylor Step 1 - Write a script that you believe to be super badass that everyone will love (pay attention to the criteria) Step 2 - Submit said script, sit back with a glass of wine and bask in that awesome proud feeling you get when finishing a masterpiece (TIP: Enjoy that feeling of optimism while it lasts) Step 3 - Check the site and see your entry has a couple of comments. With heart in mouth (and clinging on to that optimism from step 2), read the comments. Step 4 - Cry in a dark room and try to stitch back together the pieces of your script that have been brutally dissected. Step 5 - Read and comment on as many scripts as you can Step 6 - check the latest comments on your entry, scream to yourself "YES I KNOW THAT BIT SUCKS! 6 PEOPLE HAVE POINTED IT OUT ALREADY!" Step 7 - The dust begins to settle. You come to terms with the negative comments and your mind will go 1 of 2 ways (Pick the appropriate one below)               (A) You take on board the comments, see others point of view, maybe even patterns                      emerge in the array of advice, and you use them to advance your writing               (B) You think "Fuck them! what do they know? they can't see that this is a                     masterpiece!" and vow never to grow or adapt as a writer Step 8 - (If you picked 7A) - Wait for the next OWC and vow to do better              (If you picked 7B) - Flee SS with your tail between your legs Seriously though, have fun   I only have two bits of advice:- 1) Read and comment on as many entries as you can 2) Being anonymous, everyone is judged by the same standard (Whether seasoned or novice) so some of the comments can seem brutal at first (More so than comments on the general submission). But most people here genuinely want to help - nothing is personal.

Sounds like the definitive writing experience... Checks all the emotional boxes

Thanks for the advice. Looking forward to the other scripts

Quoted from ReneC 3 and a half days remaining...there's still time for inspiration to strike or a flurry of fast-paced writing to bang out an entry. You can squeeze 5 pages into a busy schedule. 5 little pages. Just 5. I dare ya.

You think 5, then start writing. It goes over 5. It nears 10. Then 12. Now how to submit twelve? You think I should have started. You close it to never come back to it. But you can't leave it alone. You open it and cut. And cut. And add, cos after the cuts it doesn't make sense. And now you're back at 12. With an hour until the deadline. And you don't submit.

I'll be smarter this time. I can avoid all of this.

On a scale of 1-10  (1 being like Ice, 10 being the raging fires of hell)
How pissed will people be if I submit something but don't get to read/comment on many entries?

I don't know how many entries there will be but the multiple submissions thing has me worried there will be more than I can handle (Got an exam coming up I should really revise for)

Or I could submit it but DQ myself, then you guys have the choice of whether to read it or not

Quoted from Matthew Taylor On a scale of 1-10  (1 being like Ice, 10 being the raging fires of hell) How pissed will people be if I submit something but don't get to read/comment on many entries? I don't know how many entries there will be but the multiple submissions thing has me worried there will be more than I can handle (Got an exam coming up I should really revise for) Or I could submit it but DQ myself, then you guys have the choice of whether to read it or not

I don't expect there to be many, but really it's anybody's guess. Submit, and if the read is overwhelming you can decide to DQ yourself or accept the tongue lashings for not reading. You've been a very active reader in the past so maybe some people will give you a pass for an outstanding track record.

So I have two assignments I'm working on so I was definitely going to skip this one...

Then I had an idea last night

Sleep - fuck it!

No attempts at even starting over here yet, and tomorrow is a busy day.

ARGH!!!!  Seems so simple, but my idea may not go over well, the more I think about it.

We'll see...

You all are going to get my one and only draft. Finished it just now.

So, if you were curious what my work looks like with no editing and without a second read... this is your chance. (I know, no one cares. But, humor me.)

Like always, I'll wait to submit until Friday... just in case... but, I see NO window for a rewrite. Ugh.

Get your red pen ready, Jeff.

Can't take part this time, but if anyone wants/need someone 100% honest to read your script either before you submit or after, I'm here.

Good luck everyone.  

Quoted from Matthew Taylor On a scale of 1-10  (1 being like Ice, 10 being the raging fires of hell) How pissed will people be if I submit something but don't get to read/comment on many entries? I don't know how many entries there will be but the multiple submissions thing has me worried there will be more than I can handle (Got an exam coming up I should really revise for) Or I could submit it but DQ myself, then you guys have the choice of whether to read it or not

Matthew - I can only speak for me of course. I would be bothered zero by it because you have been a consistent reviewer on every other OWC challenge.  So, IMO submit and DO NOT DQ yourself.  

Quoted from eldave1 Matthew - I can only speak for me of course. I would be bothered zero by it because you have been a consistent reviewer on every other OWC challenge.  So, IMO submit and DO NOT DQ yourself.

Oh yes. Ditto on everything said.

Well just submitted. The rest of the week is jammed so just got it over with.

Think this is my first OWC in a year.

Quoted from eldave1 Think this is my first OWC in a year.

Mine too, I think. I know I was in last January because I was in Florida for training on a new job. And, much like that job, my OWC entry went down in flames. Oh well.

Look forward to your entry!

Tick tick tick tick tick...

3 days remaining. That's plenty of time, or very little, depending on your point of view.

Tick tick tick...

Quoted from SAC Mine too, I think. I know I was in last January because I was in Florida for training on a new job. And, much like that job, my OWC entry went down in flames. Oh well. Look forward to your entry!

Thanks.  Right back  at  ya