November Write Club Challenge

We'll use the 30 days of November as a personal deadline for whatever project you are working on, be it a first draft, a rewrite, a pitch, a short, a feature, or a TV pilot. Whatever “it” is for you. There are no parameters other than what you choose to accomplish within the month of November. We’ll support, inspire, and cheer each other on throughout our 30-day endeavors. And. Get. It. Done. Let's do this!

Kaitlin Moose
Is this the place??

Hey guys! Is this year's NaNoWriMo/screenwriting happening in this thread? I've missed any announcements about it and wanna make sure I'm in the right spot!

Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Kaitlin Moose! Great to see you again! Yes, the November Write Club Challenge is happening this year. It's going to be in this Lounge (instead of the blog like last year)....

Expand comment
Maurice Vaughan

Hey, Kaitlin Moose! :D How have you been?

Geoff Hall
In Sydney, I think I found my writer’s motto

We were walking along the bay walk to Sydney Opera House when we noticed some great writerly quotes along the way. This one caught my eye. I think I found here, my writer’s motto, courtesy of Jack London and hopefully something that will inspire my fellow Novemberist Writers.

Blaze your path of glory!

Maurice Vaughan

That's a great quote, Geoff Hall. I especially like the last sentence.

Geoff Hall

Yes - “I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them; I shall use my time.”

I also like the passion in the phrase - “to live, not to exist.”

That stirs within me a similar passion, for stories that make a difference.

Maurice Vaughan

"to live, not to exist." I think I just came up with a character flaw and theme for a script. :)

Geoff Hall

Maurice Vaughan I think you may be right!

Maurice Vaughan
"Don't Fall In" (Thriller Feature Script)

My goals for November Write Club are to finish my Thriller script "Don't Fall In" and finish a writing job. I'm about halfway done with the first draft of "Don't Fall In." I might add more goals throughout November.

This is a mock poster I made for the script.

The blog for the 8th Annual November Writ...

Expand post

Geoff Hall

Maurice Vaughan oh no, I missed the IG Live meeting! I thought it was this Friday. I think I may have left a few grey cells in NZ. Ho hum.

Maurice Vaughan

No worries, Geoff Hall. Sam Mannetti wrote this on my post today: "Make sure to tune in on Friday at 10am PT on IG live for our November Write Club Grand Finale Giveaway!" (https://www.stage32.com/lou...

Expand comment
Maurice Vaughan

FINAL NWC UPDATE!

My goals starting November Write Club were to finish my Thriller script "Don't Fall In" (my main goal) and finish a writing job. I completed the writing job, and I wrote some pages fo...

Expand comment
Geoff Hall

Maurice Vaughan wow, Maurice, that’s quite a productive month. Well done.

I was happy to finish the draft of the short film script!

Well done to everyone who contributed to this wonderful community of...

Expand comment
Maurice Vaughan

Thanks, Geoff Hall. Congratulations again on finishing the draft of your short film script! Congratulations to everyone who made progress on their NWC goals and those who finished! Looking forward to...

Expand comment
Geoff Hall
Breathe: One day. One story. One breath.

(Why I wrote it and the joy of the humble ‘what if’...)

How did this thing called ‘Breathe’ come about?

Well, I wrote a poem and posted it on Stage 32, called ‘Weaving Words’; a poem about writing.

I’m a poet you see, and writing poems is what a poet does. It’s a dead giveaway when your job title is,...

Expand post

Geoff Hall

With thanks to all my fellow November Write Club writers. It's been quite a month, full of inspiration and imagination, for me. How about you?

I've charted new territory in a terms of writing an experi...

Expand comment
Maurice Vaughan

Congratulations again on reaching your NWC goal, Geoff Hall! I think it's great that you stepped into uncharted territory and wrote an Experimental script. You've inspired me to revisit an Experimenta...

Expand comment
Geoff Hall

Maurice Vaughan that’s great, Maurice. I did love this adventure with the NWC and I’m thrilled that it’s inspired you to revisit your Experimental script.

For myself, I loved the freedom from the ‘tyr...

Expand comment
Maurice Vaughan

Geoff Hall "I loved the freedom from the ‘tyranny’ of narrative-time." I think that'd also be a great writing exercise during writer's block. Writing a scene or short script without a narrative....

Expand comment
Geoff Hall

Maurice Vaughan have you ever had writer’s block? Yes, it sounds like an interesting exercise.

Leonardo Ramirez
Just about there (November Write Club Challenge)

I'm at about 90% done with my outline for my sequel. Just need to make a solid out of one of the plot points. I feel like once I actually start writing the script that this will work itself out. Thing is, I felt irresistibly prompted to start the outline on another project...all because I heard a pi...

Expand post

Maurice Vaughan

Congrats on getting 90% of your outline done, Leonardo! "I feel like once I actually start writing the script that this will work itself out." That's why I love outlining before I write a script. If I don't outline, I write myself into corners.

Leonardo Ramirez

Maurice Vaughan You and me both, my friend!

Geoff Hall

Well done, Leonardo. It’s great to hear your news. It’s funny how a piece of music can inspire us to write new stories.

Tonya Holmes

nice

Leonardo Ramirez

Geoff Hall It is funny! I've written entire short stories after listening to one piece! Part one of this story was written while listening to one soundtrack.

