As I’m still unable to show the full film – here’s a short 35 second continuous take of actress Shelley Draper preparing before action is called. The camera was sitting on a tripod, the shot was being set up. You will see the clapper board and people walking around. Her dedication was first class and acting brilliant.
Scriptwriting is interesting work – you never quite know how things will look on the screen, and I’m so glad such a wonderful actress was involved in this project
Tag Archives: art
N is for Nasty
Originally published on the Cafe Aphra blogsite
That’s right, I’m getting nasty. Why? I guess it’s just the way I’m feeling at the moment – and the way I’m feeling at the moment is that I need a pep talk. In fact, I need a good kick up the arse. I figure other ‘aspiring writers’ are feeling the same way; and if they aren’t they will, at some point. So, now I’ve got your hackles up, I’ll begin.
So, aspiring writers everywhere, the very first thing I have to say is stop ‘aspiring’. You don’t ‘aspire’ to get out of bed – you get out of bed. You either write or you don’t, simple as that. The only caveat I’ll give is, of all the things you should aspire to, being a better writer is one of them. I’m not allowing complacency here, don’t think I’ve started being nice, because being a better writer takes hard work – so register the aspiration and get toiling.
Almost everyone wants to be a writer, possibly almost everyone could be, so what makes you different? What’s your USP? (Don’t answer that last question, I don’t need to know.) What you need to know is that the only way to find your voice, to be different and to express yourself fully, is to write with integrity. Don’t try to become ‘like’ another writer, don’t force yourself to write in a style that isn’t you; however much you might want it to be. Just write, see what happens. That’s you right there on the page. If anything sounds corny, maybe you unconsciously stole it from somewhere. How would you say it? Write it again in your own voice.
Make sure you understand the rules though, don’t go thinking grammar is ‘old hat’ and doesn’t apply to your modern take on society. That’s great and everything, but unless you’ve published ten best sellers no publisher will touch you with a barge pole if you’ve not learnt the rules. Once you have, then start breaking them.
Now I’m going to tell you how to get published…. Right place, right time, right publisher, decent finished manuscript. You might be hailed the next Shakespeare ten years after you’ve snuffed it, that’s life. It’s a bitch. Point is, there is no true path, there is no magic wand. You have to keep trying and on the plus side, you probably have more chance of getting published than winning a million on the lottery. Don’t give up the day job and while you’re stacking shelves in Sainsbury, plan your next chapter.
You’re rubbish, I’m rubbish, that novel you just finished reading – that’s rubbish too. You will have days feeling like an amateur. You will look back at what you’ve spent months or years writing and think its the biggest pile of crap you’ve ever seen. Maybe it is, maybe tomorrow you’ll love it again. Maybe tomorrow you’ll still think it’s awful and at the same time a publisher will be reading it thinking ‘this is really good!’ That book you just finished reading; the author will probably have had these exact same thoughts somewhere along the line. Let it pass, put it down, come back later. Keep writing.
On the other hand, there are people out there who will reject you: Agents, editors, reviewers, readers, even boyfriends and husbands, will say things you don’t want to hear. Stop crying, take it on the chin, absorb the constructive bits of criticism and carry on. If you give up you’re no longer a writer – is that an option? No. Don’t fall for jealousy either. Some of your writer buddies may get published. Once you’ve had the party and slapped them on the back, brace yourself for the stab of envious pain – ‘Why oh why isn’t it me?!!’ You didn’t get lucky. Get over it, keep trying.
Keep writing and finish it. No I don’t want to hear how you’re unsure about the plot, or the characterisation, just finish it. If you don’t you won’t know how it ends or what you missed out in the middle. If you get in the habit of leaving things unfinished, pretty soon everything will be unfinished.
If you’re a writer, you write because you have to, because to not write feels wrong. It can be a thankless, solitary, badly paid, unsociable pursuit. On the plus side you will never have just one life, you will have as many lives and experiences as you want, in your mind and pouring onto the page. You are the lucky one after all.
So go on, get on with it!
Tina Smith
Long time…..
Anne of York, Sister of Edward IV and Richard III, Aunt of Queen Elizabeth of York, Great-Aunt of Henry VIII and his siblings, with her 2nd husband, Sir Thomas St. Leger (Photo credit: lisby1)
No see…..
