From 13th-16th August, the eclectic West Port area of Edinburgh (just off Grassmarket) will play host to its own Book Festival. I say eclectic here as the area has bookshops, tattoo parlours, pubs, fashion shops, vintage clothes shops, jewellery shops, nail bars and strip clubs, all sitting side by side. Eclectic.
The West Port Book Festival aims to 'offer free events to a diverse audience who share our passion for books, bookshops and fun. We have also been creative, dipping into the dressing up box, casting our eye around for new talent and transforming local shops into intimate, innovative venues.'
Some quite interesting events are on - in particular I want to see the author Eleanor Thom, as I read and enjoyed her debut novel 'The Tin Kin,' and I want to go to the Magic Books & Learned Animals event as my talented friend Sharon is doing a talk (also, her exhibition 'A Sage of the Stage, not a Beast in a Cage' has my favourite title of anything ever).
There's going to be 'the world’s first Literary Twestival,' book binding workshops, magicians, many more author events, and a talk on lost books, among other things.
I should be able to make a few of the events - work commitments may interfere - but hope to go as this looks great fun. Anyone else going?
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
The good elf of ideas
Last night, as I lay in my bed, I was kept awake by the fear that I wouldn't be able to come up with an idea good enough for the current Scotland Writes competition.
I blame this on the little imp who likes to sit on my shoulder and drinks away my self-belief (he uses a stripey red straw for this purpose). His name is Geoffrey, and he's really quite unpleasant.
A had almost given up hope when Winklestein, the good elf of ideas, appeared by my bed. With a graceful flick of his wrist, he sent Geoffrey flying into my washing basket, where he remains for the moment.
Winklestein reminded me that I had scribbled a short story a mere fortnight ago which could suit the purposes of the competition.
'But it's just a short story!' said I.
'Why not expand it?' he said. 'It's a fine idea for television.'
'It's a bit weird,' I said, unconvinced.
He tugged at my hair. 'Just because it's not set in a doctor's surgery, doesn't mean BBC Scotland won't like it. They might go for quirky, as long as it's well written.'
'There aren't enough story strands, and there are hardly any characters.' I crossed my arms and pulled a face at him.
In reply, he grabbed a few wispy tendrils of imagination that had been floating around my head and made me eat them up. (He might be a good elf, but he's a harsh taskmaster).
As the tendrils wove themselves around my brain, I was able to relax, and just like that inspiration hit me. I smiled up at the idea elf, who gave me a little wink in reply.
'Don't mention it,' he said. 'Just make sure you enter this one. I'm sick and tired of giving you ideas that you don't follow through.'
He left to visit a despairing gardener in Bathgate, and I was able to get to sleep, safe in the knowledge that the nasty imp was trapped beneath socks for the night.
I blame this on the little imp who likes to sit on my shoulder and drinks away my self-belief (he uses a stripey red straw for this purpose). His name is Geoffrey, and he's really quite unpleasant.
A had almost given up hope when Winklestein, the good elf of ideas, appeared by my bed. With a graceful flick of his wrist, he sent Geoffrey flying into my washing basket, where he remains for the moment.
Winklestein reminded me that I had scribbled a short story a mere fortnight ago which could suit the purposes of the competition.
'But it's just a short story!' said I.
'Why not expand it?' he said. 'It's a fine idea for television.'
'It's a bit weird,' I said, unconvinced.
He tugged at my hair. 'Just because it's not set in a doctor's surgery, doesn't mean BBC Scotland won't like it. They might go for quirky, as long as it's well written.'
'There aren't enough story strands, and there are hardly any characters.' I crossed my arms and pulled a face at him.
In reply, he grabbed a few wispy tendrils of imagination that had been floating around my head and made me eat them up. (He might be a good elf, but he's a harsh taskmaster).
As the tendrils wove themselves around my brain, I was able to relax, and just like that inspiration hit me. I smiled up at the idea elf, who gave me a little wink in reply.
'Don't mention it,' he said. 'Just make sure you enter this one. I'm sick and tired of giving you ideas that you don't follow through.'
