The SoCreate Weekly Museletter
Oscar-Worthy Q&A, Protecting Your Work, and Fresh Writing Challenges for Week 2 of This New Year!
Hey SoCreators!
We've kicked off the year with some amazing energy, and we're thrilled to keep that momentum going. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, we've got plenty of inspiration, tips, and tools to fuel your screenwriting journey. So, grab your favorite writing snack, get comfy, and let's make some magic happen!
Week 2: Let’s Write a Screenplay in 2024!
We’re a little over a week into the new year. How are your writing goals coming along?
On track? You’re awesome.
Fell off the wagon? No problem at all. There’s still plenty of time to jump back on!
In week 2 of our screenwriting challenge, we’re going to focus on getting crystal clear about our stories. As a reminder, if you complete this challenge each week, you’ll be on track to finish a screenplay well before the end of 2024!
Before next Wednesday, here’s what you should work on.
Your challenge for week 2:
Who is your protagonist? Do a bit of character development work on them this week and practice writing a character description.
Who is your antagonist? Dig into their motives a bit more and practice writing a character description.
What’s the story’s setting? Write out your ideas about the time period and geographic location. Practice a few scene descriptions about specific locations you know you want to appear in your script.
Now, practice telling your friends and family about your story. You should be able to do this like an elevator pitch. How would you describe your story in less than a minute?
The beauty of using SoCreate to complete this week’s challenge is that you’ll be working in a single location – no need to keep track of multiple documents across your computer, phone, or tablet.
Here are a few options to work on your screenplay even when you’re not technically writing your screenplay.
Build Characters
Once you have an idea for your protagonist and antagonist, build them in SoCreate so they’re ready to use when you start writing!
From your Tools Toolbar, click +Character. Fill in the character details like name, age, and type. Then, select an image to bring your character to life.
SoCreate’s image gallery features realistic images, Doodle cartoon-like images, and even silhouettes if you’re unsure of what your character looks like. Or, you can upload your own character images!
Once you’ve created a character, it will appear in your Story Toolbar for future use, and as a Dialogue Stream Item in your Story Stream.
We’d recommend adding notes about your characters in these first Dialogue Stream Items by using the ‘N’ Icon within that Stream Item. Notes can be removed at any time, and won’t show up in your traditional screenplay export. Using Notes will create blue highlighted text, which helps you quickly differentiate them from the rest of your story.
Add Story Notes
You can also write notes to yourself and tag characters in any scene heading! Use the scene notes to brainstorm what might happen in each scene, note who will appear in it, or keep notes to yourself about the setting.
Just click the scene name or number to write notes to yourself.
Congrats on completing week 2! We’d love to see what you’re working on over in our Facebook Group. Share your progress.
Missed week 1? You can revisit each week of the screenwriting challenge here.
Next week, we’ll start in on your story treatment. So, look out for the Museletter on Wednesday. But be proud of yourself for tackling step two already. This year is off to a great start!
Level up your creativity with SoCreate, the easiest way to create a blockbuster screenplay!
NEXT WEEK! Interview with Oscar-Winning Screenwriter Brian Helgeland
SoCreate is proud to present an interview and Q&A session with Oscar-winning screenwriter Brian Helgeland (L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, MYSTIC RIVER, MAN ON FIRE) in partnership with Picturehouse 441.
When: Tuesday, January 16
Time: 5 p.m. PST / 8 p.m. EST
Where: Virtual
Use SoCreate’s exclusive discount to gain admission for just $4. CODE: SC441
Learn from the best and get inspired for a new year of writing!
Exploring This Week’s Featured Blogs
Protect Your Script: How To Copyright Or Register Your Screenplay
Secure your creative work with essential tips from SoCreate! This comprehensive guide demystifies the process of copyrighting or registering your screenplay, ensuring your ideas stay safe and legally protected. Learn the steps to safeguard your script and keep your intellectual property secure. Dive into the details here and give your screenplay the protection it deserves!
Finding the Right Stage: Where To Submit Your Screenplay
Take the next big step in your screenwriting career with SoCreate's invaluable resource! This detailed blog provides you with a curated list of platforms and competitions where you can submit your screenplay. Whether you're a novice or an experienced writer, this guide offers avenues to get your script noticed and appreciated. Explore your options here and start your submission journey!
Script Consultant: Yay or Nay? Should I Hire a Script Consultant?
Elevate your screenplay with expert advice from SoCreate! This insightful article helps you decide whether hiring a script consultant is the right move for your project. Get an in-depth look at the pros and cons, and understand how a consultant can polish your script and enhance your storytelling. Check out the full article here for a clearer path to script perfection!
Weekly Writing Challenges Are Back for 2024!
Only have a few minutes to dedicate to writing today? Make the most of your time by completing our weekly writing challenges. Kickstart a short burst of writing with a weekly exercise that includes the location, characters, scene description, and a prompt. Plus, make it even easier on yourself by using the link below to complete the challenge; it drops you right into SoCreate Writer (whether you have an account or not) where you can start writing, right away!
Location: Outside (EXT) – Tropical Island – Night
Character: Captain Eli; a mystical, talking parrot
Scene Description: Captain Eli (45), stranded on a moonlit island, wanders along the shore. The only sounds are the waves and the occasional remark from his parrot. He stumbles upon a half-buried chest and an old, rusted sword. The island seems deserted, but a distant flickering light suggests otherwise.
Prompt: Write a scene where Captain Eli and his talking parrot explore the island to find out who or what is behind the flickering light. How does the parrot’s mystical abilities help, and what secrets does the chest hold that could aid their adventure?
New Screenwriting Internships Available Now
We’ve just added several new internship opportunities to our running list. Check them out if you’re looking to break into the entertainment industry!
A few highlights:
Elevate Entertainment seeks spring intern for management and production business.
Balboa Productions seeks spring intern for coverage and research.
Grey Matter Productions seeks remote coverage interns for spring.
That's it for this week's Museletter! Remember, every word you write gets you closer to your dream script. Stay creative, tackle those challenges head-on, and have fun with your writing. Here's to a week full of inspiration and awesome progress. Happy writing!
<3 Your friends at SoCreate
Level up your creativity with SoCreate, the easiest way to create a blockbuster screenplay!