Challenge #1: Alternate Version of Darkdale (Horror TV Script)

Although it just won in a screenwriting contest (my first actual win!), the first thing I'm going to do this November is write an alternative version of Darkdale. I still intend to use the basics of the premise, but I'm going to turn the focus towards a different character, play with the theme, twea...

Expand post

Maurice Vaughan

Congratulations again on the win, John Austin! Rooting for you for the challenge!

John Austin

Thanks, Maurice Vaughan! My apologies for the late reply! My challenge has been sidetracked somewhat by an illness over the weekend. Slowly starting to feel better.

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, John Austin. Sorry that you're ill. Glad you're starting to feel better and hope you're 100% soon.

Shellie Schmals

John Austin - what a cool exercise of perspective! Love the idea! Hope you are feeling better. :)

Geoff Hall

Congratulations on the win, John! I like this idea of an alternative version. It could open up a whole new perspective for the story. Exciting times…

Geoff Hall
Your Moment of November Zen

Dear November Write Club Members,

Here is your moment of Zen, all the way from Lake Wānaka in New Zealand.

Take the time to chill from all of this month’s frantic activity and breathe…

Geoff Hall

And…Breeeeathe…

James Welday
James Welday - screenwriter

My November goal is to start and finish the first draft of my new WIP in a timely manner, no matter what. I'm always second-guessing if I'm ready to begin when I'm still in the outline phase, but I need to push past that!

Maurice Vaughan

Thanks, James Welday. Congratulations on starting the first draft of your WIP! How long does it usually take you to finish a first draft?

Geoff Hall

James Welday nice one, James. Well done.

James Welday

Geoff Hall thank you! This community keeps me motivated!

James Welday

Maurice Vaughan usually not too long, but given my limited time, it will have to be based on my availability. I'm hoping by the next month, which was my goal for this project all along....

Expand comment
Maurice Vaughan

Then you're right on track, James! :D

Geoff Hall
Thus far, in Sydney

Greetings from Sydney, Australia.

Well the wedding yesterday cramped my flow a little bit, but I have been managing to do some writing in the mornings of our stay in Cobberland.

I’ve been able to establish a better flow with the scenes and action, as well as work on the choreography of that climatic...

Expand post

Maurice Vaughan

Great view, Geoff Hall! Glad to hear from you. And glad you managed to do some writing. I finished my secondary goal for November Write Club this week.

Geoff Hall

Maurice Vaughan well done, Maurice. Progress will be slow until I get back home, but I plan to get the first draft finished by the end of November.

Maurice Vaughan

Thanks, Geoff Hall. I'm sure you'll get the first draft done. Still 17 days left in November.

Maria Restivo Glassner
Rewrite my feature and outline my pilot!

So I had some success and passes on my project with the note that the fundamental idea is timely and good but the execution needs work. So I am taking it to the John Truby script anatomy woodchopper and breaking it down from premise on. I already did the leg work of sharpening my premise and filled...

Expand post

Maria Restivo Glassner

Thanks for the advice Maurice Vaughan! My rewrite of the logline generated interest! Now all I have to do is rewrite the whole script lol.

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Maria Restivo Glassner. Sorry for the late reply. I finished my secondary goal for November Write Club, so I've been catching up on comments and messages. Congratulations on getting in...

Expand comment
Maria Restivo Glassner

Wow go Maurice!! Congrats on getting your second goal done!!

Maria Restivo Glassner

I am out in Portland tonight, practicing my pitches for the Portland Comedy Film Fest Q and A tomorrow! I am trying to evolve out of hyper-focusing on just writing and learning. I want to balance self...

Expand comment
Maurice Vaughan

Thanks, Maria Restivo Glassner. That's great that you're trying to balance out everything. It's important. I try to do the same thing. Hope you have a fun time at the Portland Comedy Film Fest Q and A...

Expand comment
Scientific Fantasy Drama

November flow is always the best flow! In the final lines of words on fantastic fantasy scenes of my biggest challenge ever, a Scientific Fantasy Drama Feature. Wishing everyone a great writing flow.

Maurice Vaughan

You can also post your goal and updates on the November Write Club blog, Evelyn von Warnitz: https://www.stage32.com/blog/join-us-for-the-8th-annual-november-write-c......

Expand comment
Evelyn von Warnitz

Thank you, Maurice. It's done.

James Welday

Fantastic news, Evelyn!

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Evelyn von Warnitz.

Elaine Haygood
Checking In

Hi guys! This year I will be splitting my time between 2 projects:

My Screenplay, "Of Sound And Fury" that I realized was last updated using Celtx and not Final Draft which of course gives me a great excuse to Edit and Revise as needed.

And, I am WAY behind on the graphic novel adaptation of And the...

Expand post

Maurice Vaughan

Looking forward to your updates, Elaine Haygood! I plan to do the November Write Club Challenge this year (maybe write a script).

Maurice Vaughan

Are you ready for the November Write Club Challenge, Elaine Haygood!?

Elaine Haygood

Maurice Vaughan . thank you for the Blog link. My sister was in a traffic accident last week and I have been focusing on dealing with that and other family issues.

As a result, I am not playing catch u...

Expand comment
Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Elaine Haygood. Sorry that your sister was in an accident. I hope she makes a full recovery. I hope things work out for your family.

register for stage 32 Register / Log In