Quoted from LC Warren, out of interest can you post the link to James's Quickie challenge? Would people be into that on a semi-regular basis, like the regular Movie Poet challenges used to be?

I sure can...

https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-SSSC2017/

This was great, easy to write, easy to review, not a massive time investment but still keeps your hand in the game.

Quoted from Warren I sure can... https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-SSSC2017/ This was great, easy to write, easy to review, not a massive time investment but still keeps your hand in the game.

Looking back at it now, 2 shorts went on to getting filmed and Cyborn (the QC Writer's Choice) went on to do many great things including being made into a short comic for Hyper Epics.

https://www.hyperepics.com/cyborn

Thanks, mate. Saved me trawling through.

Quick challenges can be good, and I don't recall a lowering of standard of entries for the faster deadline either.

Quoted from LC Thanks, mate. Saved me trawling through. Quick challenges can be good, and I don't recall a lowering of standard of entries for the faster deadline either.

No problem. I remember it being a really good challenge all round.

Oh yeah, that was a great challenge with fantastic entries. Would love to do something like that again.

To me, challenges are incredibly beneficial. They help at every stage of screenwriting, from newbie to veteran, whether it's learning how to tell a story or taking a chance with something you've never tried before. Mostly, they help us be flexible writers and to come up with creative solutions to sometimes very restricting requirements while demanding the same quality we would normally write to.

The more challenges, the better. However, we currently sometimes suffer from burnout when challenges are too close together, not because of the writing but because of the reading. So, I don't think every challenge should require feedback. Maybe some should just be voted on, and anyone who feels compelled to leave feedback may do so. Or vote first and leave feedback after the results are posted. Or, vote first and everyone is encouraged to leave feedback for the top 5, to help get them closer to a polished script ready for production. Whatever the case may be, allow for participation in some challenges without the time demands required to leave feedback.

As for the challenges, I'd love to see some quickies like 3-day, or even 48-hour, or 24-hour. I'd also like to see a One Page Challenge (they have those on the Screenwriters Network discord server). You write one page of a script, and it doesn't have to be a complete story, it could just be one page of a script that hasn't actually been written but meets the criteria.

An example of a One Page Challenge might be to write one page with a character doing an identifiable job but doing something to show an entirely different set of skills, like a cook incorporating kung fu in his cooking (Warriors of Virtue). Or a challenge could be to write page 75 of a script, the "all is lost" moment for a character, and it has to feature a moving vehicle. Or write a Two Page Challenge with two scenes where one character is in both scenes but in one is the authority figure and in the other the submissive figure.

Let's see a mix of casual and competitive challenges, some that are fun little exercises and some that really challenge us as writers.

That's my Canadian two cents.

Quoted from LC It is a modern thing, Michael, I agree. I quit the Socials cause they drive me nuts. Some people live for their 'likes' - a proven adrenaline rush. I seem to remember some talk of stacking of negative votes in the past too, just because someone didn't get on with the other person on the site I.e., let's down vote this script out of spite. A 'blank' on the other hand can equate to 'ignore' or 'thumbs down' for some though. All I care about is that it doesn't alienate, or make people feel bad. If there's a way around that, cool. It's up to Don ultimately. And if that little addition brings hordes to SS, then great. It's nice just to see more activity and talk on the site through this discussion alone. Warren, out of interest can you post the link to James's Quickie challenge? Would people be into that on a semi-regular basis, like the regular Movie Poet challenges used to be?

I think you missed what I said... I'm not for the option of downvoting. I'm just suggesting a LIKE button. Not a DISLIKE button, a star rating, or anything that gives the option of downvoting anything. As for people getting offended by lack of likes, I imagine that they'd be offended even more by lack of responses and would feel less inclined to be involved on the message boards. Perhaps you don't like "LIKES", but social media as a whole and other screenwriting sites, like Script Revolution, have seen immense success and participation because of the very easy option to hit a like button.

I understand not alienating people, but if they don't even get a response PERIOD, how is that better than not getting a like? And, even worse, if the script fucking blows, how is not getting a like any worse than someone telling you that your script needs a lot of work (or essentially, your script sucks). My suggestion is based on current trends and attracting traffic. Scriptshadow, the message board is essentially writers bashing scripts that are posted. But it attracts like 300 comments per script posted or article posted. My script got 300 comments on there based on a negative article. LIKES attract more people. It's not based on my personal preferences, it's just a fact.

Regardless, I will come here. I'm just thinking about what would bring OTHER people here.

I think I got what you were saying, Michael, and I got you weren't advocating down voting. I'm just yapping about stuff.

Hey, if it generates traffic all good. Up to Don, like I said.

It's great to get everyone's suggestions.

Interesting points Rene made about challenges too.

My interests are only in keeping this place thriving.

Quoted from spesh2k Regardless, I will come here. I'm just thinking about what would bring OTHER people here.

We're on exactly the same page.

Some great ideas all around.

Potential stupid idea alert.... I'm wondering if it might be helpful if we have a "safe zone" and a "mosh pit" for script feedback. So, if you're a scared newbie... head to the safe zone. You get gentle feedback. In the mosh pit, it's hardcore, advanced notes with no regard to feelings.

Maybe the safe zone only has notes from "SimplyScripts approved" mentors.

I'm just trying to think of a way to not scare newbies off. The note taking process is a tough thing to learn.

Also, I LOVE the challenges. Nothing has improved my writing more. Nothing has motivated me to write more. But, sometimes the time suck is too much. Maybe we could mix in some challenges where feedback is not required. It's just, write, read, vote. Of course, feedback could be given afterwards... but, it's not required. Not every time. Just occassionally.

I don’t think feedback was ever required on OWC scripts. Reads were, of course. Goes along with voting. But written feedback? I think it’s just assumed that if you read it, then you commented. I could be wrong.

All good suggestions.

I'd like to add that I think a reactive version of the website that scales correctly to the device you are using would help. Whenever I view the site on my android phone I have to swipe and zoom to read most of the content, whereas Script Revolution (for comparison) displays just fine.

Maybe a tidy up as well, removing threads that have little of no activity for over 6 months, as long as they don't contain scripts of course.  

I mainly come here these days for the challenges, so I'm all up for them continuing.

This idea would likely drive Don to drinking, but it would be interesting to have a link to all our scripts we've posted on SS on one page to make it easy for people (producers, perhaps?) to find all our scripts easily -- the search function on this site is not necessarily the most user friendly.  A producer might not necessarily need the type of script he first found of yours, but he likes your writing style and wants to see what else you have and maybe there's something there that floats his or her boat.

The signature section doesn't allow for a lot of links to scripts on this site, and I probably have 20 or so scripts on here.  Maybe more.  And I've found that adding a link to my web site doesn't necessarily draw the interest because it makes you leave the SS site.

I know that would require a lot of data mining and web redesign, but Don asked for our opinions, so I thought I'd shoot for the moon.

Quoted from Gary in Houston This idea would likely drive Don to drinking, but it would be interesting to have a link to all our scripts we've posted on SS on one page to make it easy for people (producers, perhaps?) to find all our scripts easily -- the search function on this site is not necessarily the most user friendly.  A producer might not necessarily need the type of script he first found of yours, but he likes your writing style and wants to see what else you have and maybe there's something there that floats his or her boat.

I think this functionality is already available?

Not sure if I'm missing the point, but if you search by a name it will bring up all your scripts, so a producer could see your collection.