Okay, so clearly I've done this backwards - I've started out writing features and am only just approaching the short. Admittedly, it was because I did a screenwriting course that only taught features. But I'd really like to get some shorts under my belt (not to mention the practice of tighter action, dialogue and character profiles).

But...I'm crazy intimidated by shorts!! I imagine it's a bit ridiculous to feel that way (I'm in the rewrite of my first feature and nearly half-way through the first draft of my second). But a short?? No way. I've thought a lot about it, and I'm convinced that the main problem I'm facing is that I don't know how to find an idea that's suitable to the form. Any other issues really just stem from that, I think (ie, getting the story across with so few characters and so little time). But of course I could be wrong.

I was actually looking forward to the next OWC just so I could try my hand at writing a short. At least, I was until I saw it was an action challenge, which intimidates me even more.

So...I'm calling on all of you, oh SS gurus:) Help?

Thanks!!
Rebekah

Actually, it's not backwards.  Lots of people have done it in that direction - me included.  

The thing to remember is that feature is not equal to short and they are different art forms. You have much less space to tell a story so you have to get clever about it.  

I would suggest you read a bunch of shorts first. Then use the OWCs and any other short writing contests to give you a reason to write them.

Or even watch some particularly good finished short films.  Here's three:

Six Shooter by Martin McDonagh, writer/director of In Bruges.

Election Night by Anders Thomas Jensen, writer of Brothers.

Doodlebug by Christopher Nolan, writer/director of Memento.

When it comes to shorts, it just pretty much doesn't get better than Six Shooter, in my opinion.  Hilarious, dark, thought-provoking, intelligent, widely appealing, lots of fun.  

Or...you could just read the short, "No Meat", and you'll probably be good to go.

On a serious note, I'd recommend reading Mark's "A few Will Find This Difficult".  Damn solid, shocking short that packs a wallop in a very limited amount of pages, from a limited amount of sets and characters.

Damn fine writing, IMO.

I agree with Cornie that there's absolutely nothing wrong with starting out on features.  You've got alot more room to work with and if you've got the story/plot down, it actually allows you to to make more mistakes, that won't be nearly as evident as they will in a short.

Shorts reveal all the mistakes and that's probably why most shorts suck.

Good luck!  Don't fear...

Thanks, guys:) I think I'll read/watch all of your suggestions and try and have a go at a short over the next week or so and post it up on the boards for critique. Call this my self-inflicted OWC  ;D

I am adding one...won the Oscar the year before Six Shooter, I think?  Or maybe the year after.

Wasp by Andrea Arnold, writer/director of Fish Tank.

Oh, awesome! Thanks for that:)

Heretic, Just watched 'Six Shooter' after reading your recommendation, wow ! Superb film, Thanks for sharing

To me, the biggest differences between features and shorts in terms of construction are:

Shorter timeline in story (usually over hours, days or weeks. No eons long multigalactic timelines)

Center around familiar places and events (birthday, dinner date, childbirth, road trip etc).

Fewer characters

I actually developed an "ad lib"-style short script idea "generator" at one time. Basically choose an event/situation and a location. (say, flat tire, downtown). Then choose two characters a main and a supporting. Then, fill in the following for your characters: what does he want? What does he need? What is he obligated to do? Be clear about the differences between wants and needs, objectively. In other words, the character may think he needs a lambourgini but that, objectively, is a want. A character might want to be left alone but objectively this character needs attention. So outline each character's wants, needs and
obligations objectively, as the writer not as the character. Then figure out what happens if the character doesn't attain the "goal". What is at stake?  Will be die? Will he be late for the meeting that will change his life? What are the consequences of "failure".

Because you picked a very specific place and time and situation and only a few characters, keeping it short will be easier.

Use your creativity and a bit of randomness to come up with interesting scenarios.

I just finished reading a short story by Morley Callaghan entitled "The Cheat's Remorse". What I enjoyed most was the simplicity in his writing and his ability to catch (and frame) a sort of emptiness within the environment and characters.

Because the story "took me" so to speak, I went on a bit of discovery to learn that Morley never quite had the strings to play the novel although he did write several, but it was the short story that was his claim to fame.

Really, I don't think there is any correct way to approach the craft of writing, scripts or otherwise, and as has been mentioned in the thread, some people start off long, others short. Some might switch back and forth between forms only to find they prefer a certain style, genre, etc...

Explore what you value and what feels right to you because you are unique and no one else in the world has quite the same experiences that will ultimately be the magic that lights your candle for everyone to enjoy.

Sandra

Thanks guys:) Paige, great suggestion! I suppose there'd be tons you could do with that.

Sandra, that's a good way to look at it. And it makes sense because there was a time not too long ago when I thought I wouldn't enjoy anything as much as the short story. Until I wrote my first novel and swore there was nothing better. And then came the screenplay...  :B

Anyway, I've decided to try a short based on one of my short stories about a woman with OCD. I figured it'd be a good exercise because it'll have to be very heavy on the action since it's such an internal experience. We'll see how I go:)

Thanks again, everybody!!

Quoted from rdhay Anyway, I've decided to try a short based on one of my short stories about a woman with OCD. I figured it'd be a good exercise because it'll have to be very heavy on the action since it's such an internal experience. We'll see how I go:)

Way to go, Rebekah! If you need a reader, you can call on me. I appreciate everyone on Simply that keep coming back to the plate. It's a really hard thing to do no matter what level you're at. In fact, the better one gets, the harder it gets. It's the nature of things.

Love to see you guys "at 'er". Give her heck S.S.!

Sandra

Quoted from Sandra Elstree. Way to go, Rebekah! If you need a reader, you can call on me. I appreciate everyone on Simply that keep coming back to the plate. It's a really hard thing to do no matter what level you're at. In fact, the better one gets, the harder it gets. It's the nature of things. Love to see you guys "at 'er". Give her heck S.S.! Sandra

Gah! No pressure or anything... :p

And thanks, I'll be sure to let you know when it's up:)

FYI, in case any of you are interested, I just submitted my first short.

Clearly I went over my own deadline of one week, but in my defence, I didn't really get stuck into it til Thursday anyway. So I'm good;)

Fingers crossed it's not too terrible... :p

I'll give it a read when I see it.

Thx thx:)