Reader's choice.    You can select more than one script.

One Two by Yarden
Catherine must cook the meal of her life or lose her own.

Big Bad Wolf by Nualláin
When a hungry wolf destroys their straw and brick houses, two little pigs take refuge in a brick house built by another little pig.  Can the little pigs keep themselves safe from the big bad wolf in the brick house?

Go Long by Dr. Steven Brule
Forced into marriage with a man she does not love, a young woman discovers her husband has a secret which puts her at risk.  8 pages

Render Stillskin by Big Bad Wolf
A handicapped girl, desperate for cash to help her junkie mother, signs a deal with a strange creature which she will soon regret.

Cry Wolf by Big Bad
Sometimes a children's tale brings back more than just memories.

Incy Wincy by P. Parker
A young boy must overcome his childhood phobia or remain paralyzed by fear and be doomed to watch basketball forever.

Skin Deep by Aeinrikr
Sibling rivalry gets turned on its head when a poor peasant girl becomes envious of her beautiful sister’s opulent lifestyle.

The Final Curse of the Blue Smoke by The Dealer
An injured war veteran struggles to contain a newly acquired power

The Deathcap Skull by Carl Young
The lonely daughter of a mountain couple seeks to transform herself with the help of her lover's skull.

Blood Cabin by Caoimhín
Set during the Great Famine period, a brother and sister encounter a nightmare lurking deep in the woods.

Would Not Tell A Lie by Strings Attached
A wooden boy's desire to be real, leads him on a path to murder.

Alice in Underland by The White Rabbit
A captured Alice must help assassinate the queen to gain her freedom, but why Alice?

The Angel by Yishai
A young boy must face the reality of his situation, he's dead. Now he has one task before he moves on, bring an Angel a flower. If he fails, he falls into the void and becomes part of the bone pile.

Leprechaun Pride by Crooked Nose
A closet Hollywood leprechaun has his pride damaged, and gets some serious revenge.

The Boy and the Wolves: A Reimagining by Andrew Lang
A retelling of the classic fairy tale of broken promises, family loyalties...and wolves.

Sour Psychosis by ?
A Jesuit Priest, who worships a living Darkness, must walk the razor's edge of insanity to fulfill its blood lust.

Pinocchio: A Nose for Flesh by Caleb
Desperate to become a real boy, Pinocchio must first learn to curb one particularly unsavory eating habit.

Snow by Three Blind Mice
A queen gives her last life blood to save her daughter. Only catch, her blood comes with a curse.

No End of Wolves by Paris
A passionate psychologist challenges her trauma patient when she arranges a fatal reunion with the wolf.

Brer by Spooky McSpooks
Brer Rabbit is a witty, savvy businessman. He does however have his moments where he resorts to his uncivil, animalistic origins.

How To Deal With The Witch Under Your Bed by Donar Stone
Peter suffers from nightmares of a witch under his bed until the neighbour's girl offers a solution he hadn't thought about yet.

The Enchanted Quill by Prince Urpon Ah-Thyme
A troubled young woman discovers a magic software application that allows her to make all her wishes comes true, but at a price - each wish costs her a fraction of her soul.

Killer Weed by Darryl Burpee
Jerome's about to make a trade with some dubious characters, but that's nothing compared to what's waiting for him at home.

Nightshade by The Grimm Sisters
Snow White seeks revenge on the Evil Queen that sentenced her death.

The Howling Boy by Yours Truly Howling Boy
A Boy struggles to survive on his own when abandoned by his family

In The Red by Jack Tupp
There's a path in the Fairy Tale forest and it's name is Jack.

Up Came The Sun by Your Best Nightmare
A young Couple are terrorized by a tiny pest while a hurricane rages outside of their beach house.

The Golden Ball by Indri Pod
A small medieval town celebrates the Golden Ball annually, this year however, will be the last.

The Girl Without Hands by ThE StOryTelleR
A Miller who has fallen little by little into poverty, sees his escape out of the circle of poorness due a dark pact. What he don't know is that his  counterpart fouls him and leads him with that into a path of badness and abomination, where there is no return.

