Quoted from ReneC To me, no dialogue would still allow text on the screen to communicate, like a text message or writing on paper. I'd say sign language goes too far, but it is technically not dialogue. What's your stance on that, Pia?

There should be no formatting for dialogue. That's a given. However, we do a lot of communication these days via emails and texts and such. If you need to use some way to show a message I would use it very sparingly. The more you use, the more people will think you're pushing it or even cheating, so I imagine that will be reflected in the scores. I have no problem with someone receiving a text or an email, just not whole conversations.

Quoted from Grandma Bear There should be no formatting for dialogue. That's a given. However, we do a lot of communication these days via emails and texts and such. If you need to use some way to show a message I would use it very sparingly. The more you use, the more people will think you're pushing it or even cheating, so I imagine that will be reflected in the scores. I have no problem with someone receiving a text or an email, just not whole conversations.

Cool, that's what I expected.

I'm probably gonna have to bow out of this. Had an unexpected family crisis the other day and am in the middle of moving. Feel like my whole life just got flipped upside down.

Bummer, too. Cause this sounds like a fun challenge. I'll try to read as many as I can.

Zack

Zack, hope all will return back to normal.


Me too, though. I'm in the middle of moving as well. Plus tomorrow I'll have to leave for another city for a couple of days which leaves no time for this OWC. Too bad, as a no dialog challenge sounds interesting.

I don’t think I’ll be entering this one.  I’ve done this before and realised I’m just not good at non-dialogue competitions.

Quoted from jayrex I don’t think I’ll be entering this one.  I’ve done this before and realised I’m just not good at non-dialogue competitions.

When asked to explain, jayrex gestured wildly for several minutes. He stormed out of the room when it became clear that no one understood what he meant.



I'm banging my head against a wall trying to come up with a decent idea for this one. Might not happen  

Quoted from jayrex I don't think I'll be entering this one.  I've done this before and realised I'm just not good at non-dialogue competitions.

It's not a competition, it's a challenge. Everyone who pulls it off will already have won.

I'm already comfortable with writing without dialogue. The first half of The Trunk has no dialogue. But I wasn't trying to write a complete story without dialogue, so for me, it's still going to be challenging, and I do love a challenge.

This is a great skill to master, and I appreciate the parameters pushing writers in ways that will ultimately benefit them. Writing visually without relying on the crutch of dialogue can't help but strengthen our writing. Everyone should give it a try at least.

Ok I hate to act crazy but someone confirm.. if I live  in Florida am I writing about heat or freezing cold??

Quoted from Pale Yellow Ok I hate to act crazy but someone confirm.. if I live  in Florida am I writing about heat or freezing cold??

Heat.

I have a rough idea and a title. I've never written a script without dialogue before, so this will be interesting. Six page ought to be easy. Now, if I can only come up with a clever pen name.

@Zack Life's been crazy for me, too; pretty much the same story. My grandmother (who raised me) died a month ago tomorrow (along with the chihuahuas within the next two weeks). I didn't have the best relationship with her, but we both tried. Anyway, I wish you the best.

Quoted from ReneC Heat.

Thank you so much!! Good luck to you! I love anything that pushes me as a writer... and this will be a good exercise!!

Quoted from Pale Yellow ... if I live  in Florida am I writing about heat or freezing cold??

Hmm, I wonder if someone had one too many cocktails on a hot Summer night?  

Quoted from LC Hmm, I wonder if someone had one too many cocktails on a hot Summer night?

No way! I wish I could claim having cocktails but I'm not real smart about geography ...wasn't good at vocabulary either.. heck I dunno how I made it thru school even!

Honestly didn't know what hemiwhatever I lived in!!!!

SEE I'VE ALREADY LEARNED SOMETHING BEFORE TYPING THE FIRST PAGE!!!!

My wife knows me so well. She threw ideas at me all yesterday and one really clicked with me so I'm going to go with that, see how I get on today.

Reading through the comments I do think sign language with subtitles would be classed as dialogue and I'd certainly score down for that. However, if you had people signing without subtitles, that would work for me and be an interesting challenge. Kind of put the audience in the position of watching people sign and trying to work out what they are saying with their actions.

Just finished my first draft. I think I have enough of a story to work with. Let's see what my revisions will bring.