He left to visit a despairing gardener in Bathgate, and I was able to get to sleep, safe in the knowledge that the nasty imp was trapped beneath socks for the night.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Upcoming Workshop: How to be a Script Reader
Lucy Vee (of Bang2Write fame) is running a course in September, in association with Moviescope magazine. Aimed at both potential script readers and screenwriters, How to be a Script Reader "will include what screen agencies might look for; how to give feedback to friends without falling out; what agents might ask their assistant to look for; how to write a reader's report synopsis and dealing with bad feedback" among other things.
It's in Bournemouth on September 19th 2009 and costs £65 - for full details see Lucy's Blog or the Bang2write website.
I unfortunately can't make this, but as someone who has received feedback from Lucy and who has been following her blog for a few years now I can say with certainty that she knows her stuff. If you go to this and put any notes online, let me know!
It's in Bournemouth on September 19th 2009 and costs £65 - for full details see Lucy's Blog or the Bang2write website.
I unfortunately can't make this, but as someone who has received feedback from Lucy and who has been following her blog for a few years now I can say with certainty that she knows her stuff. If you go to this and put any notes online, let me know!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Bookshelf
I saw a post on the Guardian website about bookshelf etiquette which got me to thinking about my own bookshelves.
At the moment I have a few Ikea bookshelves in the livingroom, and these are chock-a-block full of my precious few hundred books. I arrange them by genre, then by author, with authors who write in a similar style or about a similar subject grouped together where possible. It makes perfect sense, although it's a bit messy as I have to stack things vertically to fit them all in.
One day I will have a library room with a desk tucked in the middle of it, possibly beside a roaring fire. Massive bookshelves, maybe even a rolling ladder, will be beautifully arranged around the walls, with a large window overlooking my garden at one end. I'll have a comfortable chair with loads of pillows and a blanket that I can wrap myself in, and maybe a mug of cocoa by my side. I'll write and read, breathing in the books and running my fingers over their spines when I'm bored. They will still be arranged by genre, then by author, then by style. Alphabetical is just so boring.
How do you arrange your shelves? Is there anyone out there who does it by book cover?
--
Hush progress still going well - over 2,000 words yesterday.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Movie Meme
I saw this movie meme on Catherine's blog and thought I'd take part - go on, everyone else, do it too.
1.Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.
I could name dozens, but my most viewed films are probably:
2.Name a movie that you’ve seen multiple times in the theater.
It was a struggle to think of one, but I'm sure I saw the last Harry Potter film twice (not sure why), and I also think I saw the Fellowship of the Rings a couple of times. I'm not much of one for repeat cinema viewings though - I'd rather buy a DVD and watch it endlessly.
3.Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.
That's very difficult. I went to see Sunshine Cleaning because Amy Adams was in it, and I'd be drawn to films with Tilda Swinton or Maggie Smith in them. My brother and I used to watch any film that Bill Paxton was in as we thought he was flippin' hilarious, but that was a long time ago.
4.Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.
Uh, Paris Hilton. Actor is possibly not the right word, though.
5.Name a movie that you can and do quote from.
Pfft, too many. I'll say Ghostbusters as it's my favourite to quote from.
6.Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.
Grease, hands down. Even the rubbish songs that I used to fast forward (Stranded in the Drive In and Hopelessly Devoted, blah). I confess that I know the lyrics to many more films than Grease though.
7.Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with.
Pfft again. I'll sing along to anything with lyrics. I like doing silly voices so films like Beauty and the Beast or Seven Brides for Seven Brothers give me ample opportunity to work on my deep manly singing voice.
8.Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.
In Bruges. We recently watched it and were delighted and surprised by it. Such fantastic characters and dialogue.
9.Name a movie that you own.
For some reason I own 2 different versions of the original Star Wars trilogy, 2 copies of First Knight, and 2 copies of Attack of the Clones. Star Wars makes sense as they are the butchered and un-butchered versions, but I'm not sure why I have the others.
10.Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.
David Bowie, but only because I fancied him in Labyrinth when I was a child.
11.Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what?
If only Edinburgh was equipped with a drive-in! No.
12.Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven’t yet gotten around to it.
Nosferatu.
13.Ever walked out of a movie?