The Bridegroom by Mu Han
After marrying her suitor, a fearful bride discovers herself trapped in a horrific nightmare.

My Prince by Nennen
A young girl infatuated with an old fairy tale goes to extreme lengths to get a date for the Halloween Ball. 8 pages

Attack on Ant Hill by Andrea
When a terrifying Monster brutally attacks an Ant Hill. Two Ants take it upon themselves to seek help from the elusive gang of Grasshoppers. They must work together to defeat the undefeatable Monster; an eight year old kid.

Call Me Mama by The Brothers Grim
Comes from the Italian tale--The Slave Mother

Left To Die… Any Eye for an Eye by Rip Van Winklestein
Siblings abandoned and left for dead, go through a transformation while held captive by a hermit in the woods.

Ugly Beautiful by Somebody
A tormented schoolgirl makes the transformation from ugly outcast to head-turning beauty using unorthodox methods.

Cinder Hell by Alford Hickok
How far will abused, shell-shocked Cinderella go(re) to live happily ever after? Bloody far.

Anyone can vote in this one, including those writers who already submitted his/her Writer's Choice.

- Don

Thanks Don

I voted for two in the day, the ones I particularly liked.

Naturally, I didn't vote for my own - I hope folk are past that these days  ::)

Quoted from Reef Dreamer Thanks Don I voted for two in the day, the ones I particularly liked. Naturally, I didn't vote for my own - I hope folk are past that these days  ::)

Well, looking at the results so far, I'm completely in shock at more than 1 script getting any votes, let alone 3!  Almost seems like a conspiracy, it's so insane.

There are some very poor scripts that have received votes, and personally, i just don't get it.

I voted for the script I deemed to be the very best, and sadly, it was not mine.   ;D ;D

But, in the recommend/consider, I did include mine, as I think it deserves it...although most do not seem to agree.   ;D ;D ;D ;D

Deary me, where's Dustin when you need him, you just looking for a rise out of someone Jeff?

My first OWC was Feb 2011. I didn't participate the last couple years, but I've been involved with maybe a dozen. And I think the writing here is substantially improved from the previous ones. Very rarely if ever is an OWC great. I mean these are cranked out stories, they haven't had time to mature. I've read maybe around 18 so far this round, and all of them were clear and easy to read. Go check out the 2011, 2012 OWCs, many of those are harder to get through.

BTW, this is true of pro scripts too. The quality is getting much better. By quality, I am talking about the writing. They read easier, and the writers use, you know, writing, to generate things like suspense, humor, mystery.

Somewhere along the way, someone strangely decided that screenwriting shouldn't be actual writing.

I'm happy to say common sense is winning out now.

Quoted from Cameron Deary me, where's Dustin when you need him, you just looking for a rise out of someone Jeff?

Not sure I follow your comment, Cam.  What are you trying to say exactly?

Quoted Text Well, looking at the results so far, I'm completely in shock at more than 1 script getting any votes, let alone 3!  Almost seems like a conspiracy, it's so insane. There are some very poor scripts that have received votes, and personally, i just don't get it.

I didn't think it was that cryptic. Slating a bunch of scripts, and in turn people for voting for them, putting it mildly it's not great.

Who knows, maybe you're just having a laugh, also with the voting for yourself nonsense. For your sake I hope you are, it is supposed to be a bit of fun afterall

Quoted from Cameron I didn't think it was that cryptic. Slating a bunch of scripts, and in turn people for voting for them, putting it mildly it's not great. Who knows, maybe you're just having a laugh, also with the voting for yourself nonsense. For your sake I hope you are, it is supposed to be a bit of fun afterall

I didn't vote for myself in the poll that matters, but of course I gave my script a recommend, as it deserves one.  If it didn't, I wouldn't vote that way.

Looking at the Reader's Choice Poll, I would think everyone would be in a little shock seeing some of the very worst scripts receiving votes.  I mean, seriously...you think some of these should be receiving praise?

Not to mention any names, but I'm pretty sure there is at least 1 script that has received nothing but well earned criticism and the very least amount of reads...is that really worthy of a vote?  How does that happen?

