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Please Hold

Normal service will be resumed shortly…As soon as my head is not going to explode, anyway. For those of you who don’t know, we are moving house and I have to get this hellhole sorted by a week next wednesday to get new carpets down and to feng shui the joint for the valuers. Please talk amongst yourselves or cast your eye over these links that I have arranged for your viewing pleasure: Because we’re screenwriters, we all love useless facts and statistics. If you want to see some Disco Daleks and Cybermen, click here. Here’s some great articles and… Read More »Please Hold

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What Constitutes "Good" Feedback?

Many thanks to Elly-Jane who asks this question: “You talk alot on your blog about coverage and feedback and taking on board what Readers, Producers, Execs, etc say: that they’re not out to “get” new writers and they want to help… But what if you get feedback like this? “(This script) has no subtext. Not one single character has anything interesting to say, they’re just going through the motions, so The Reader is treated to what amounts to a series of day-to-day conversations… yet not amounting to a real, holistic story.” I feel hurt and confused. This is so negative…… Read More »What Constitutes "Good" Feedback?

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A Marathon, Not A Sprint

If you’re wanting a little career guidance or want to check you’re doing what you should be doing regarding this ol’ screenwriting lark, you could do a lot worse than read this article. It’s long (22 pages, and a pdf) but very engaging and worth saving on your desktop to dip into in coffee breaks. Remember, if you want your fave article or even one of your own on The Bang2write List of Wonder, then email me the link! We’re particularly low on ones about effective dialogue. Equally, if you’d like to see ones on a particular topic that you… Read More »A Marathon, Not A Sprint

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There Can Be Only One!

So, I’m on a Power of Three hunt, but I actually only need one, since two other mystery Readers already bagged their places in advance on this one. Soz. It’s the usual: a feature and yes, need feedback ASAP please. I will of course read your feature in return as well. I’m going to have to be a total fascist re: this project: I’m looking for a person who is a) a professional Reader b) a graduate or attendee of a UK film/scriptwriting-related course or c) has read this particular project before in a previous draft (all my previous Readers,… Read More »There Can Be Only One!

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Travel Writing

I could not have had a busier or noisier day yesterday than if I had actually purchased a ticket right into the jaws of Hell for a one-day round-trip round Satan’s lair. I got on a train from Devon to Paddington at 9am only to be greeted by a multitude of already-drunk Arsenal and West Ham fans, complaining Rugby fans (who were still drinking, but apparently in a “sensible” fashion, unlike their football-obsessed counterparts) and an old Chap from Sidmouth who wanted to tell anyone who would listen about his charity work and his dog, Sarah. I asked why he… Read More »Travel Writing

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Your Voice, Re/Presentation

In response then to SK’s questions in yesterday’s post regarding one’s voice and the notion of RE-PRESENTING one’s concerns, issues, etc. A quick reminder: I would be interested to see what you have to say about really developing a ‘voice’, that is, how to re/present your concerns in a work. For just knowing your concerns and your story can’t be enough to have a voice, can it? You have to not just know what your story is about, and it be something individual to you, but also to somehow get that individuality across to the reader. So how do you… Read More »Your Voice, Re/Presentation

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Your Voice, part deux

A lot of new writers believe that having a “voice” is somehow accidental. That other writers somehow are blessed with it, as a gift from The Writing Fairies or maybe THE MUSE OF SHANE BLACK/QUENTIN TARANTINO/SYD FIELD/ROBERT MCKEE/LINDA SEGER * (*insert “cool” screenwriter or script guru here). Newsflash. If your voice is YOU, then only YOU can discover and develop your voice. No amount of reading scriptwriting books or even scripts will make you pinpoint that certain “something” that only YOU can give your scripts and absolutely no one else. Craft is craft and whilst it’s certainly advisable to be… Read More »Your Voice, part deux

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Your Voice, Part 1

As requested by the luscious Lianne, here are my thoughts about what constitutes a Writer’s “Voice”. Sometimes a writer will be praised for their craft by a Producer or Reader, yet they will assert that they wanted “more” from that script or selection of scripts; they will feel there’s that certain “something”, that je ne se quois, that vital ingredient “missing” somehow. Perhaps they will say that what’s there are the “bare bones” of a story, yet the feeling of the writer’s personality is missing. If this is the case then, there’s a good chance you need to develop your… Read More »Your Voice, Part 1

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New Additions and a Q

I’m pleased to announce there’s been several new additions to the Bang2write Household this week… No, not cats or human babies – I’ve learned my lesson on those – but a Tamagotchi called Susan. My son is the proud father and despite a bad start (poor Susan had diarrhoea – sp?? – on sunday and was ROBBED on Monday!), she has already made Alf a proud grandfather by giving birth to baby Keith yesterday. Mother and baby are doing well and Keith is already at secondary school. They grow up so quick nowadays. The lovely MA David emailed me on… Read More »New Additions and a Q

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Round Up

Right, two things in one since I have several beers with my name on. And a couple of eggs left over from Easter (I know! Where HAS this sudden self control come from?! They will be devoured tonight, don’t you worry my little chickadees). BSSC short went off in the post, but pretty sure it hasn’t a hope in hell. Why? Because I have been deliberately OUT THERE with my premise – think ADAPTATION meets EDTV in ten minutes and you’re probably there. In retrospect, perhaps I should have written the more standard fare of some bird recalling a traumatic… Read More »Round Up

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A Quick Vote

I don’t normally do this, but I’d appreciate all you lot’s POV on a dilemma I’m having. The BBC Writers’ Academy want a writing sample submitted with the forms, etc. Only I can’t decide which to send. I’m thinking EVERYONE will send a drama spec script, so should I NOT to stand out? Or would I be a fool to not conform?? Mind melting. Here are the choices: HUSBAND AND FATHER, psychological drama. An immature youth must face upto his responsibilities and in turn, help his pregnant girlfriend confront her traumatic past. This script is presently at The BBC Writers’… Read More »A Quick Vote

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