73 Ways...

It's been a while since there's been a post on here so when I ran across this article titled - 73 Ways to Become a Better Writer - I thought it was a perfect excuse to post a current blog! :)

Check it out - http://www.copyblogger.com/better-writer/

Getting your script in sync, or How I learned write in the clouds

With the price of computers dropping, it's common nowadays for writers to have more than one computer. Perhaps you're like me and have a main desktop computer as well as a laptop computer. If you're one of those people who work on multiple computers, than you will eventually need to sync up your script file.

Now, there are several ways to do this. The old fashioned way entails by copying a script back and forth from your desktop to your laptop before you go on your next Starbucks writing session. But really, how 80's. The 90's way would be to email your script back and forth. The problem you run into is you will end up managing multiple versions of your script, and the whole point is to save you time.

If you're a windows user, Microsoft has a built in tool that is supposed to automatically sync up your files. It is called Briefcase. I call it Shitcase. I'm a computer programmer, and even I couldn't get it to work properly.

So, what to do?

Enter the cloud. That's the new buzzword. Cloud computing is all the rage. It simply means working online. Whether you're using Google Documents, or Gmail, you're cloud computing.

Microsoft has a great program called Windows Live Foldershare. It's supposed to work on both Mac and PC. Since I'm ashamedly a Windows user, I can't comment on how well it works on the Mac. But let me just say, Foldershare works amazingly well on PC.

First, you start by going to https://www.foldershare.com and downloading the Foldershare application. Once you've installed it, the program will prompt you to create an account. Than it will ask you to share a folder on your hard drive. I shared My Documents/Writing.

Than you go to your laptop and repeat the same steps, although this time, after installing the software, you don't create another account. You just log in to the account you just created. Than you select the local folder on your laptop to share.

Now, since my script is on my desktop pc, I went back to my desktop, opened up my script file and added some brilliant lines of dialogue. I save it and closed the program.

Then I went to my laptop, clicked on the foldershare icon in the system tray, and clicked on the Writing menu item which opened up an explorer window showing my share Writing folder from my Desktop PC. I opened my script file and there was the updated script with my changes. Than I added some more lines of text, saved it and viola, it is automatically synced to your file your desktop.

You can check out Foldershare here.

CELTX Writing Software

So I was thinking the other day, if writers' heads are always up in the clouds, why shouldn't their files be as well?

Let me explain. A useful feature to have for any writing software would be to store and access your scripts/files from the cloud. That way you would have a central repository that would provide a safe backup and allow you to access your script file anywhere you have an internet connection. Currently the major writing software companies (Final Draft, MM Screenwriter) does not support this feature.

Behold CETLX. This is an open source writing software that is kind of a complete pre-production environment, and it has web services that allows you to store and access your script files online. Go to the website and check out the screenshots and screencasts to learn more about the software. It looks promising and is definitely where modern writing software should be heading.

Beyond the Corn - Deadline fast approaching

Riverside Theatre invites playwrights to submit monologues

Riverside Theatre invites playwrights to submit monologues for performance in Walking the Wire: Monologues at Riverside . This ninth annual evening of original work features monologues of ten minutes or less by both established and up-and-coming playwrights. The focus for this season’s monologues is
The Midwest : Beyond the Corn. Submissions must be postmarked September 1, 2007; final selections will be announced no later than October 29. The monologues will be performed February 29-March 2 at Riverside Theatre.

Submission Guidelines

Riverside Theatre is seeking submissions from writers with a Midwestern experience/perspective; non-Midwestern writers with an informed perspective about the Midwest are welcome to submit.

Up to two submissions per author of
original, unpublished and unproduced monologues (may be dramatic character or personal memoir)
less than ten minutes length may be submitted. Please read it aloud to be certain and include the approximate performance time on your submission; all lengths of up to ten minutes will be considered, with the objective of choosing monologues of varying lengths).
The copy must be easy to read: double spaced in a minimum 12 pt. font, and should include the playwright's name, mailing address, email address, and phone number.

Simple is best. Since
"Walking the Wire" typically includes a large number of monologues, it is important that each one require as little production as possible; set-pieces, props, or effects needing set-up, strike, or special technical support may disqualify an otherwise excellent submission.

The POSTMARK deadline for submissions is Saturday, September 1, 2007. Playwrights selected for Walking the Wire will be notified no later than October 29, and also posted on Riverside Theatre’s website, www.riversidetheatre.org .

Writers will be credited in all marketing and playbill materials; no royalties will be paid for performance. Monologues will be independently rehearsed until the week of the performance when the show will rehearse at Riverside Theatre. Area playwrights may perform their own work, or include the name of an actor interested in performing the monologue, although neither is required. Walking the Wire will be produced February 29-March 2, 2008.

Submissions should be mailed to:
Riverside Theatre
John M. Baker, Literary Associate
Walking the Wire submission
213 N. Gilbert Street
Iowa City ,
IA
52245

For more information, contact Hillary Foster, Marketing Director, at 319-887-1360, marketing@riversidetheatre.org . For guideline questions, please contact Jody Hovland, Managing Artistic Director, artistic@riversidetheatre.org.