The sad thing is that there are several pretty well written and conceived scripts that didn't receive any votes.  It's very odd to me to say the least.

Quoted Text I didn't vote for myself in the poll that matters, but of course I gave my script a recommend, as it deserves one.  If it didn't, I wouldn't vote that way

That all sounds a little bit Kanye at an awards ceremony for me. And on that depressing note, I'm off to bed to dream (hopefully) happy thoughts.

All the best Jeff

Cam

I voted for one: Pinnochio. Strong writing and a cool concept. Like most OWC's, the story needs work, but this one stood above to me. No idea who the writer is.

Quoted from leitskev I voted for one: Pinnochio. Strong writing and a cool concept. Like most OWC's, the story needs work, but this one stood above to me. No idea who the writer is.

My vote as well.

Looks like that's 2 things we agree on today!   ;D ;D ;D

Glad to see it winning, but shocked it's not running away with the votes.

Can I change my vote?! lol

Quoted from leitskev Can I change my vote?! lol

Actually, yes you can!  Just change it to my script.  HA!!!   ;D ;D ;D ;D

I gave you a fair review. Mostly positive.

Quoted from leitskev I gave you a fair review. Mostly positive.

Huh?  You know which is mine?  How?  What's going on here?

I don't know which is yours...did I give yours a good review, too?  I hope...

Just guessing. We'll see.

Quoted from leitskev I voted for one: Pinnochio. Strong writing and a cool concept. Like most OWC's, the story needs work, but this one stood above to me. No idea who the writer is.

That's what I did for Reader's choice as well. Just one vote - Pinocchio - to make sure it's on the top)

76 votes in now?  WTF?

Hey, wow, I got another vote. I'm like Gary Johnson. Not enough to join the debate.

I have not voted, simply because I didn't ready enough of them to judge.

Also, since I haven't voted, I can't see how many votes have been cast and for what scripts.

I voted for one on the poll too (not my own), not sure whats the big deal, it's an online poll, a bit of fun.

It says you can select more than one, so it's not at all a big deal, or shouldn't be.

Thought so Kev ;-)

I voted for all I recommend or considered. Feels almost like a crime if you follow this thread...

Am getting my wife, my kids and their kids, nieces, sister, brother, 95-year-old father, uncle, and cousins to join Simply Scripts so they can vote for my masterpiece. It's the only way I'll get any votes.

(Am checking Ancestry.com to see if I have any other living relatives.)

Quoted from Stumpzian Am getting my wife, my kids and their kids, nieces, sister, brother, 95-year-old father, uncle, and cousins to join Simply Scripts so they can vote for my masterpiece. It's the only way I'll get any votes. (Am checking Ancestry.com to see if I have any other living relatives.)

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D  Hilarious!!!

I got Stump's grandfather to switch to mine at the last second. Don't tell him,

Quoted from Equinox I voted for all I recommend or considered. Feels almost like a crime if you follow this thread...

Obviously, you can vote any way you want to, but why one would include "consider" votes with "recommend" votes is something i don't understand at all.

If one had 2 or even 3 scripts as your favorites and couldn't or didn't want to make a choice between them, I definitely understand.

But giving multiple votes for scripts that you don't feel were as good as others makes no sense at all.

Im just chuffed someone voted for my script that's not related to me...or me...or my imaginary friend etc...not that I did, nor did my imaginary friend...bastard , never trusted him, or is it a her... :D

Quoted from leitskev I got Stump's grandfather to switch to mine at the last second. Don't tell him,

My grandfathers are long dead, but they're easily bought. You can probably guess who they're voting for in the election.

I haven't voted for my script as I gave up getting myself off when I got married. I am however disappointed that the state of Florida didn't publicly endorse my script, bribes ain't worth what they used to be.  

We know who all the dead vote for. Shhhh. Don't get the donkeys riled up.

It's great to see the best script winning this poll by a comfy margin.

Still shocked about a number of scripts here receiving votes, and in some cases, alot of votes, but somehow, some way, you peeps got it right where it matters.

