What Sam Wants…
I've come to a conclusion. I don't want to write a novel (yet). I don't especially want to write a TV or movie script. I want to write for a comic. So that's my task. To find someone who wants to draw a comic but has little interest in writing... I wonder how I'd go about finding such a person...
I'm just plain jealous of Sam Logan's talent, both in terms of his writing and his artwork.
Morbid Research
Knowing things is useful! We know this... Stories are generally better if they ring true. So my current project requires me to know more about police morgues than I do already. Nice huh?
I wonder how many people have googled for "morgue body identification procedure"... I mean it worked... I just just... You know... Wonder...
Phew
I handed in my second assignment today. I thought I was going to have more leeway with time than I ended up with. I mean it wasn't a last minute job by any stretch but writing up over the final weekend is never meant to be easy... Except for me it seems to be. I always get things done by the skin of my teeth. I did make a point of proof reading this one though. Three times. Then once more. The biggest problem with the whole thing was word count and duplication of points. I had 3900 words for something that I'd set a max of 2500 for. In the end it was 2200 so I guess that worked out. My first ever script report, cast into the depths. I hope it was polite enough...
All I've got to do now is...
- Write up my idea for a 30 minute movie (woo index cards!).
- Work on my anthology submission as well as the anthology itself.
- Think about my adaptation project.
- Start reviewing other people's anthology bits.
- Watch more short films.
- Work on my other short story ideas.
- Read more textbooks...
Onward!
Music as Memory
I've talked about music before. You know it's an essential tool in my writing process. You know that certain songs, even without lyrics, can evoke specific feelings. I was thinking about this and realised that this must have started somewhere. A single song and a single book must have formed the first connection. What follows is a vague list of music that reminds me of certain books...
- Queen (Innuendo) - X-Men: Age of Apocalypse
- Smashing Pumpkins - The Belgariad
- Nightwish - Game of Thrones
- Any pop punk - David Gemmell
- Cradle of Filth - The Necroscope series
- Soilwork - Altered Carbon
I go on... but you may just grow even more disappointed by my taste in music...
Talking About Movies
Okay so I think you know this by now. I love talking about movies. I mean I love movies but what's love if you don't talk about it? So for tonight (for the script class) we had to think about our favourite films and pick a scene to show to the class and discuss. I picked the final scenes from Leon, mainly because it's an awesome movie, but also because it's got a fantastic transition at the end and some really nice contrasts between Leon and Mathilda. I showed the clips, we talked a little about the scenes. What made it even better was the discovery that our tutors were really into the movie too. Add to that a discussion about famous last words has given me an idea for a thirty minute movie due near the end of term. Yay me.
Learning Spawns
Ever since the reading I've been tired. I mean it wasn't the reading as such. It was more the massive high point of my birthday party, followed by the stress of reading, combined with a bunch of really late nights and on top of that, work being a bit of a pig. I felt drained and as a result my writing practice was going nowhere. The ideas just weren't flowing. I needed something to dislodge them and restore the stream. I thought that was going to be a good nights sleep but that didn't help. The thing that ended up getting me going again was a textbook. What? Yeah. One those textbooks. One I've been struggling to read since October. The chapter was all about the three act structure and just looking at those various chunks (and trying to work out how my own work fit them) changed something. I guess it was like an association game. I ended up with a step outline for what could be a three to four thousand word short story.
So yeah. Onward once more!
Reading Out
The first two sessions of this term were student readings. I took my turn in the second week. I'd worked on the story right up until the last minute, taking advice on the story from quite a few people. I was sort of happy with the result but it didn't really help my nerves. As I sat in the class (I was fifth to read) my bladder made sure I remembered why I was there. When my turn came I headed down to the front. I put my sheets on the podium, lowered my head and went for it. The result was predictable. The prose stretched before me. My reading got quieter and faster as I went on. I stumbled over certain words because of a dry, phlegmy throat. Also because of my nerves I didn't differentiated the two voices well at all.
So reverse all that and we're good to go... Easy eh?
Hygiene (Addendum)
It was bloody (as predicted). In fact I think I may have actually ended up with a couple of pre-molars at the front of the mouth. But I think it might just be better for it.
It's a testament to how great my friends are, that I can get feedback on a story so quickly. And such great feedback too! Three opinions and a bunch of cuts (and a few insertions) later and we've got a much more servicable piece. I'm not sure if it's something I'm proud of but I'm really liking some of the turns of phrase. There're a few that you can really wrap your tongue around and set spinning. When I'm reading my work out that I think that's important. I'm allowed to say that because it's unlikely that anyone who listens to me speak tonight will ever read the prose.
