A new 'my first time'

My first official rejection arrived today in the form of an email from Radio 4 RFTP (see earlier blog posts). Quite exciting really! I'm sure however that they become less exciting as they mount up, at the moment it's just nice to have a visual reminder that I had completed and entered something. Good on R4 too for sending them out to everyone, it's horrible to be stuck in the maybe-wondering whether anyone of influence has recognised your true genius. In this case clearly not but then I had already worked this out after reading Jason Arnopp's post last week.

First Draft

It's been a productive week on the work front (productive by my standards- probably not by anyone else's). Tuesday saw the start of my script writing class for this year. The task set over Christmas was to write a 10-15 page theatre script based on the outlines we all did last year. So I that's what I did, sort of!

Actually, what really happened was this; I either procrastinated/was genuinely too busy/or plain ignored the pressing task right through Christmas and New Year. With hindsight I like to think that this was because of nagging doubts about the original story and outline. Finally on Tuesday- the day of the class, I sat down at 9.30am and wrote all 10 pages. Not the original outline but something completely different, an idea that seeded in my brain some months ago which I now realise had been growing without me realising it- hence being able to bang it straight out onto the screen, funny how writing happens like that sometimes. It's the first draft so it needs more work (obviously) but I am hoping it might develop into something submit worthy. I still have my abandoned outline to make something of too- if I can. I think it was too Christmassy in tone, I don't mean the plot was anything Christmas related but it was written mid- December and has that feel about it, now post- Christmas I just can't get into it. Weird.

Annoyance of the week is not being able to get ScriptSmart to download. I had it on my old PC but now have a laptop with Vista/ Office 2007 which doesn't appear compatible. If anyone reads this and has any ideas they will be gratefully received. Of course what I really want to do is buy a copy of Final Draft but sadly that's just not financially viable at the moment. Although... maybe if I sold one of the children...Hmm tempting.

Back to normal, well almost...

Happy New Year one and all.

Christmas is over and despite best intentions I am way behind with my two plays and my Eng Lit work. Thought I would be able to catch up this week unfortunately hubby is ill and and the childminder is on holiday ( a very bad combination on the getting anything done front).

Highlights of the last month include;

Doctor Who - I enjoyed this years Xmas special much more than the previous 2007, I never quite got to grips with Kylie's character although I'm not sure why. A new doctor on the horizon too, everyone seems to have an opinion, personally I think he looks fab and I can't wait to see the Smith/Moffatt episodes.

Wicked- the musical. Went to see it with my daughter for her birthday, I'm not generally a fan of musicals but this was pretty good. Amazing stage and costume design and the cast are excellent.

Othello- the subject of my next essay so I have booked tickets for the Lenny Henry production at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Feb. Northern Broadsides shows are usually pretty good so I can't wait.

Anyway back to work... I will not procrastinate this year, repeat after me, I will not...

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.