Reveal today?

Jeff, one thing that I learn every time I do one of these, people really do have very different opinions on stories. Sometimes I'll see something really good in a story, and few others will. Sometimes I'll think a story kinda stinks and everyone else loves it. Nature of the beast.

I don't think I've ever read an OWC that didn't need some major changes. So I think most people are just looking at a story to see if there's something, some part, they really like.

For me, with Pinnochio, I thought the writing was very good, and the concepts promising. That was enough to get my vote.

A lot of people seemed to like that Magic Quill one. That surprises me, but it's more than just votes, the reviews were extremely positive, so the story really struck a chord with people. That's what's great about OWC's, you get a real good sense of what people like.

Quoted from leitskev Jeff, one thing that I learn every time I do one of these, people really do have very different opinions on stories. Sometimes I'll see something really good in a story, and few others will. Sometimes I'll think a story kinda stinks and everyone else loves it. Nature of the beast. I don't think I've ever read an OWC that didn't need some major changes. So I think most people are just looking at a story to see if there's something, some part, they really like. For me, with Pinnochio, I thought the writing was very good, and the concepts promising. That was enough to get my vote. A lot of people seemed to like that Magic Quill one. That surprises me, but it's more than just votes, the reviews were extremely positive, so the story really struck a chord with people. That's what's great about OWC's, you get a real good sense of what people like.

Yeah...and 1 person voted for The Girl Without Hands.

What does that tell you?   ;D ;D ;D

That someone liked the script, I'd imagine...

Quoted from Cameron That someone liked the script, I'd imagine...

Hmmm...the least reviews, not a single positive review, and remarks saying could be a pisser, or definitely from a beginning writer.

I still don't follow...

This poll is open to everyone, could be anyone who didn't bother to comment. Who knows who or why they voted for it.

Again, this is supposed to be a bit of fun, you're taking it too seriously

Quoted from Cameron This poll is open to everyone, could be anyone who didn't bother to comment. Who knows who or why they voted for it. Again, this is supposed to be a bit of fun, you're taking it too seriously

It's alot of fun, and I don't take anything like this seriously at all.

I'm just saying...I'd love to know who voted for that, because going forward, I want them to hate my work, if this is what they like.

Relax, Cammy...it's all good.

Jeff, maybe author did what you did and voted for their own.

Quoted from AnthonyCawood Jeff, maybe author did what you did and voted for their own.

LOL...I didn't vote for my own, Anthony.  I thought I made that clear already?

What I did say, was that I gave mine a recommend along with 2 or 3 others.

If mine was the best, I would have voted for it.  Anyone who thinks the script in question is one of the best is as high as a kite, on a flight by Ben.

Why am I suddenly involved in this? Is this because I liked a script you didn't? You're a child with gross silver hair

God knows who wrote what, but the best script is up the top where it belongs.

Congrats to the writer.

Pinocchio is a great high concept slasher. One can see the pictures clearly, especially when the action goes deep into the woods. Pure horror.

However, Render Stillskin earned my vote here. It just had a kind of personal, intimate feeling toward me when the bad world's shit came over the girl. Such a little person, living with a handicap, nevertheless, having a clear mind, a brave character, having developed beautiful talents with her art; she even takes responsibility to pay the bills for her addicted mother. The author threw her in a dark, dark world that is so greatly over-pictured. The three main characters were fabulous.

Quoted from Dreamscale LOL...I didn't vote for my own, Anthony.  I thought I made that clear already? What I did say, was that I gave mine a recommend along with 2 or 3 others. If mine was the best, I would have voted for it.  Anyone who thinks the script in question is one of the best is as high as a kite, on a flight by Ben.

Pluralism isn't a concept you like, is it? The process of rating scripts is a subjective one, and I'm glad it is, or many good movies would never have been made. Imagine some Jeff would decide which scripts are made into a Hollywood movie and which aren't. I suppose the porn industry would get a good boost, but that's not something I'd even like to imagine.

Quoted from AlsoBen Why am I suddenly involved in this? Is this because I liked a script you didn't? You're a child with gross silver hair

Why do you say you're involved now?  What you talkin' bout, Willis?

