₦airaland Forum

Instead of talking about her, let us talk about her stories.  She's primarily a writer, afterall, not a celebrity.

i hv got something to write but i don't think it will be up to 7500 words.

If the best entry I get is 75 words long, that person will still get the prize. Please let it be a complete story.

Here are some threads to help you in your quest:
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-16091.0.html << best!
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-17906.0.html
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-79863.0.html

StephenP:
Though Seun, I wrote something a while ago about high school so you and those who want to write something can take a look at it and add it to your script(s) if you want to free of charge

I've decided to review that story as a submission to give people an idea of what I'm looking for when I say the short story must be "cinematic" or "filmable".

Paragraph 1:

“Give me all your food!” He yelled at me and my roommates

Nice.  Dramatic.  Implies a confrontation.  Will look good on screen.

"Original":
This was the fourth night in a row a damned senior had come into our room to “obtain” us. We constantly reported to the school administrators but they said they wanted solid evidence as if the finger and belt prints on our chests and back, our cut lips and swollen faces on those of us who did not submit themselves were not enough.  We knew they were afraid to punish the seniors because of what they might do. But who wasn’t? It seemed like we would rather do as they wished than fight for what is rightfully ours, yet no matter how hard we try, we just cannot do enough to please them instead it only became worse.

Not filmable.  (1) You're talking about the past, and (2) You're not being specific enough.  What would work: at the beginning of the story, before this paragraph, write about what happened last night.  Write about how the students attempted to report it.  Let the students tell the principal "this is the third night in a row they have demanded something from us".  Let the principal reply "where is your evidence?".  Let the students point to their cut lips, swollen faces, and belt prints.  And let the principal respond by saying, "that doesn't prove anything".  Or something like that.

For example, 3 nights ago I was woken up by a senior at about 2 am and he wanted me to wash his clothes (boxers included) and make sure they were dry before breakfast time, 7 am. I unconsciously thought out loud, “How the hell am I supposed to do this at night? There is no freakin’ sun!” and I got three hard slaps across the face. I saw his lips moving but I could not hear a word of what he was saying; all I could hear was what seemed like static and that is the last I remember because I blacked out.

When I saw "for example", I was very happy.  This is precisely how to do it.  Images, dialog, and sounds.

Now this bastard has come to make sure we die of hunger again tonight.  I would have felt a lot better if they actually ate the food they took from us rather than throw it away or leave it out to rot like they did.

Unfilmable in this form.  The first sentence won't be necessary.  The second could be shown elsewhere.

I saw him go from locker to locker collecting food and any other thing that he fancied while the owner of the locker just stood beside him…watching…looking like he did not know that he was being robbed. The closer he got to my locker, the faster my heart beat.  [s]Even though I had been through this many times before, every time felt like the first time except now[/s] I was angry

Lovely.  Actions, words, images, sounds, feelings that an actor can portray.

.  Angry that none of the seniors could control themselves and treat us like their brothers not slaves, that the fucking school will not listen to us and come to our aid, that my parents brought me to this fucking school in fact this bleeped up country to suffer when I wanted to stay with them and the rest of my family in the US.

Unfilmable.

But now was not yet the time to get angry so I calmed down and put my camera in the pockets of my boxers that I had recently sewn in Home Economics class and walked up past the senior to a boy who had already been obtained and passed the camera to him and told him the signal.

100% Filmable.

Eventually, the senior got to me and said, “Oya comot all the food for your locker.” “No” I replied and looked at him defiantly in the eyes. He looked at me and backed up, “O boy, se you dey craze? My own slap no go be like that other senior’s own o, if I wooze you, you go land ICU fast fast. Now move!” “No,” I yelled walking closer to him, “you are going to have to either push and/or beat me first.” He dropped all the food and was about to hit me then there was a flash. He froze and turned his head to the side and saw the boy holding my camera and turned back at me and I smiled. I grabbed the camera and pulled out the memory stick. I yelled for someone to lock both exits, then, I pulled out my belt and to join me in beating him with no reservations. He begged so helplessly that one would think we were the evil ones

Interesting.  100% Filmable.

but we know his pride would not let him report us. Ain’t so tough now, huh?

