Bits and Bobs

Not much has progressed here in the last week, this Christmas malarkey gets in the way of everything.

On a positive note my A Level re-creative coursework is finished apart from a few tweaks and I have a predicted grade of mid to higher A. Fairly pleased about that.

Over Christmas and New Year I will mostly be working on a couple of pieces for the local literature festival and my submission for the Alfred Bradley Award in February.

I suspect I am going to struggle a bit with the initial outline for the ABA, I have come to realise that my strengths lie in dramatic dialogue but I struggle much more with having to outline a whole plot. Most of my work thus far develops as I write but I am trying to create initial structures for these new pieces. Why doesn't my brain work this way?

What a performance...

When is a performance not a performance?

When it has no audience!

No, that's not just an unfunny joke it was an unfortunate reality for my theatre drama groups end of year performance last night. We have slaved away all term to produce a 20 min piece of physical theatre representative of the theme of alienation, so rather ironically - nobody turned up to watch.

Admittedly as it turned out none of us had actually invited anyone so I guess you reap what you sow. We are a professional lot so the show had to go on and we performed to the theatre photographer and rows of empty chairs. The far left chair on the back row thought my portrayal of a disfigured teenage girl was particularly touching.

We still get photos in the theatre publicity material so all was not lost...bet this doesn't happen at the RSC though.

The Anarchist and the Salesman

I saw an excellent production last night of Accidental Death of an Anarchist, an adapted version of the Dario Fo original. Spectacular dialogue and a visually brilliant piece, it made me realise I have along way to go before any of my work will stand up to 2hrs of scrutiny.

Talking of adaptations I have a coursework deadline looming in the form of a piece of 'Re-Creative' writing. This is the first year that this has been done on the A Level syllabus so it is a bit of an unknown quantity for all involved. Our piece has to take the form of an extra scene or monologue from Death of a Salesman. It all sounds very fun and a welcome break from the traditional essay but...can I possibly write in the style of a 1940s Arthur Miller?

I can only hope. Watch this space for my grade.

Snow

Today is a good lesson in why not to take the leave everything until the last minute and fly by the seat of your pants approach to writing. I have previously taken solace and affirmation in the knowledge that Russell T Davies alludes to working in a similar way, however I should probably acknowledge that with 4 kids (cancelled school due to snow) and 1 husband (working from home due to snow) I do not have the flexibility to procrastinate quite as much as I do. Had I had the foresight to have been born RTD my life could have been very different...

By 7.15pm I need an outline for my writers group showcase piece. I am struggling with the resolution for my protagonist. Have they got what they wanted? What have they learnt? Have you said what you want to say to the audience?

How the hell should I know? I'm only the writer.

Do it anyway...

as in feel the fear and...This is my first attempt at blogging having been a semi-furtive reader of other writers blogs for the past year. In common with those bloggers the purpose of me doing this is to focus my scrambled writers mind and prevent (too much) procrastination. So first off, a big shout out to screenwriters Paul Campbell and James Moran whose blogs I first discovered and have provided me with much inspiration. Thanks due also to the numerous other writer-bloggers I have subsequently discovered, whose links shall appear on the right hand side of the page shortly (when I workout how the hell all this blog stuff works). Last but not least, much kudos to Stacey who insisted that I renounce my antisocial tendencies and do this blog.

Oscar speech over, so back to the difficult first post.

Hi, I'm Sue (or Susan if you are my father reading this and I have misbehaved). I live Ooop North and am an amateur scribbler. As the title and sub heading of this blog suggests I struggle a tad with maintaining focus and direction (cue mental images of many half finished scripts, plays, novels etc...). However the point of this blog is not to dwell on my numerous shortcomings but to allow me to track the things I do achieve in the vain hope that this will have a snowball effect.

So...things I have achieved in the past year:

1. Left my job, although it was technically a writing job (Local Government policy and procedure) it made me want to gouge my eyes out with rusty spoons. I should point out that I do in fact have a benefactor in the form of my v. patient husband, just in case I am encouraging anyone else to leave their unfulfilling job too- it's probably not the best course of action unless you love Smart Price Noodles.

2. Went back to college, I am currently doing an English Literature A Level. This is purely for pleasure as I do already have A Levels and a degree of a more science type nature ('what possessed me?' she cries, English having always been her best subject). The course is a lot of fun but am feeling a little old and jealous surrounded by 17yr olds.

3. Joined a theatre drama group, don't get me wrong, I am under no illusion that I am a good or even passable actress but I would recommend joining such a group to other writers. It has helped enormously with focus and self confidence and offers an excellent insight into how scripts are blocked and interpreted by actors and directors, it is a valuable lesson in teamwork and not being too precious about your writing.

4. Joined a writers group, at the same theatre- we sometimes write and produce. I am pretty pleased with myself as a play I recently wrote for his group is being developed for the towns next Literature Festival (small steps I know but an achievement is still an achievement).

5. Sent my first open submission off, I entered a short sketch into Radio 4s Recorded for Training Purposes competition. With hindsight I am not entirely sure the content was appropriate for the medium (can you say wank on Radio 4?) so I won't be sat next to my Inbox holding my breath but it served its purpose which was to get off your bloody arse and send something somewhere.

A month early I know but goals for 2009, in no particular order, are:

1. Build a portfolio of showcase work

2. Pass A Level

3. Enter more competitions/submissions, in particular have something prepared for Red Planet.

4. Make a decision about applying for Screenwriting MA, still undecided about whether this is a good path to take. On the Yay side it would definitely focus my mind on the Nay side it is £4000 per year (plus childcare) and considering I am now unemployed...ho hum

5. Get something produced or published no matter how small, a bit vague I know but you've got to hope.

So there we go, my first post. Congratulations if you got this far. Don't you have anything better to do?