Hello everyone, I hope you’re all doing well.
Since it’s Introduce Yourself Week, here’s a little about me.
My name is Meriem Bouziani. I’m 29 years old, a teacher from Morocco and a sci-fi screenwriter in the making. With all the sci-fi headaches I’m developing, I could say I’m a girl trying to build a skyscraper while still in kindergarten.
Maybe because of my scientific background, I’m deeply obsessed with scientific plausibility and logic. My current project, The Silent PFC War, seemed easy at first. I even abandoned my parallel-universe adventures because I thought they would be much harder to present.
But now, I feel that The Silent PFC War is far more challenging. It’s not one story, but two stories unfolding at the same time, interlocking in a complex and sometimes crazy way, each with its own layers and details and locations.
I feel incredibly happy and proud to be developing something this complex, but I also feel overwhelmed and anxious about how to write it properly.
SCIFISPY
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Nice to meet you! Your project sounds ambitious and inspiring. Wishing you clarity and confidence as you continue developing it.
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Thank you very much. I wish you the best of luck in your work as well. Muhammad Abed Baryal
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Hi, Meriem Bouziani. Hope you're doing well too! How far are you with The Silent PFC War?
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It honestly freaks me out that there are about 83 micro-scenes, and I’m trying to write them without losing the story’s logic. Maurice Vaughan
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Did you make a beat sheet for The Silent PFC War, Meriem Bouziani?
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Yes, the structure has 83 beats, and some of them can be broken down even further. The main challenge is the order. I’m trying to write anyway, then I’ll figure out how to rearrange everything into a more coherent structure. I’m aiming to develop a coherent, non-linear, puzzle-box narrative, but it’s extremely complex Maurice Vaughan
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@Meriem hi! Happy IYW! I can understand how daunting a big story like that can be, but I believe in you. You've planned so carefully. You'll get this script written and it's going to be incredible.
Is it the dual narratives giving you trouble?
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Something else you could do is watch movies/shows and read scripts that have non-linear, puzzle-box narratives, Meriem Bouziani. It might help you write your script.
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Thank you very much for your support—that means a lot to me Elle Bolan
Yes, it’s really hard, but I’m trying to write the scenes even if the order isn’t as good as I want it to be. I just need to keep moving forward, otherwise I’ll stay stuck in structure refinement forever, haha.
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Yes, thank you Maurice Vaughan
I’ve thought about that as well. I’ll try to look for films and scripts that explore topics similar to mine.
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I love that you are world building with this end in mind. Keep creating, make a mess, clean it up later- scripts are re-written not just written :) Way to go!
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Thank you very much for your encouragement—I’m really happy to hear that. Yes, I’ve found that I lose a lot of time developing the story logic and structure, so I’m trying to write first and refine later, once things feel clearer Libby Wright
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You're welcome, Meriem Bouziani. Hope it helps! You can read scripts at www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/10-great-websites-download-movie-scripts. Some of the scripts on sites like IMSDB and Go Into the Story might be shooting scripts. Shooting scripts have things that spec scripts don't have, like camera angles, but some writers put camera angles in their spec scripts.
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Thank you very much, this is so helpful Maurice Vaughan
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You're welcome, Meriem Bouziani. Happy Holidays!
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Happy holidays to you too Maurice Vaughan
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I absolutely love the way you describe your work Meriem Bouziani. And I love the way you've incorporated your background into it. Hope you're having a wonderful IY weekend so far!
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@Meriem, that's how you do it. Get the words on the page. That's really the hardest part. Fixing it during edits and rewrites is so much easier compared to getting that first draft done.
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Thank you very much Leonardo Ramirez 2
It’s all because my mind wants to act like a scientist—even when I’m creating fiction.
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Yes, this approach will absolutely win Elle Bolan
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Welcome, Meriem! It's fantastic to meet another writer tackling ambitious sci-fi. Your background is a huge asset, that obsession with scientific plausibility is exactly what can make a sci-fi story feel grounded and terrifyingly real.
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I love that Meriem Bouziani. Keep going!
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Nice to meet you too Sam Rivera
That’s exactly what I’m trying to do with this story, make it as plausible as possible, while also keeping it so real.
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Welcome!
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Thank you. I’m trying and fighting this sci-fi monster Leonardo Ramirez 2
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Thank you Randall Scott White
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Hello Meriem Bouziani, great to meet you. Science is a real asset for sci-fi, and The Silent PFC War sounds like an exciting and futuristic project! What are your top comparables for it?
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Thank you very much Dwayne Williams 2
This is truly a great question, but I honestly struggle to find comparable works beyond the films I’ve already seen. That actually makes the writing even harder, because I don’t have a clear model to follow. I’ll try watching more films to find inspiration, especially for developing a strong puzzle-box structure.
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What a really cool concept Meriem! What inspired you for such a big world that you've created?
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Thank you very much for your encouragement Amanda Toney
It’s all driven by my passion for neuroscience, especially the prefrontal cortex—the part responsible for complex thinking, decision-making, and planning...
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Hi Meriem Bouziani Nice to meet you. I´ve also been a teacher. I wish you sucess in all your projects. Have a Happy Holiday Season and an excellent 2026.
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Thank you very much.
Nice to meet you too Maria Caeiro
Teaching isn’t really my passion—it feels limiting when my mind wants to explore galaxies and science fiction. I can’t wait to move into full-time sci-fi writing.
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I know that feeling very well, Meriem Bouziani .
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It’s a painful kind of distraction. I hope I’ll survive it Maria Caeiro
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Hi Meriem Bouziani - its great to see you here on IYW! My niece is a nueroscience PHD and her journey has opened us all up to this amazing science. A story that weaves these ideas in - even as inspiration - sounds so cool! Have you checkout the screenwriting education and support here at Stage 32 as you hone the project?
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Hello, it’s great to meet you too Sam Sokolow
Congratulations to your niece on such an impressive scientific study. I truly love neuroscience—it helps us understand the biological systems that guide and control our thinking and behavior.
I’m part of the Writer’s Room as well, but I haven’t taken any courses yet.
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That’s a great approach Meriem Bouziani, and exploring nearby genres and structures can really fuel new ideas. If anything feels difficult along the way, the Stage 32 community has your back, so stay curious and creative!
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Yes sure.
Thank you very much Dwayne Williams 2