So, got the crazy idea to try a Western. I like them, just not sure I know enough to write one.

But reckon just get the general ideas down and polish up the research afterward.

I think I'm going to do a Western as well. I've got a few ideas, and some really good advice on how to go about writing one... so guess I'll have to see. I hope anyone else who puts on a hat and shinny spurs does well!

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NaNo 05: Ancient Rhythms- 51,309/50,000
NaNo 06: Dark Island- 52,660/50,000
ScriFren 07: Tainted Angel- 20,059/20,000
NaNo 07: Of Kings and Pawns- 50,025/50,000
ScriFren 08: 0/20,000

I just finished writing a western. I did a some of research (mostly on the spot like "Wait a second... did they have those in 1878?" or "Did that word exist yet") but honestly, most of my research was on Chinese culture of the day, something I know next to nothing about.

For me, the best way to make sure I kept it feeling like a western was to keep my Netflix queue full of western movies and watched one every day until the script was finished. The best was a tv show my dad used to watch as a kid, Alias Smith and Jones, which he pointed out to me after I pitched the script to him since the plot of that show was very similar to mine.

Now that it's over, the biggest thing everyone says to me after they read it is how convincing the cowboy lingo in the dialog was. So I guess watching all those westerns paid off.

I'm so writing a Western. After Screnzy. I had a dream that would make an awesome movie. So, I'm going for it in June, most likely. :D I love the Western Genre, mainly because I have experience with a lot of the parts of the lifestyle and culture. :D

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You ever heard of 3x5?

Hooray for Westerns! There aren't enough of those around these days. I recently watched 3:10 to Yuma and realized how much I missed watching guys on horses riding around and gunfighting in large expanses of prairie. Plus, I think chaps are so cool. I used to watch Alias smith and Jones too and I loved it.

Since I don't know much about the Old West, I plan to just research while I write. That way my plot can direct my research and my research can inform my plot.

Good luck to everyone else tackling a western.

I think Westerns are a subgenre of Adventure. I can move this thread up there if you like. (Or hang out here ... just want to make sure all the Western writers find each other.)

NaNoWriMo & ScriptFrenzy Staff

I'm going for a western of the Spaghetti variety. The Ennio Morricone soundtracks are already lined up for 1st April.

As a change from people-y stories and uncooperative witches, I'm going to do a western as well. For now I'll just write the story and I can run it through the historical accuracy filters later if it's any good.

Yeah, I'm trying my hand at a Western too because they're just too cool. It'll be a big change from my Nano novel which was this huge, sweeping World War I romance. Now I just want to be bloody and violent and gritty and mean. I got inspired by 3:10 to Yuma too and now want Russell Crowe to be my main character (I also saw him in the western The Quick and the Dead, which was also quite good as well).

Yup. I'm saddling up for a western, too. Started one for the 2006 Nano, but the book is still limping along. So I thought adapting it for the screen might breathe some life into the story. So far, it's working out great.

Paul
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ScriptFrenzy 2008: Revenge Rides Hard
Nanowrimo 2002:
Winner, The Faxer
http://www.thefaxer.blogspot.com

So, in thinking of ArgentumHawker's strategy of watching a lot of westerns while writing one, I wondered if anyone would like to suggest some movie titles. Obviously 3:10 to Yuma has been mentioned and Alias Smith and Jones.

If you're writing about outlaws and cowboys and all that lawlessness there's
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

I also saw a musical called Paint Your Wagon that was set in the west. It had Lee Marvin and a young Clint Eastwood singing ;) It takes place in a mining boom town and the main characters are gold miners.

Actually, there are miners in my story. I may have to rent that one again. Hmm...

Anyone else?