2-minute read time.
The most difficult and complicated part of the writing process is the beginning.
A.B. Yehoshua
I’m finally crossing something off my bucket list: this year, I committed to taking my writing more seriously.
Writing has always been part of my life, even if it drifted into the background for a while. As a kid, I wrote My Little Pony fanfiction, made comic books, and kept a journal where I gave everyone elaborate aliases. I even enjoyed writing English essays. With a university Literature class coming up, it felt like the right moment to return to it. Before the class even started, I found myself entering a screenplay competition on a whim after seeing an online ad. It just felt like the right challenge.
Round One is now behind me, and I’m waiting for the June results to see if I move on. Regardless of what happens, I’m proud to have written an 11‑page screenplay – something that will be read. It feels good to take concrete steps toward a creative goal, whatever that goal ultimately becomes. For now, I’m focusing on practice and consistency.
UPDATE
Good news: I did qualify for Round Two! Out of more than 1,700 international entries, I was one of roughly 300 writers who advanced. Even better, I placed first in my heat, which was a wonderful surprise. This was my first writing competition, my first properly formatted screenplay, and my first creative writing project since high school, so the experience has meant a lot.
I didn’t make it to the final round, but the judges’ feedback was incredibly helpful. They enjoyed the story and characters, and even described my writing style as poetic. Most of the critiques were technical: clichés, overly flowery language in a few places, and some formatting issues like extra spaces after periods. All fixable things.
I’ve already entered another competition, this time for flash fiction, and I’m planning to keep going. I’m not giving up on this path. With more practice, I hope the next screenplay competition brings me even closer to the finals!
Kristy
