Monday, 29 December 2008

Belated Writerly Christmas Present

Just had an e mail saying I've won one of the Mslexia 2009 Writer's Diaries. I entered a comp on their website some time ago. Can't even remember what I had to do to enter, but I probably had to answer a question of some sort.

Anyway, am looking forward to receiving it. By all accounts they're supposed to be very nice.

Sunday, 28 December 2008

Pitching....

On Tuesday, I'm attending the Alfred Bradley Bursary Award Masterclass at the BBC in Manchester. I have to be there for 1.30 p.m. where Charlotte Riches will meet us.

We don't need to take any work, but we're welcome to pitch an idea! I have an idea, but have no idea about pitching. Also, my idea is the one that will be going into the Alfred Bradley comp, so....

Actually, I do have another idea for a series, but haven't developed it at all, so I wonder if there's enough there to pitch.

I can't imagine pitching in front of an audience (at the moment, anyway) and that's what might happen with it being a Masterclass. I doubt we'll get one to one pitching time.

Hmmm, let's just see what happens.

Saturday, 27 December 2008

Right, Time To Get On And Write

I've had a few days rest. I love this in-between time, Christmas and New Year, because it's a quiet time, one to reflect and think about the drama swishing around my head.

I do want to get a lot of writing done over the next couple of days, and I aim to finish the first draft of the radio script for the Alfred Bradley Bursay Award by the end of this week.

My radio play has quite a dramatic start, setting the scene for the whole of the play. That is to say, the beginning, although only a couple of minutes in length, determines what happens throughout. I then cut to the family home, where the consequences of what happens at the beginning are revealed through dialogue and sound.

I'm excited about it because I think it's quite an original idea, and again, it's a bit of a black comedy, more drama than comedy, but there is a sprinkling thrown in.

More updates through the weekend and next week.

Tuesday, 23 December 2008

Picture Prompt For 23/12/2008

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!


For all who see this message:

WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A HOPEFUL AND WRITERLY NEW YEAR 2009!!

Sunday, 21 December 2008

SCRIPTWRITING IN THE UK - STEP 8 - CHOOSING WORK

Danny Stack gives it to us straight:

DANNY STACK link

SCRIPTWRITING IN THE UK - STEP 7 - ATTITUDE

Danny Stack gives it to us straight:



DANNY STACK link

SCRIPTWRITING IN THE UK - STEP 6 - DISCIPLINE

Danny Stack gives it to us straight:

DANNY STACK link

SCRIPTWRITING IN THE UK - STEP 5 - GET AN AGENT

Danny Stack gives it to us straight:

an DANNY STACK link

SCRIPTWRITING IN THE UK - STEP 4 - INDUSTRY INSIDER

Danny Stack gives it to us straight:

DANNY STACK link

SCRIPTWRITING IN THE UK - STEP 3 - NETWORKING

Danny Stack gives it to us straight:

DANNY STACK link

SCRIPTWRITING IN THE UK - STEP 2 - WRITING

Danny Stack gives it to us straight:

DANNY STACK link

SCRIPTWRITING IN THE UK - STEP 1 - READING

Danny Stack gives it to us straight:

DANNY STACK link

Sunday, 14 December 2008

Inside Publishing

From Writers' and Artists' Yearbook: Neil Gaiman chats about writing. PLUS past interviews with other writers.



NEIL GAIMAN link

Saturday, 13 December 2008

More Scriptwriting Stuff From The BBC

Film Network link

Scroll down to near the bottom for this:

A great resource available to filmmakers is the monthly Rocliffe New Writing Forum. Run by Rocliffe Production company, the forum is a networking event whereby three selected script extracts of 7-8 minutes in length is rehearsed by professional actors and directors (cast by the in-house casting directors). A great way to receive effective and honest feedback on your script.



You can submit short scripts here:

Rockliffe link

Friday, 12 December 2008

Screenwriting Goldmine - Writing For David Milch on HBO's Deadwood

LINK



Ever had a dream like this? You send in a few pages of your script to your favorite TV show. Within hours you get a call- they like it. No, they LOVE it! Within hours they fly you out there. Put you in a hotel. Hire you to start work on the show. You get to work on two series, hang out on set all the time, get to work with David Milch (Deadwood and NYPD Blue) on a daily basis - and suddenly the people who matter are queuing up to read your movie script. This interview is with Bryan McDonald. That 'dream' was his reality. Listen as he tells you how he did it...



Listen out for the brilliantly unexpected way he got his first break!

Screenwriting Goldmine - How To Write For Doctor Who

Screenwriting Goldmine - How To Write For Doctor Who