No, but I wanted to leave during Oceans Twelve. It was one of the worst things I've ever seen in the cinema, ever (and I've seen a lot of pap). Attractive, big name stars and fancy shooting do not a good film make. Ugh.
14.Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.
I cry at everything, I'm very easily manipulated by film. I was surprised by my tears at Wall:E - a soon as he packed himself up on his little shelf and rocked himself to sleep I welled up.
15.What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?
Moon - fab stuff.
16.What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
I like everything, I honestly can't choose one.
17.What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, on re-release, for my third birthday.
18.What movie do you wish you had never seen?
The Matrix Sequels. They were so, so bad. Actually I almost walked out of them too.
19.What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?
The Singing Ringing Tree. Oh my, but it's amazing. Saw this as part of the Ballerina Ballroom festival last year and it immediately became one of my favourite cinema experiences. The giant fish, the nasty princess, the ropey narration and that creepy magical dwarf - brilliantly weird.
20.What is the scariest movie you’ve seen?
I am easily terrified and rarely watch horror (although I want to write it). This fear stems from a Robert Powell film called The Asphyx, which I saw when I was tiny and which completely freaked me out and still does if I think about it too much. It is probably not scary at all. I'm also very scared of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (both the 50's and 70's versions).
21.What is the funniest movie you’ve seen?
Comedy, eh? I dunno. I laugh heartily at Spinal Tap every time I see it, it may be my favourite comedy, but Duck Soup is hilarious too.
---
Re The Hush - 1 day down, 18 to go, and 1,000 words happily written.
1.Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.
I could name dozens, but my most viewed films are probably:
- as an older child, Grease,
- as a teen, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (I know),
- in general, Star Wars.
2.Name a movie that you’ve seen multiple times in the theater.
It was a struggle to think of one, but I'm sure I saw the last Harry Potter film twice (not sure why), and I also think I saw the Fellowship of the Rings a couple of times. I'm not much of one for repeat cinema viewings though - I'd rather buy a DVD and watch it endlessly.
3.Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.
That's very difficult. I went to see Sunshine Cleaning because Amy Adams was in it, and I'd be drawn to films with Tilda Swinton or Maggie Smith in them. My brother and I used to watch any film that Bill Paxton was in as we thought he was flippin' hilarious, but that was a long time ago.
4.Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.
Uh, Paris Hilton. Actor is possibly not the right word, though.
5.Name a movie that you can and do quote from.
Pfft, too many. I'll say Ghostbusters as it's my favourite to quote from.
6.Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.
Grease, hands down. Even the rubbish songs that I used to fast forward (Stranded in the Drive In and Hopelessly Devoted, blah). I confess that I know the lyrics to many more films than Grease though.
7.Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with.
Pfft again. I'll sing along to anything with lyrics. I like doing silly voices so films like Beauty and the Beast or Seven Brides for Seven Brothers give me ample opportunity to work on my deep manly singing voice.
8.Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.
In Bruges. We recently watched it and were delighted and surprised by it. Such fantastic characters and dialogue.
9.Name a movie that you own.
For some reason I own 2 different versions of the original Star Wars trilogy, 2 copies of First Knight, and 2 copies of Attack of the Clones. Star Wars makes sense as they are the butchered and un-butchered versions, but I'm not sure why I have the others.
10.Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.
David Bowie, but only because I fancied him in Labyrinth when I was a child.
11.Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what?
If only Edinburgh was equipped with a drive-in! No.
12.Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven’t yet gotten around to it.
Nosferatu.
13.Ever walked out of a movie?
No, but I wanted to leave during Oceans Twelve. It was one of the worst things I've ever seen in the cinema, ever (and I've seen a lot of pap). Attractive, big name stars and fancy shooting do not a good film make. Ugh.
14.Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.
I cry at everything, I'm very easily manipulated by film. I was surprised by my tears at Wall:E - a soon as he packed himself up on his little shelf and rocked himself to sleep I welled up.
15.What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?
Moon - fab stuff.
16.What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
I like everything, I honestly can't choose one.
17.What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, on re-release, for my third birthday.
18.What movie do you wish you had never seen?
The Matrix Sequels. They were so, so bad. Actually I almost walked out of them too.