Unfilmable.

I think the best way to write a cinematic story is to first write the story as it comes to you and then go through it a second time, rewriting the unfilmable parts of your story to make them filmable.  It's easy.  The principle to follow is "show, don't tell" and it applies to every kinds of writing.

I hope to start getting official entries in about a week.  Technically, StephenP is winning this competition right now since his entry is the only entry so far.  Note that you can submit as many entries as you like, and I'm going to send a private review of each one to the writer.

Seun has clearly stated he's simply looking for original ideas to use as a basis for a script.

I'm not looking for a script, and I'm not looking for ideas.  I'm looking for a self-contained and complete story.

It's not a script. It's a short story upon which the script will be based. A solid foundation to build upon.

except that I hate having constraints in my writing, like it has to be set in high school or it has to be 7500 words long or things like that.

I wish I could participate but I cannot write anything close to 7500 and still make a lot of sense

You guys are getting me wrong, actually. 7500 words is the maximum length. There is no minimum length.

ice_zik:
Shouldn't we just write a screenplay or script if we can?

Yes, that is allowed, but not preferred.  Writing prose allows you to concentrate on the story and not the format or dialog.

UNLEASHED:
Should it be written in a play or story format??

I strongly recommend the story format, but you can use any format you are comfortable with.

joyblinks:
will the person play a good role in the movie? and with the name of the person as the story write.?

You will get a story by credit.  e.g. "STORY BY: Joyblinks."  or "Based On The Short Story 'Loverboy' Written by Joyblinks". The actual screenplay may or may not be written by you.  If it is, you will also be paid and credited for that.

Chaoga:
It's only one person you will give 25,000, what about others who cracked their brain to write you the story? they got nothing??

"Cracking your brain" is not a bad thing because it makes you a better writer.  Practice makes perfect.  Ask Adichie.

Moyola:
Broda Seun,
doesnt have 2 b a real life story, does it?

No, but like every good story, it should be believable.

Beline:
better ask for scripts and negotiate with the writer if you need good ones

I'm looking for an compelling original story, not a script.  Many good storytellers can't write scripts.

adekennis:
this is a very good idea
i will try my best
make i chop small out of our admin money

That's the spirit.

Sisikill, thanks for the support jare.  I'm not looking for ideas, I'm looking for a story that I can make a movie with this year.  If one could just throw random  ideas together to get a good story, I would have done so with imdb.

The contest is over. The winner is: Tuneh. A story about two sisters.

UPDATES:
No, your story does not have to be a real life story. 
No, you don't have to write 7500 words. 
No, you don't have to wait until the deadline before you submit.  The earlier you submit, the better. 
No, you shouldn't write any dialog unless absolutely essential.  This is not a play.

Hello,

I'm Seun Osewa, the successful founder of this website and an up and coming film-maker. 

I hereby announce a short story writing competition open to all Nairaland members.  The winner gets a cash prize of 25,000 naira and a "story by" credit in a movie based on the winning entry.

SOME GUIDELINES:

1) At least 75% of your story should take place in a secondary school.  Your 2-5 main characters should be teachers, students, parents, or others in the environment.

2) Your story should tackle issues relevant to secondary school students in Nigeria: sexuality, poverty, academics, strikes, NEPA, etc.  It should be a realistic Nigerian high school story.

3) Your story should be cinematic. It should hinge on what your characters do and say (powerful visuals, sounds) rather than their hidden thoughts or feelings. Try to avoid anything unfilmable.

4) Just try to write a really good story. We will review every story submitted.

WHAT TO DO:

Send your story to .  Your email should be titled "Short Story Competition"

Submit On Or Before: Monday, 1st September 2008 at 11:59pm.  Length: 75 - 7500 words. 

Thanks.  Any questions?

http://del.icio.us/seunosewa/adichie -- read some of her shorts on the web; they are awesome.