Well, three weeks in and apparently we now know everything there is to know about structure, character and dialogue.
As far as I can tell, the remaining ten weeks involve doing it again and again and again until it becomes second nature.
Some people might call it brainwashing. And maybe they're right.
But it seems to be working. And I don't think any of us show signs of turning into clones of John Yorke.
Tomorrow's Wednesday. So, it's a long day of homework.
Then, on Thursday, we have the honour of being addressed by Mr Tony Jordan (EastEnders, Hustle, Holby Blue... and Eldorado) - buddy of Danny Stack, and the man behind the Red Planet Prize. I wonder if he liked Obadiah Morgan!
Showing posts with label Obadiah Morgan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Obadiah Morgan. Show all posts
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Sunday, 26 August 2007
Red Planet
I've been a bit tied up recently.
With this Academy thing starting soon, I'm trying to fill the coffers by working as much as I can at the FSA until then. I'm actually working a full-time, five days a week stint. I can't remember the last time I turned up at an office for five days in a row! Frightening.
Anyway, not much writing getting done as a result. But this weekend I did polish up the first ten pages of my old friend 'Obadiah Morgan' as my entry for Tony Jordan's Red Planet competition. Entries had to be in my the end of this month.
Good luck to anyone else out there who's entered. May you come second!
With this Academy thing starting soon, I'm trying to fill the coffers by working as much as I can at the FSA until then. I'm actually working a full-time, five days a week stint. I can't remember the last time I turned up at an office for five days in a row! Frightening.
Anyway, not much writing getting done as a result. But this weekend I did polish up the first ten pages of my old friend 'Obadiah Morgan' as my entry for Tony Jordan's Red Planet competition. Entries had to be in my the end of this month.
Good luck to anyone else out there who's entered. May you come second!
Friday, 31 March 2006
Done
Finished.
Well, first draft is complete. School holidays started an hour and a half ago, so I only just made the deadline.
I've sent Obadiah over to my agent. Just waiting for the "terminate agreement" letter now!
Well, first draft is complete. School holidays started an hour and a half ago, so I only just made the deadline.
I've sent Obadiah over to my agent. Just waiting for the "terminate agreement" letter now!
Wednesday, 29 March 2006
fine-tuning
Today's tally?
Mainly a whole load of polishing and fine-tuning. My spec features a tall crane - so how tall is a tall crane? About 120 feet if you google the experts. And what rank should my police officers be? Detective Chief Inspector and Detective Sergeant, I think, having queried various police websites. And where should I add something to build on the budding relationship between two of my minor players - still working on that one. etc. etc.
So, it's been a day of fiddling really. But the spec's much better for it.
Tomorrow's a day with my daughter. A bit more fiddling on Friday and it should be in a good enough state to be shared with a few trusted folk. Then the nail-biting begins.
A little bit of good news today. An independent radio producer has read some of my work, seen some of my ideas - and likes them. We have a meeting next week some time to discuss submissions to the BBC.
Mainly a whole load of polishing and fine-tuning. My spec features a tall crane - so how tall is a tall crane? About 120 feet if you google the experts. And what rank should my police officers be? Detective Chief Inspector and Detective Sergeant, I think, having queried various police websites. And where should I add something to build on the budding relationship between two of my minor players - still working on that one. etc. etc.
So, it's been a day of fiddling really. But the spec's much better for it.
Tomorrow's a day with my daughter. A bit more fiddling on Friday and it should be in a good enough state to be shared with a few trusted folk. Then the nail-biting begins.
A little bit of good news today. An independent radio producer has read some of my work, seen some of my ideas - and likes them. We have a meeting next week some time to discuss submissions to the BBC.
Tuesday, 28 March 2006
28 March
No writing today, but that's OK.
Spent the morning reading a script off Zoe (you do know Zoetrope.com?). It was a spec pilot for a British crime drama, so I thought it would be useful to read it, criticise it, and then sit back and see whether the same criticisms applied to my spec. It was a useful exercise. Read it, enjoyed it, wrote to the author, and then re-read Obadiah. Generally speaking, I'm happy with it. But there's still quite a bit to do before I'll feel happy sending it off to my agent (I'm terrified she'll hate it).
So, that's tomorrow sorted.