19.What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?
The Singing Ringing Tree. Oh my, but it's amazing. Saw this as part of the Ballerina Ballroom festival last year and it immediately became one of my favourite cinema experiences. The giant fish, the nasty princess, the ropey narration and that creepy magical dwarf - brilliantly weird.
20.What is the scariest movie you’ve seen?
I am easily terrified and rarely watch horror (although I want to write it). This fear stems from a Robert Powell film called The Asphyx, which I saw when I was tiny and which completely freaked me out and still does if I think about it too much. It is probably not scary at all. I'm also very scared of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (both the 50's and 70's versions).
21.What is the funniest movie you’ve seen?
Comedy, eh? I dunno. I laugh heartily at Spinal Tap every time I see it, it may be my favourite comedy, but Duck Soup is hilarious too.
---
Re The Hush - 1 day down, 18 to go, and 1,000 words happily written.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Big Push
Why, hello there! Things have been a little quiet for me online for the last week or two because I've been so very busy offline. It's all good, though, and I have some very exciting things in the pipeline because of my efforts. I shall not disclose these exciting things quite yet (sorry) but rest assured that I shall soon - and that I'll have fun things to talk about here because of them.
Anyway, these excitements mean that I essentially have to finish the current draft of The Hush in the next 19 days.
19 days to fill the gaping hole between the chapters I've already rewritten and the chapters at the end which I was happy with, then to polish up the whole manuscript, write a synopsis, and get together a list of places to send it to. It's all do-able, but I don't want to rush it.
Once that's done I will begin the arduous process of pestering agents and publishers who take unsolocited submissions. I'll also be able to move on to writing up my other ideas, as I have found my head awash with stories of late but have felt like writing them up just now would be like cheating on the Hush.
Today's plan, then, is to write at least 1,000 words. Onwards...
Anyway, these excitements mean that I essentially have to finish the current draft of The Hush in the next 19 days.
19 days to fill the gaping hole between the chapters I've already rewritten and the chapters at the end which I was happy with, then to polish up the whole manuscript, write a synopsis, and get together a list of places to send it to. It's all do-able, but I don't want to rush it.
Once that's done I will begin the arduous process of pestering agents and publishers who take unsolocited submissions. I'll also be able to move on to writing up my other ideas, as I have found my head awash with stories of late but have felt like writing them up just now would be like cheating on the Hush.
Today's plan, then, is to write at least 1,000 words. Onwards...
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Tap tapping away
Yesterday I began to type up my longhand manuscript for The Hush. I'm not finished the redraft yet, but I have a chronic fear that I will drop it in the bath or leave it in a cafe or the like. I realise that the easy way to solve this problem would be to leave the book on my desk at all times, but that's no fun.
The good thing about this is that not only am I redrafting and backing up at the same time, but also that my word counter on this blog will finally start to crawl up once more.
I still have about 20 pages to type up, say about 6,000 words, which I'm aiming to finish by the end of tomorrow. It's taking a little longer than I'd expected, but I am adding or changing a fair amount as I go so it's fine.
After I've typed up this lot, I intend to start backing up and polishing my text like this at the end of every day. This might prove unrealistic, but I like the idea of it so I'm going to give it a shot.
On another note, thanks to Lucy, David, Michelle and Laurence for typing up notes on Adrian Mead's workshop last weekend. I couldn't make it so it was great to see these - very helpful stuff, as always.
Off out now for a meeting and to buy the newest issue of the Pride and Prejudice comic, if I can find it. Joy!
Friday, July 03, 2009
EIFF and Inspiration
The 2009 Edinburgh International Film Festival ended on Sunday, and for the first time in a few years I didn't go as an industry delegate (too pricey this year). I did get tickets for a few films and hung about the Filmhouse, soaking up the atmosphere for a bit. I also met the marvellous Potdoll for a coffee, caught up with some lovely uni friends, and was inspired to rewrite one of my features.
The script is a gothic horror of mine, which a few of you may have read an early draft of. It did ok in the first Red Planet competition and most people liked the synopsis, characters and setting, but I've never been happy with the plot, and my poor baby script has sat on a shelf, withering away, for over a year. I just couldn't think of a way to salvage it, to strengthen it while making it simpler.