Speaking of children, you must be too young to catch the song reference in what I said, not a comment directed at you.  Really?

Quoted from Dreamscale the song reference

Rocket Man

P.s. "by Ben" or "by then"? Memory slip-sliding away.

Quoted from Stumpzian Rocket Man P.s. "by Ben" or "by then"? Memory slip-sliding away.

I think it's by "Ben" - as in Benjamin Franklin flying his famous kite.

"She packed my bags last night, pre-flight
Zero hour, nine AM
And I'm gonna be hiiiiiIIIiiiiiigh as a kite by then..."

Google is your friend...

Not diggin' this 'Readers Poll' right now. Cause now I get to be upset not only once, but twice about my script, lol. That is, assuming the Writer's Choice is gonna show me similar results... ack!

"All the boys think she's a 'spaz', she's got Bette Davis eyes..." I think that's right? I better Google it to be sure...

I'm quite happy my script is doing well in the reader's poll, which I didn't expect, really. From start to finish it took me like two hours of work and I found quite a few typos and lousy word choices since then. Didn't really have much time, lots of business travelling at the moment. But I have to say, the comments were really helpful this time, not that many one-liners as usual. I tried to give helpful feedback in my comments as well, but I didn't manage to read&comment more than about 20. If anyone wants a feedback after the OWC, please just PM me.

And my favorite script is on 2nd place here, and all the others I voted for are in the top 11, so I guess most of us liked the same stuff.

Quoted from Equinox I'm quite happy my script is doing well in the reader's poll, which I didn't expect, really...

To be fair towards the comments on my script; I've received probably %90 positive reviews (re: writing style, voice, etc.). I'm just kind of bummed out (with myself) that after all the scripts I've written, I'm still receiving almost the exact same feedback as previous entries cause my stories don't (really) make any sense, and people are dropping out cause they don't know what was happening.  

In the future I'm gonna have to make a decision... sacrifice the writing style I like to portray, vs. a comprehensible story.

The biggest problem, always, in OWC's is creating characters/stakes that we care about. It's such a challenge. Very, very few stories succeed even a little in achieving this.

Often the problem is the page limitation.

For example, my favorite script was Pinnochio. But this story also failed to create stakes or characters we cared about or sympathized with...even though it was based on a story we already know, so that saves the writer a lot on exposition.

We could have care about the puppet more if we saw him struggling more with trying to be good. Instead, there were hints of his being evil right from the start almost, since he kills the dog for no reason. So before he is even rejected by the father, he is sadistically evil(was he practising on the dog?).

We might have sympathized with the father, but he turned on the puppet very strangely for no reason.

And we didn't know the daughters enough to care. If anything, their coolness toward the father made them not sympathetic.

The Enchanted Quil was another top vote getter. There's a clever idea there. But the girl is sadistic from the moment we meet her. Yes, we come to learn why, but there is really not much reason to ever grow to care what happens to her. She shows no humanity, no potential for growth, other that the quick action at the end to save her soul, which comes across as expedient.

It's very hard to do in limited space. In my story, I fell into the usual trap of making the story too complicated in an effort to make us care more about the characters. So that's the other end of the spectrum, stories that are not simple and clear enough.

Quoted from Equinox From start to finish it took me like two hours...

By contrast, I spent more time working on this script than I did on any of my previous OWC scripts. I've received very few positive comments and no votes in the Readers Poll. I'm not complaining. A writer does the best he or she can and puts it out there.

Quoted from Gum In the future I'm gonna have to make a decision... sacrifice the writing style I like to portray, vs. a comprehensible story.

Rick, your past work is outstanding, some of the most high concept stuff I've read here. You've also come a long way with writing style in a screenwriting sense. We've all read some scripts and said  to ourselves "that writer definitely wrote that", but if we were to watch a film you wrote we'd no doubt say, "Rick definetly wrote that."

John,

Right on, brother!

After awhile, when we crank out another script (after 10 or so), we literally become our own worst critics and, forget that we got into this because we thought it might be fun to learn something new, that is... until we become obsessed and take to heart.

