Taking the Plunge-Part One
I need to do this for my plays (instead of working on that surprise for you all that is in my nearby "Master Projects" or etc. binder beside me!!!! Are you curious? Read on, and you may find a clue about it!), and I believe that I will begin on "Runaway" (I am going to work on "Runaway", and then give "Look Out, Look Up" with what is left of myself, my brain, my time, and time before entry deadlines for the camp that I'm entering these two plays in) as I teach this part. In fact, I will use "Runaway" as my example here. Maybe it will get you all interested in it! It is my character list. This is you camp that you operate from when writing your play. This is where your characters will be introduced to actors and actresses, will begin their impression on pastors and directors, and start intriguing a friend reading your script (or baby, if that is how you think of your scribbles; hey, let's get to work on these babies!!!!!). This is where you store that last names, those extras who are likely to have their names forgotten (yes, you are human when you are writing; you may forget them! Experience talking here....).
Now, I'm going to tell you something that may excite you. I'm going to tell to do what I am doing. Either get out a pen (I prefer pen; you can use pencil, a bluebird's quill, a paint brush, pencil crayon, or a crayon...seriously, don't use crayon. Those are hard to write well with! "Okay, Indi, get back on track, you goose! You have too many tracks running in your head. Someone else will read this, and you don't HAVE to make them laugh..." Fine. You want me on track. I'll do my job and write!). So, back to what I was saying. Get paper and a writing utensil, or bring up a NEW file on your computer, flex your fingers, get out all those notes that hopefully you have been taking over the last few weeks (or you can go back, and come up with some right now, you know! Please do give playwriting a try!!!), and WRITE!!!!! Do you have a title? I do. It is "Runaway", and I am going to write it into my file! Make the title at least three times bigger font than you plan to use for any other writing. WOW!!!!! I just did it. Amazing! Another play is being grafted together. Praise the Lord! Do not feel badly if you do not have a definite title (or any title at all) planned yet. You will find one in a bit. I actually renamed one of my plays "Christmas Time". Its original title I forget right now. It WAS a good title, but it did not fit what the play had turned into. I had named it at the beginning, but the "Time" part was unbeatable when the play is about a lady addicted to being on time! And I am not sure if I even mentioned in earlier posts if you should be searching for a title. But, moving on, the next part is even more exciting. Press that return key. If you do not understand that term, ask a computer tech person or take a typing course (very handy when typing is faster than writing, though I do not always suggest it for first drafts, as I will explain below). Anyway, downsize that font, and then...da da da!!!!!!! Write YOUR name!!!!!!! Make this font the smallest font in your play (that is how I do it, and it looks neat). And if you would like to try a pen name, put it there instead of your real name (or do this ------------------------ a.k.a. Indi Raine). "Indi Raine" is my pen name, and I think of myself as Indi when I am writing. I would suggest not to chose a pen name that is a common dog name-did you know that Indy seems to be popular with dogs? At least I've seen/heard/read about dogs with the name Indy. And I happen to pronounce my pen name the same way. But I laugh about it and keep my name-you can make that decision for yourself! Back to the cast list. (I know-I am tired. But I will prevail through this post, and make it as humorous and useful as I can!) Anyway, write "Cast" (I generally underline and perhaps make it bold to help tell it apart from the list below). Make this a large font (not to be confused with "largest"), and then shrink a bit and begin your list. From example, I use font size 36 for my title, font size 14 for my name, and then font size 20 for "Cast", besides underling it. I will then use font size 18 for my cast list. Okay, cast might not be correct. I use it instead of characters. It works. Use what you want. And now, list your characters. I will give an example once I get it typed into my file. I get help, because my police officers are being carried over from "Forgery!". Actually, I have "Forgery!" formatted a different way. So, below is an introduction to the O'Hare family, who the play is pretty much based around. The girls are not quite as significant as some other characters, but you may find their names interesting. And I love the O'Hare family! So, this is how I set up my cast lists.
Cast:
Officer Patrick O’Hare-officer in Yorkton Police Force; loves coffee, does not like women officers; grumpy when Molly teases him; is struggling with spiritual questions
Samantha “Sammi” O’Hare-Patrick’s wife and mom and foster mom to five girls; sometimes testy but generally lighthearted, but begins to wonder about if God could be part of her life
Avianna-Patrick and Sammi’s oldest foster child; she is being adopted by Patrick and Sammi; quiet girl, around age twelve
Allyson-Patrick and Sammi’s second oldest foster child; hopes to get back with her family eventually; around age eleven or ten
Arielle-Patrick and Sammi’s third foster child; around age ten or nine; going to live with relatives in a week
Ashley-Patrick and Sammi’s fourth foster child; wants to be adopted; around age eight
Amber-Patrick and Sammi’s first adopted child; around age five
Okay, I do not format like THAT! It went like that when I copied it onto this page. Never mind. At least you can see what I was meaning (perhaps)! Give a brief descriptions, with necessary facts.
A fun fact-when writing "Forgery" I did not plan to have Patrick married. He didn't seem the "type". Anyway, now he has a lovely wife, and a multitude of girls. Yes, all those "A" names are referenced in the play. Patrick wonders about them...I got Avianna from nameberry.com, and love it!
So, do that with all the characters that you have. And save your document often-about every five minutes. Trust me, computer accidents happen, and I have been devastated with documents disappearing!
Well, I need to go for now. I will be back with part two later this week (probably Wednesday). Until then, check out my home page. I changed the picture, and like the replacement better than the original. What do you think?
What would you all think about a contest in writing plays? If I can have some people write along with me, we try out some kind of contest. Post any ideas, or comments, in the comments below!
See you later, folks!
Indi
John 3:16