Inspired by the State Island Ferry

Sundog Theatre is now accepting short one-act plays for its series, “Scenes From The Staten Island Ferry, 2008”. This is our 8th year presenting short plays which all take place on the Staten Island Ferry.

For our 2008 series we will be opening up submissions to all playwrights. We will accept submissions until November 13th and hope to stage 6 new plays with professional directors and actors presenting the best of the submissions.

All plays should be from 10-20 minutes in length and take place on the Staten Island Ferry. We will, once again, design the stage to look like the Staten Island Ferry. Plays should be contemporary, involve 2-3 characters, and require no set pieces, limited props, no sound or lighting requirements. All props and costumes will be from our limited costume collection or the closets of the directors and actors, so please avoid anything out of the ordinary. Please avoid adult themes and language as we present to a family audience. And we do not have the facilities to present musicals.

Writers will be contacted after the submission deadline. We hope that they and their friends and family will be able to come and see the productions.

Please send two copies, bound, blind submission (removable cover page with title, author and contacts) to Catherine Lamm, 285 Avenue C, Apartment 3G, NY 10009. Include a SASE if you wish them returned. Please limit submission to no more than two. No email submissions. Questions should have Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry in SUBJECT: chlamm@email.com.

Forbidden Fruit Theatre Company is accepting submissions for its 2nd

Forbidden Fruit Theatre Company is accepting submissions for its 2nd
Annual Festival of One-Act Plays

The theme of this year's festival is "FAKING IT".

Submission Guidelines:

* Only unproduced works will be accepted.
* Plays must have a female or other underrepresented minority as the
protagonist.
* Plays that have had staged readings are eligible.
* No adaptations, musicals, or children's plays.
* Cast size maximum: 5.
* Length: 25 minutes maximum, no minimum.
* Settings should be simple or suggested.
* Playwrights may make multiple submissions.
* Please do not submit works that have been previously submitted.
* Scripts must be postmarked by August 24, 2007.

Please submit a cover letter, a synopsis, and a resume along with
two copies of the play. Cover sheet of play should have title,
author, author's address, author's telephone number, and author's
e-mail address (if available).

Selected plays will be presented for 8 performances in November
2007. Playwrights will receive a small stipend.

Plays should be submitted to The 2nd Annual Festival of One-Act
Plays, Attn: Angela Wiggins, Producing Artistic Director, FORBIDDEN
FRUIT THEATRE COMPANY, 5042 Wilshire Blvd. #565, Los Angeles, CA
90036. For more information, contact us at
info@forbiddenfruittheatre.org or visit us on the web at
www.forbiddenfruittheatre.org.

As seen on Craigslist...

Here are a couple postings I found on craigslist calling for playwrights. Seems to be no shortage of places to submit...now to have something to actually submit! :)

Seeking Play Submissions for Greige Theatre New Works Festival 2008

Reply to: (see message body)
Date: 2007-07-21, 6:55PM

Greige Theatre is seeking submissions of original ten-minute plays and one-act plays for the Greige Theatre New Works Festival, part of the Greige Theatre 2008 Summer Season in Milwaukee, WI. Selected plays will be awarded a staged reading. Deadline for submissions is Saturday 01 December 2007. Festival dates to be announced. For details, contact Greige Theatre at greige.theatre@gmail.com or visit Greige Theatre Online at greigetheatre.wordpress.com.

The aim of the Greige Theatre New Works Festival is to present theatrical works responding to the events shaping America's public and private lives. The Greige Theatre New Works Festival will provide the Milwaukee public with the opportunity to see the work of emerging American playwrights.

Submit an electronic copy of script in standard playwrighting format and 12 pt. Times New Roman or Courier font to greige.theatre@gmail.com by 01 December 2007 for consideration. Ten-minute plays selected will be presented as a staged reading as part of an evening of ten-minute plays. One-act plays will be presented in a double bill as part of an evening of new works.

Greige Theatre is a leading voice in non-mainstream Milwaukee theatre. Since its founding in 2006, Greige Theatre has emerged as an incubator of avant-garde performance as it continues its mission to respond to the events shaping America’s public and private lives. The company supports non-traditional casting of artists in all stages of their careers. Recent productions include BUT BEAUTIFUL, MIDAS, TIRESIAS, CASSANDRA, and ICARUS.

CALLING ALL PLAYWRIGHTS!!!

Reply to: (see message body)
Date: 2007-07-19, 10:43PM

The PossEble Theater Company presents...
"You GOT it? We WANT it" Playwriting Competition

we are looking for all plays, one acts and the likes! something i know you have hidden somewhere in a notebook, final draft, your usb drive, or lurking around in your head. here's the reason to get it out. the possE will choose 3-4 of the submissions and produce a staged reading at an established theater. we'll do all the promotion, cover all the costs, cast all the actors and directors....you just have to submit and get chosen! more details and rules are found at www.possebletheater.com as well as the submission form!