Anyway, the first film I saw at this year's EIFF was the Fall of the House of Usher, a Roger Corman film starring Vincent Price. It was creepy, gothic, brilliantly scripted by Richard Matheson and with terrific performances, particularly from Price. It was a good quality print (the best they could find apparently - with French subtitles) but still had that lovely old scratchy noise which makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I loved it, and came out feeling very inspired.
I ran from the film to a cafe and, armed with a peppermint tea, stripped my script back to its basics. I wrote a new synopsis, a much tighter one with fewer locations and less actually going on, so the horror could be amplified. I then jotted down a list of character motivations, discarded two of my original characters and added three new ones, then got down to the business of a scene breakdown. At the end of the afternoon I had the whole film listed as bulletpoints, and was very happy with it. It's a complete, page one, rewrite, which is my favourite kind. I'm retaining the elements that were strong in the last draft - characters and setting - but changing the plot entirely. I am going old school horror on it, no less.
Next step is to write the script and redraft before the Screenwriters Festival in October, as I have a spot on the 'speed dating' sessions and will be pitching this very idea.
Roger Corman wasn't the only person to inspire me at the EIFF though. I went to see a fantastic selection of Scottish Screen's archive films, and was touched by one directed by Margaret Tait, who we were told was one of only two prominent Scottish female filmmakers. Her short 'Rose Street,' which she described as a 'visual poem,' was so touching that it's also inspired me to look back at my roots for inspiration - which I'm doing to a large extent in the Hush but which I haven't done in film as yet.
I also went to see Moon, which I'd definitely recommend. Unfortunately I read a review somewhere - might have been the Evening News - which completely spoiled the twists in it, but it looked and sounded fantastic and I always love Sam Rockwell. Saw some short films too, but the less said the better about them.
So, while I didn't go for the whole shebang this year, the EIFF was still worth attending, and has once again spurred me into further action.
The script is a gothic horror of mine, which a few of you may have read an early draft of. It did ok in the first Red Planet competition and most people liked the synopsis, characters and setting, but I've never been happy with the plot, and my poor baby script has sat on a shelf, withering away, for over a year. I just couldn't think of a way to salvage it, to strengthen it while making it simpler.
Anyway, the first film I saw at this year's EIFF was the Fall of the House of Usher, a Roger Corman film starring Vincent Price. It was creepy, gothic, brilliantly scripted by Richard Matheson and with terrific performances, particularly from Price. It was a good quality print (the best they could find apparently - with French subtitles) but still had that lovely old scratchy noise which makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I loved it, and came out feeling very inspired.
I ran from the film to a cafe and, armed with a peppermint tea, stripped my script back to its basics. I wrote a new synopsis, a much tighter one with fewer locations and less actually going on, so the horror could be amplified. I then jotted down a list of character motivations, discarded two of my original characters and added three new ones, then got down to the business of a scene breakdown. At the end of the afternoon I had the whole film listed as bulletpoints, and was very happy with it. It's a complete, page one, rewrite, which is my favourite kind. I'm retaining the elements that were strong in the last draft - characters and setting - but changing the plot entirely. I am going old school horror on it, no less.
Next step is to write the script and redraft before the Screenwriters Festival in October, as I have a spot on the 'speed dating' sessions and will be pitching this very idea.
Roger Corman wasn't the only person to inspire me at the EIFF though. I went to see a fantastic selection of Scottish Screen's archive films, and was touched by one directed by Margaret Tait, who we were told was one of only two prominent Scottish female filmmakers. Her short 'Rose Street,' which she described as a 'visual poem,' was so touching that it's also inspired me to look back at my roots for inspiration - which I'm doing to a large extent in the Hush but which I haven't done in film as yet.
I also went to see Moon, which I'd definitely recommend. Unfortunately I read a review somewhere - might have been the Evening News - which completely spoiled the twists in it, but it looked and sounded fantastic and I always love Sam Rockwell. Saw some short films too, but the less said the better about them.
So, while I didn't go for the whole shebang this year, the EIFF was still worth attending, and has once again spurred me into further action.
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