Spent the morning reading a script off Zoe (you do know Zoetrope.com?). It was a spec pilot for a British crime drama, so I thought it would be useful to read it, criticise it, and then sit back and see whether the same criticisms applied to my spec. It was a useful exercise. Read it, enjoyed it, wrote to the author, and then re-read Obadiah. Generally speaking, I'm happy with it. But there's still quite a bit to do before I'll feel happy sending it off to my agent (I'm terrified she'll hate it).
So, that's tomorrow sorted.
Monday, 27 March 2006
27 March - and finished.
A ten-page spurt today and I have a complete first draft of Obadiah's second adventure.
It's pretty rough right now. I have the bare bones of the mystery and its solution, but there needs to be a lot more character stuff and a couple of B-stories thrown into the mix. Luckily, it's come in at about 50 pages, so I have plenty of room for manouvre.
Looking forward to it, actually.
That's for tomorrow.
This afternoon's mundane task is "sorting" - turning several large piles of paper into one largish bag of rubbish and a few very small "to do" piles.
It's pretty rough right now. I have the bare bones of the mystery and its solution, but there needs to be a lot more character stuff and a couple of B-stories thrown into the mix. Luckily, it's come in at about 50 pages, so I have plenty of room for manouvre.
Looking forward to it, actually.
That's for tomorrow.
This afternoon's mundane task is "sorting" - turning several large piles of paper into one largish bag of rubbish and a few very small "to do" piles.
Friday, 24 March 2006
24 March 2006
Nothing yesterday - I work at this writing malarkay four days a week. Yesterday I was just Dad.
Not bad today, despite losing two or three pages to my increasingly unstable copy of Final Draft. Don't you just hate that? And you always feel sure that the bits that go missing are the finest drama ever written.
Oh, well, I suppose I should think of it as just the first stage of the rewrite process.
Eight and a half pages today. Forty pages down, twenty to go.
Not bad. I suppose I should explain - I'm ploughing my way slowly through the first draft of a spec TV crime show. I've never tried writing this genre before and it's an interesting experience. Everything I've ever been taught about writing drama holds true, but you also have this overwhelming necessity to spin the mystery, to get all the clues in there, to scatter your red herrings etc etc.
Frankly, it's like creating a giant crossword puzzle.
The opening didn't take long, and I'm fairly sure the "library" scene will be straightforward. It's getting through the rest of it without giving away the mystery, but retaining the intrigue, and keeping the interest in your characters.
It's called "Obadiah Morgan" - look out for it your TV screens soon (maybe).
Not bad today, despite losing two or three pages to my increasingly unstable copy of Final Draft. Don't you just hate that? And you always feel sure that the bits that go missing are the finest drama ever written.
Oh, well, I suppose I should think of it as just the first stage of the rewrite process.
Eight and a half pages today. Forty pages down, twenty to go.
Not bad. I suppose I should explain - I'm ploughing my way slowly through the first draft of a spec TV crime show. I've never tried writing this genre before and it's an interesting experience. Everything I've ever been taught about writing drama holds true, but you also have this overwhelming necessity to spin the mystery, to get all the clues in there, to scatter your red herrings etc etc.
Frankly, it's like creating a giant crossword puzzle.
The opening didn't take long, and I'm fairly sure the "library" scene will be straightforward. It's getting through the rest of it without giving away the mystery, but retaining the intrigue, and keeping the interest in your characters.
It's called "Obadiah Morgan" - look out for it your TV screens soon (maybe).
Wednesday, 22 March 2006
22 March 2006
Start time: 09:30 (after dropping girls off at educational establishments)
End time: 15:15 (before picking them up again)
Main product: 6 pages of my TV spec detective drama series, Obadiah Morgan
Excessive snacking: ginger biscuit and a pretty large doorstep of chocolate cake at lunch
Invigorating exercise: none
Main time-wasting activity: setting up this Blog
Marks out of ten: 6 (if I'm kind)
End time: 15:15 (before picking them up again)
Main product: 6 pages of my TV spec detective drama series, Obadiah Morgan
Excessive snacking: ginger biscuit and a pretty large doorstep of chocolate cake at lunch
Invigorating exercise: none
Main time-wasting activity: setting up this Blog
Marks out of ten: 6 (if I'm kind)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