I truly appreciate your kind words of encouragement. Seriously, it does make it all worthwhile this... this crazy idea of screenwriting. Hope to see you in the next round, cheers!

Quoted from Gum In the future I'm gonna have to make a decision... sacrifice the writing style I like to portray, vs. a comprehensible story.

Concur with Johnny. The trick however, Rick, (ooh, I'm rhyming) is to combine both. Don't sacrifice too much of your style cause otherwise it could read generically and bland - be disciplined where perhaps you know you're getting carried away with yourself, but combine it with cohesive story. Story is always key.

I was reading the other day (damn, can't remember where) that screenwriting can still be literature. I agree with that.

Some of the best scripts I've read, and subsequently the best films, jump off the page like streamlined novels. Surely that aids in them being noticed , ( the writer's voice being noticed) and marketability.

But it does all come down to story ultimately.

I struggle with the problem of overwriting but I usually get comments that the description and story was worth it.

Not always, mind you... If I get: 'love the writing but the story went nowhere/I don't get it? or, unsatisfying ending' then I know I've failed.

I usually know when I don't have a fully fledged crowd pleaser in the beginning, and I'm just entertaining myself with style over substance. Sometimes that's okay when you just want to take part in an OWC, This time around I knew the ending to my entry was going to defeat all the good that went before it so I decided to delay and work on it more. Least, OWC inspiration has given me something to work with and I'll post it up later.

If you think you've got something with your story and overwhelmingly positive comments, don't ditch it Rick, do another draft.

Libby,

Thank you for the detailed feed back. I hear you, (wo)man, lol. You're gonna hate me and, I can't prove it cause the script thread is gone now but, you told me almost the exact same thing about two Halloween OWC's ago... I should have heeded your advise by now, at least you'd think I would have cause it is sound advice. Apparently I'm like a nail; you have to hit it a few times before it holds, lol.

On a lighter note. There are 9 users on the board tonight. Everyone is out at a party or the bar for Halloween, and I'm stuck at home cause my 15 yo daughter is having a Halloween party, and I have to make sure they don't get into my booze, lol. Any ways, Happy Halloween! Here's to a Tuesday morning candy coma... :)

Well jeepers, I think that means I just sound like a broken record.  ::) My apologies. I have enough trouble taking my own advice...

Ha! Halloween, eh? It's only just starting to creep into our culture in a big way now with advertising/costumes, the whole knocking on doors thing. Kids would be lucky to get an apple out of me. I think I'll just pretend not to be home.  ;)

Hey, good luck, Rick.  I'm picturing you now standing guard over the liquor cabinet. Sounds like fun actually, and least you have the perfect opportunity to pick up teen-speak on mass for your next script.

Quoted from Gum "She packed my bags last night, pre-flight Zero hour, nine AM And I'm gonna be hiiiiiIIIiiiiiigh as a kite by then..." Google is your friend...

Oooops!  This shows, once again, hat even the very, very, VERY best can be wrong every once in awhile.   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D  Ha...I'm wrong so often, it's not even funny.

I'll confess to being the person who voted for "The Girl Without Hands", though I also voted for four other scripts.

I acknowledge the complaints about the quality of writing, but I personally enjoyed reading it. It was fun to see a take on an obscure Brothers Grimm tale well suited to the horror genre, instead of yet another take on "Snow White" or "Red Riding Hood" filled with cannibalism...

The other four scripts I voted for were...

Ugly Beautiful - This worked as a revenge story, because the writer made me hate the antagonists with a burning passion, and made the protagonist sympathetic enough for her later actions to be understandable.

Would Not Tell A Lie - Very well-written. It was nice to see a happy ending, in contrast to the mostly bleak scripts in the OWC

The Final Curse of the Blue Smoke - Another story which I liked for using obscure and interesting source material. This was probably my favourite script in the contest, as it was well-written and placed an interesting modern-day spin on the story type.

The Boy and the Wolves: A Reimagining - The writing was evocative, and there were some interesting ideas about the lessons which fairy tales can teach us.