31 Plays in 31 Days 2020 approaches

[breakinglight11]

As summer goes on, that means that my traditional summer writing challenge approaches-- 31 Plays in 31 Days, where I write a scene of drama of at least one page in length for every day of the month of August.

I first started it in 2012, as a way to regiment my generating new work. By now I have very much outgrown that need, as I've only been increasing my creative output in the years since, and I have frequently found having to do it to be one more obligation rather than something to help me get my work done. Still, I always like having done it once I've finished, so I will likely do it again this year. With much of the usual complaining.

By the time August rolls around, I will have more or less finished one of my major projects this summer, the new mystery thriller TV pilot From Dust. I have to finish Dream Machine 3 for the end of THIS month-- I am so, so close, but struggling to finish the subplot for this episode. I don't count adaptations, like the Wodehouse audio drama I've been working on with Jeremy Holstein. So what, then, shall I use to complete this year's challenge?

Traditionally, at least in the last several years, I have posted many scenes from the new Mrs. Hawking play. I am quite a bit later than usual on generating that this time around, since the passage of days means nothing during The Plague Times, but since we'll be doing that in an online form this year, I have more flexibility on the scheduling. Bernie and I are leaning towards a light, fun diversion rather than continuing on directly to the next mainline installment-- specifically, a romp of Justin Hawking's, since he's funny, charming, and we've just missed the character so.

I'm also thinking quite a bit lately about future episodes of Dream Machine. It's my least important project, but because it's a light funny comedy it's kind of a breath of fresh air from my more demanding projects. And because it's the least important, that means it's the one I want to work on most. It's been really fun just spitballing ideas for future episodes, and I find myself outlining a season of my silly comedy show. I could easily do scenes that are occurring to me for later episodes, and use that to build out the stories. 

Hmm. Maybe this will be more directly useful than it has been in a long time. That would be a nice change!