How to Actually Survive Screnzy

This is a counterpost to one that I was forced to edit not all that long ago. It's annoying. The Editor's gone on Screnzy strike and is now refusing to edit anything Script Frenzy related. He's passed the task of rooting out those weedy wee errors to me. Big whoop.

So, I was reading Rinrei's post 'How to Survive the First Days of Script Frenzy', and realised that there were several innacuracies there that needed sorting, not to mention a few things missing altogether. However, not wishing to dismember the post completely, I simply added a few snarky comments. Now I'm back, this time to outline what you should really be doing if you want to not die.

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Tip No. 1 - Plans

   As a NaNoWriMo veteran, I'm no stranger to the philosophy 'No Plot, No Problem!' and all the benefits that it brings with it. Having no plot works nicely when writing a random little thingimabob that really isn't meant for anything in particular. However, I shall let you all in on a secret - having a plot helps.

As a very wise person once said, 'A bad plan is better than no plan'. Therefore, have a plan, or you're likely to fail. Just winging it doesn't necessarily always work. It's a bit of a gamble - there's a chance of your losing the bet.

Tip No. 2 - Lists

   Last year in NaNo, I came across a very interesting idea: Making a list of what you wish to accomplish the next day. This is akin to Rinrei's idea of 'drafting', except it isn't drafting at all, really. I find that listing what you want to achieve does the following things:

1. Structures your work. Having a structure is to writing what scaffolding is to construction work: It keeps everything in place and stops it all falling apart. It's a framework from which to add to your script.
2. Keeps you on track. It's a slog having to read through what you wrote the other day in order to make sure that it's all relevant, so instead you use last day's notes so that you can see where you wanted your story to go at the end of yesterday. That way, you can recover some of your mindset from yesterday. This wins half the battle for you.

So work on lists, people: They help.

Tip No. 3 - Back Up
   Ever written a really great thing, then accidentally deleted it? It sucks, big time. the solution? Back it up!

When you reach a milestone mark, grab a pendrive or a group of friends (or both!) and send/download your project to the USB stick, or, alternatively, your friends. Then, if you lose the file, then you can always go back to that last milestone mark. It's infinitely better than having to go back all the way to the beginning and rewrite that whole masterpiece. You may have lost a part of it, but it's better than having lost it all.

Tip No. 4 - Proofreaders
   You no doubt have friends who support you through your struggles in Screnzy. Therefore, make use of them! Reward them for their efforts by sending them that script, or a section of it. Then ask for feedback. This feedback can be invaluable for when rewriting scenes later on in the year, or when you wish to write a similar scene.

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That's all I have to say. For more tips and tricks that I haven't mentioned here (or may have simply copied and rewritten), visit the Screnzy website. Find it elsewhere. I haven't the time to type it.

I'm off, folks. If you're participating in screnzy, good luck! If you aren't then, well... Go eat Strepsils.

I'm a-strummin' ma guitar...