Gosh it has been a very long while since I last gave my blog any attention. Life gets busy doesn’t it? I’ve never been too busy to write but I have been busy enough to realise I have to prioritise what I write and unfortunately the blog had to go on hold.
Some amazing things have been happening over the last few months,
Finding Richard III – OK I can’t claim to have ‘done’ that, but it was a fairly major piece of news in my life. It was only a few years ago that I became so very interested in this enigmatic character and began to attempt to write about him – a fact I mainly kept to myself and those I knew had an interest themselves. It seemed strange to see him suddenly propelled into such a spotlight. Before the discovery of his body I had come to the conclusion I was not a good enough writer to create the kind of work I feel would most aptly, in my own eyes, portray the complexities of his character. I still feel that way, but the ambition is not lost, just set aside to grow quietly in the background, until I’m ready to attend to it again.
More script writing – I never had any ambition to write film scripts and yet that’s what I seem to have spent most of my time doing, certainly in the last six months. One script, ‘Watching over you’ is in production – the casting has taken place I believe and another, shorter film (probably 7mins long) is now in pre-production too. We’re having difficulty finding a convenience store or petrol station shop willing to let us film there – so if you know of anywhere (esp in the Nottingham area) please let us know!
The novel – I just don’t know what to do about this ‘thing’. It is so close to having being finished and yet I’ve stalled. Partly due to my attention being taken by the script writing, but that’s not the full story. I intend to send some pages off to a competition, but the closing date is drawing near and I haven’t submitted. I’m also going round in circles in my own mind about whether or not to send it for a second full critique – which will cost £100s – but might be the final push I need to get it good enough to send to agents etc. But I don’t want to waste money – Ive already spent a fair amount on it, in writing courses and the first critique – but then I should have faith that its worth it. So what should I do? Stop faffing I imagine!!
When do you know it’s ready to show the world? If you’re a published writer, let me know. If you’re not, let me know if you have a theory!
Keep going writers, never give up, never surrender 🙂
Related articles
- Dean of York calls in police over Richard III hate mail (yorkshirepost.co.uk)
- Friendly face of Richard III unveiled after remains find (thetimes.co.uk)
Haphazard scribbler or methodical planner?
I always find it fascinating to read or hear about how writers set about creating a novel. Since starting this blog I have begun to get a glimpse, from comments left and tweets I received, into how differently everyone approaches their writing.
Much as I might, every-now-and-again, try to be ordered and methodical about my approach, I find I invariably start with a crucial scene. The scene will probably have been knocking around in my head for weeks, or possibly months. I’ll have replayed it over and over, tweaked it, explored the characters and probably inhabited each character’s mind to see things from their point of view. (To outsiders this looks like tons and tons of daydreaming). Then I might write it all down. Invariably the scene won’t emerge onto the paper as I imagined it. The paragraph or chapter will get many, many rewrites as it become surrounded by other chapters. One day, having served its purpose as an initial spark of inspiration, it might be discarded altogether. (Sad, but even the most liberal minded writer must act as hard-hearted dictator, massacring hundreds of words in pursuit of their vision.)
This initial chapter (if it survives the sporadic culls), might end up at the beginning, the end or somewhere in the middle. Subsequent chapters, the way I go about things, will probably follow a similar pattern. The second chapter I write may contain completely different characters and take place years before or after the initial one. It really all depends where my imagination takes me.
This describes the initial uprush of creativity which is, for me, the most exciting phase of writing. If I’m really into a project I’ll get almost obsessively consumed by coming up with scenes in my mind. Somewhere in the background of my subconscious, I imagine, my brain starts working on the method by which the central thread of the story will weave through from beginning to end. At some point I will make myself sit down and write out a timeline, or attempt a synopsis (or something approaching it).
As my piece of works grows I’ll probably return to the timeline, write back stories for my characters, research topics connected with my story, compile lists of continuity errors, missing time and places where elaboration is needed. This requires me to periodically reign in my imagination and force myself to become restrained, objective and methodical. It is not my favourite part of the process but is absolutely essential.
My technique is what I would describe as haphazard. I know I should start by outlining my story, planning my chapters, starting at chapter one and moving on from there. I would love to know if anyone actually does do this?
How do you approach a new piece of writing? How does it differ if you are writing a novel, or script or piece of poetry? Are you methodical or haphazard? As you have evolved and improved as a writer have your techniques and tendencies changed? Don’t be shy, post a comment 🙂
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