Like a Hygienist
There's always blood. Anyone who's had their teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist know this. They get right up in there with tools that must have been designed by a psychopath (or at the very least a sadist). They aren't gentle. And there's always blood. But afterward, your teeth sparkle. There's that smooth feeling as you run the tip your tongue over them. It tells you they're cleaner than they've been in months and it actually feels good.
I feel the same about the approach I'm being forced to take to my latest effort. It's a short story. Shorter than most I write. It's also fantasy, which is something I've not written for a while. I'm writing it for reading out and at the pace I read we're talking about 200 words per minute. So what we're left with is a 1650 word second draft that needs to be at most 1200. So like the hygienist of my nightmares, I must take up my implements and really clean the story.
It's refreshing. Normally when things turn out this short I'm worried. This time I've got permission to hack even more. That feels good.
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Writer Meme
I was tagged by Ali!
What's the last thing you wrote?
A step outline for a short story set in a fantasy world. It features a murderer and his former victim.
Was it any good?
I really like the idea but it's not exactly a "nice" story. I'm tempted to write it as a script instead.
What's the first thing you ever wrote that you still have?
My coursework from a writing class I took several years ago. I mean I've still got stuff I wrote while at uni but you'd be hard pressed to call it "writing" since the process I went through is such a far cry from how I work now.
Write poetry?
I tried once it didn't exactly end well. I went through a phase of writing a haiku every day and I was quite happy with a few of those.
Angsty poetry?
Once upon a time...
Favourite genre of writing?
Definitely sci-fi/fantasy but I'm trying to branch out.
Most fun character you ever wrote?
A man called Derek. I just had a lot of fun with his dialogue.
Most annoying character you ever wrote?
I'm not really sure. I've written some pretty unpleasant characters in the past so I guess they'd be annoying. Any character I name Lucille?
Best plot you ever wrote?
Right now I'm quite liking the story I just wrote about a king who imprisons the sun. The possibilities for other stories set after the climax of that story are really grabbing me at the moment.
Coolest plot twist you ever wrote?
I honestly have no idea.
How often do you get Writers block?
I don't get blocked. I get tired. There are always ways around block if you're determined.
Write fan fiction?
Nope. I've just got zero interest in writing non-canon stories about other people's creations.
Do you type or write by hand?
Type. I make a lot of hand-written notes though.
Do you save everything you write?
Absolutely.
Do you ever go back to an old idea long after you've abandoned it?
Yup. I didn't finish it the second or third time though. I enjoy dabbling.
What's your favourite thing you've written?
Derek's Story. It's a bit of mundane sci-fi. I didn't like the twist too much but Derek had some lovely turns of phrase.
What's everyone else's favourite thing you've written?
The God in the Tower... I think. But so few people see my work it's hard to tell.
Do you even show people your work?
Yes. Friends and family.
Did you ever write a novel?
I did nanowrimo in 2006. I managed to finish the 50k but I never went back and looked at it again. I know it's that bad.
Ever written romance or teen angsty drama?
Nope. Not outside of parody.
How many writing projects are you working on right now?
A few:
Do you want to write for a living?
It'd be nice but I have no illusions of ever being able to. I already have a career and writing is a passion rather than a dream.
Have you ever won an award for your writing?
None.
Ever written something in script or play format?
Yep. Since starting the MA I've written several short film scripts.
Do you ever write based on yourself?
I have done. I don't tend to show people the intensely personal things.
What character that you've written most resembles yourself?
I couldn't say. I do my level best to avoid wish fulfilment characters.
Where do you get ideas for your other characters?
Books, TV, film, other people... Lots of stuff!
Do you ever write based on your dreams?
Some of my nanowrimo attempt from 2006 was a sort of fever dream. I don't keep a dream diary though.
Do you favour happy endings, sad endings or a cliff hanger?
Satisfying endings. I tend to hate on cliff hangers a lot (but only because they annoy me on TV).
Have you ever written based on an artwork you've seen?
Nope.
Are you concerned with spelling or grammar as you write?
Not especially.
Ever write something entirely in chatspeak? (How r u?)
Ugh. Don't get me started.
Entirely in L337?
No really. Don't get me started!
Was that question completely appalling and un-writer like?
No. They just touched on a couple of my pet hates.
Does music help you write?
Absolutely. I couldn't write without it.
Quote something you've written. The first thing to pop into your mind.
"I’ve been friends with Harriet a long while now and she knows my feelings on poultry. Not trustworthy. Just like seagulls. Crafty feathered buggers."
And now I tag... Sally!