GOT THIS IN MY E-MAIL IN BOX. I write, and have written, ten-minute plays, but since leaving college, have only done so for my own pleasure, knowing that my skills lie elsewhere, and not (very sadly, as I do enjoy the challenge) with playwriting.

So, at no time in the last five or more years, have I gone out and looked at contest submissions...which makes me suspicious about this e-mail. I've not even been on a playwriting forum or website in over 5 years, so how did this person get my e-mail address? Okay, that particular e-mail address, I've had since 2001, so I suppose it could still be floating around some of those old theatrical and writing websites I used to visit fairly regularly....I dunno. In the back of my mind, a warning bell is dinging, so while I most certainly would have no problem writing SOMETHING that's 8 to 11 pages long in 7 or 10 days, (but quite probably not a very good something), do I really want to take the chance of having some creep in some boiler room somewhere, do something shady with this, or just as bad, messing up my computer?

Don't think so. My common sense tells me this: that something smells rotten (and yes, I'm wearing deodorant), and I think I'll pass on this...maybe write that Dr Who fiction story I've been making notes for...or finish Dark Holiday on my Wordpress Who's Stories blog...I mean, I sort of left the Doctor and Donna, out there on the moors with a dead body... I imagine that body's getting pretty ripe by now. :))

______________________________________________________________________________________

PLAYWRIGHTS WANTED URGENT 15th Nov. 2008 deadline. If you wait for inspiration, you're not a writer, but a waiter...........Anonymous. Better recognize your brother. Everyone you meet....................John Lennon. THE IRAQ 10 MINUTE PLAYWRITING CONTEST Can you write a 10 minute play before 15th Nov. 2008?
Think of "IRAQ" as a metaphor for Afghanistan,Middle East,Israel,USA, UK, Iraq,muslims,jews,christians,w,saddam,osama,barney,Torah, Koran,Bible,Hijab,rights of women,Peace,War,9-11, Etc.,Etc.
If you are for or against the war, this is your chance to express yourself. How do you feel about soldiers and innocent civilians dying on both sides? Can you write about a solution? Nonpartisan. Non-sectarian. Based on real people or fascinating characters you create. A ten minute play should have a great ending, be about 7 pages and is about 1200 words, assuming you don't use words like hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian. Submission Guidelines:
1. Original,any genre,unproduced,unpublished,,not optioned
and not have won other contests. No monologues.
2. English language. 12 font.
3. Up to but no longer than 10 minutes.
4. Contact info and biography on one page.
5. List of characters with brief Bios. 6. Limit,3 scripts per writer.1 drama,1 comedy and 1 work of pure genius.
7. No email script submissions. No i.d throughout script.
8. Include 3 copies of each script. Scripts will Not be returned.
9. Donation (Not mandatory)of $1 cash or the equivalent of $1. in your currency or 3 first class usa stamps. Those who donate or do not are treated equally.
10. Contest open to earth citizens,including Canadians and Mathematicians.
11. Deadline: 15th Nov. 2008. 12. Writers will be contacted for permission to perform your play. 13. Author owns rights. Does your play have a powerful ending? Please, no registered mail.
Address: HOLLYWOOD SCIENCE THEATRE
PLAYWRITING CONTEST John O'Donnell.
P. O. Box 291 460. Los Angeles, Ca. 90029 USA.
1st prize $100. 2nd prize $25. 3rd prize $25.
Check 30th Nov 2008 on website.Semi-finalists.
The 10 best plays will have a staged reading in Los Angeles in December 2008. Contact: http://www.hollywoodsciencetheatre.com/ john (at ) hollywoodsciencetheatre.com.. John O'Donnell. Artistic Director.