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With about 50 hours left, you're not sure if you'l have the time to enter?
Should the next OWC be more difficult? With a greater page limit? Who, here, wants it longer and harder?
Phil
I don't think it's about length or difficulty. The problem may be in the similar nature between this and another OWC.
My opinion, open up the page limit to whatever the person feels like writing. Some people enter to have fun and others for the challenge but if you make it difficult you'll discourage the fun participation and whether that matters to you or not they will be the ones to keep this afloat in the long run.
I'm hoping to get something together for this, even though I am not thrilled with the subject matter.
Question...I thought I saw somewhere earlier that the page length was up to 15, now it seems it's at 12. Which is correct?
I think things are cool the way they are. 1 week is good for 12-15 pages of an unknown subject. I wouldn't think about making it harder, as I feel it's tough enough to write about something you have no interest in, in a 1 week time frame.
It is fun, challenging, and great practice.
I'll read them all whether or not I actually write one. It's also fun to try and figure out who wrote what.
I like the idea of a feature in a month. I may not participate, but it's a good idea. If people complain, maybe you could do a month-long feature and week-long short side-by-side. Maybe even have the same theme/genre. It would show an interesting comparison.
I know I'm a newbie, but I have to agree. I enjoyed this writing exercise as a needed break from my regular writing. For those of us transitioning into doing this as a full-time gig, little exercises like this are relaxing and fun.
The next OWC would be in July, when school is out. Of course, Pia suggested that the OMC and the OWC be two different things. How does everyone feel about this?
No, I'm a working stiff and have to choose between the wine and the cheese. The wine makes me forget that I don't have cheese.
And naturally, I'm good with having them simultaneously or back to back.
BEEEEP! Sorry. It's not. (i.e. a lot of writers turned this one down just because of the word drama) Shorts require more care than features. In feature you may take your time to expose an idea, to develop it.
They're just different animals. It's not that you can take your time to expose an idea in a feature, it's that a feature allows you to do more with a bigger idea. The OWC we had with partners had me and my partner with an idea far, far too big to fit in 15 pages. We could have gotten into it quickly and made it move through its pages, but with the short restriction, it wasn't allowed to properly develop.
That's how most of my ideas tend to go, hence I do better with features because I enjoy the unfolding of the storyline more than getting right to the point and possibly missing out of what could have been.
And don't let the word "drama" scare you. That's the most general term that exists in the realm of storytelling. EVERY story should have drama from the fantasy to the romance to the horror. If it doesn't have drama, it isn't a story. Maybe that'll help.
You're correct, George. Drama is very basic. All genres have drama in them. Just check out the insane filing system used at Blockbuster...their drama section contains blatant horror, scifi, action, romance, etc. I've asked several employees to help me with their logic, and the answer's always the same...it's the way we're told to do it.
I am sure we have had this conversation before. A comedy is a funny drama, a horror is a scary drama, a Michael Bay film is a shit drama etc...
Drama is short for dramatic, it effectively means that it is a staged production. Every genre is a really a sub-genre of drama. But when we talk about drama as a genre we really mean something that is played straight, that uses character, conflict and plot to tell a story in a realistic manner. Dramas can be funny but they are usually funny in a real life kind of way.
Now Darma on the otherhand is a secret organization that has a colony of people living on a moving island, we are not quite sure yet why but I am sure we will find out soon enough.
Screw page counts and screw running time... so long as you think creatively you can pretty much work with whatever requisites that you're given. However, a well-drawn blue print is essential to any structure.
On another note... I agree with electricsatori. I enjoyed partaking in this challenge as well; it was refreshing, and it allowed me to step away (mentally) from another project. I find that stepping away from your work and allowing your subconscious mind to freely take a stab at it can really help. ...for me anyway. Hence, I feel that a One Week Challenge would be more beneficial than a One Month Challenge. ...again, for me anyway. It's kind of like when the boss brings in donuts to work! (...feel free to conclude the simile as you see fit!)
I dunno. This thread is not only a pain in the butt to read, but it's way too long for its own good. Kind of like Lawrence of Arabia. Okay, the horses run. We got it. Yeah, pretty vistas. We got it. Yeah, look at the horses run again. And run. And run. And run. And are we done yet? Look, another vista. Nothing's happening...