Carpe Diem

I am, as Xander Harris once said, 'seizing the fish.'

My website is now up! Please take a look if you are searching for an unusual gift.  I'm trying to update it weekly and add more products to the shop. Every item is handcrafted by me and most are 'one of a kinds'. I also take commissions. More items due to be listed later today.  http://www.goblinmoon.co.uk/

The winner of the Red Planet Prize is announced this month. I'm nervously awaiting the result. I could really use the prize money, but more importantly the winner also receives a commission.

Good news in the world of scripts... Island Pictures pitched me to the BBC as a 'new writer' back in September. The BBC liked my script and agreed to read a second one. I was recently informed that the second script went down well, and that it has been fwd to BBC Wales with a recommendation that I write for Merlin.

Me. Writing for Merlin! Dream come true, baby! Aside from the fact that Merlin is an action/fantasy series (my genre), it also stars three of my favourite actors, namely Anthony Stewart Head, John Hurt and Richard Wilson. How amazing to write lines for them!

My agent is supposed to be trying to arrange a meeting with BBC Wales, but I have yet to hear back from him. I don't really want to let it run over Christmas incase I get forgotten in the festive lull. Must phone him again...

I am also waiting to hear back from Steven Moffat regarding the script that I sent to him a few months ago. So it seems that I am destined to spend most of December waiting for responses/decisions on my scripts. I loathe this part. I truly do. The butterflies in my stomach feel more like pterodactyls right now!

But... it's all good. I have opportunities. That's gotta be a plus. =)

I have also started to learn the Italian language this week. My kids laugh at me as I repeat phrases while cooking the evening meal... but who cares? I'm learning a new skill and doing something that I enjoy.

Why Italian? Well, I went to see the movie 'Eat. Pray. Love' in the summer. It is supposed to be a 'life changing' movie, but all it really did was make me want to eat ice cream and speak Italian. So a couple of days ago I ordered a copy of SmartItalian from Amazon.

I'm hoping that - by the time I am fluent - I'll have landed a job and can take my family to Rome.

The Climb

Just heard this on the radio and burst into tears. It hits me every time. Those first two paragraphs seem to voice my feelings so completely.

WHY did I wait so f**king long before I began climbing? So many precious years wasted, sitting at the bottom, too afraid to even try.

If I had my life over I would sprint up that mountain. Hell with climb - I want to reach the summit!

The Climb

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody's gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

© HOPELESS ROSE MUSIC; VISTAVILLE MUSIC

Life

I thought I'd lost my best friend today.

I got a phone call from her daughter to say that she'd had a heart attack - a massive one - and I just thought 'She's gone'. After all, she lives on whiskey and cigarettes and is in her eighties... For one horrible, horrible moment I was in shock.  

Then her daughter told me what ward she was in, etc... and I was so relieved. I burst into tears when I put the phone down, and realised that I have never actually told her just how much she means to me.

I visited her in hospital this evening and she looked better than I expected. She was her usual feisty self, and seemed more concerned about the possibility of missing a tv programme on Wednesday than about having had a heart attack.

I love her to bits. I'm so very grateful that she is still in my life.

Secure in my insecurities

I irritate myself endlessly. I'm sure this is not peculiar to me, and that there are many, many people who finds themselves gratingly annoying - but I have had enough.

I've been invited to a Full Moon Drumming session. I'd love to go. But I know that I won't because I am too afraid that I shall a) do something wrong, or b) be so obnoxious that everyone loathes me and begins to shun me in the street.

No, I'm not kidding.

Where do these insecurities come from? Why can't I be normal? As I say... I irritate myself endlessly with this ridiculous need to please. It has gotten to the stage where I am avoiding social situations so that people don't get the chance to dislike me!

Does that sound like the actions of a sane person? No. I didn't think so. *sigh*

In lighter news I have heard back from Island Pictures. Not much... just an email to say thanks for the synopsis and he hopes to get back to me at the end of next week. At least I don't need to be checking my emails every half an hour now. It's nice to have a company considerate enough to acknowledge you like that.

Incidentally, for my own records, 'Intermission' was previously called 'Phantasmagoria'. I loved the name (it was the title of an album by The Damned) but everyone else hated it. They were right. I was wrong. Intermission is better. =)

Have a beautiful day.

Getting my life back.

Don't get me wrong... I have LOVED having my son home this past 18 months and home educating him. It has done him the world of good and has certainly made us closer.

But...

...it will be so nice once September arrives and he starts High School. I will finally have my days to myself again and can GET SOME WRITING DONE!! I truly did not appreciate just how much time I had before. As with so many things in life, you do not value what you have until it is gone.

A whole working day. To myself. Five days a week. I am giddy with excitement. =D

I've been busy recently. I submitted the script for 'After Dark' to the Red Planet Pictures competition. I don't think it will get anywhere, but at least I have sent something. I also sent a synopsis for the newly named 'Intermission' to Island Pictures.

I rewrote the begining of my novel, 'In the Blood'. I cut five pages from chapter one and made it a prologue instead. It is faster paced now and more appropriate for the intended teenage market. Now that the above competition entry and synopsis are complete I can get back to finishing this book.

I'm enjoying writing. Just wish someone would actually pay me to do it....

Dear Steven Moffat...

... how wrong I was to doubt you!! Wow. Never ever again will I lose faith in your ability to tell a story. The two part finale of Doctor Who was the most satisfying, rewarding and emotional ending to a series to date.

This was a masterpiece. A beautifully crafted tapestry of words and illusion. Like an intricate Celtic knot - comprised of more twists and turns than one could count.

Matt Smith was sublime as The Doctor, putting us through the whole spectrum of human emotion before the final scene. I have watched both episodes twice now and am still moved to tears. This was the first time we have seen him showing actual affection to River, and the development of their complicated relationship must be such fun to plot.

Thank you, Mr Moffat, for such a wonderful piece of writing. I don't know how I will survive the wait until the Christmas Special.

Please give me a job! <---- seriously.

Mars Attacks

Red Planet Pictures have just launched their 2010 writing competition.

I'm excited.

Very.  Excited.

This year they are looking for a one hour drama or tv pilot. I have a lot of tv pilots. Tons, in fact. Off the top of my head I can think of Demonheart, Henge, After Dark, Phantasmagoria, Sweet Enchantment...

Not all of these are completed scripts, but Red Planet are only asking for the first ten pages initially. No problem at all.

Here are the details:

This year’s competition is for an original 60 minute television script, either a single play or a pilot for a new series. You are initially required to submit the first ten pages along with a short synopsis. The full script should be available on request, you may be required to submit this within a month of the final closing date.

As before, the winner will receive £5000, a script commission and the option of representation if required.
 Red Planet and Kudos will also mentor finalists for the Prize.The competition is open to anyone within the UK. The RED PLANET PRIZE will close to new entrants at midnight on 31st July.

31st July. I have some writing to do.....

As if that wasn't enough, the Peter Ustinov competition this year is for a half hour tv show. I just happen to be working on one called The Bad Apple.

There is a monumental gift horse standing in front of me and I am determined not to look the sucker in the mouth.

Happy Tuesday everyone. I'm off to buy some candles that I can burn at both ends...