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...

Musings on Doctor Who.

As the season finale approaches I confess to feeling a little flat about Doctor Who.

Don't get me wrong, I love this programme. It is one of the 'unmissables' on tv. Still I can't help but feel that the writers are somewhat dragging their heels. Most of the actual storylines seem secondary to quick one-liners and comic gags. 

Yes, Matt Smith is a brilliant shining star. He has succeeded in doing the impossible - namely replacing David Tennant not just on our screens but also in our hearts . His intro as The Doctor was quite possibly the best yet!

Karen Gillan, however, has failed to make much of an impact as his sidekick, Amy Pond. Okay, so she has many male fans for obvious reasons, but as a character she fails to deliver. Not Ms Gillan's fault. The blame lies squarely with the writers.

Where is her humanity? What is there to love about Amy? She is sexual and feisty, but what else? Where is Amy's heart? Her soul? Hopefully the two part finale will fill in the blanks.

From what I have seen the writers are making the classic mistake of thinking 'more is better', and that a finale should be crammed with as many old characters as possible. The Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans... everyone has an invite to the party. That must make for good tv, right? Surely the fans will love it!

Unfortunaltely, no. What the fans love - above all else - is The Doctor. The more characters you pack into one episode, the less screen time he gets. And we feel cheated. The less screen time he gets, the quicker he has to come up with a solution to the problem, and that means one of two things: either the solution itself is ridiculous, or it lacks drama.

If you want to do something special then take us back to the days when The Doctor had to use his brain. Show him being amazing! Because, at the end of the day, we want 'The Oncoming Storm'. We want a hero.

New Moon Blessings

It is easy to complain about life. We all do it. But we often forget to stop for a moment and count our blessings.

It's a new moon tonight ~ time to count mine. Here are some of the many things that make me happy:

* notebooks and pens

* sunshine on bare skin

* thunderstorms

* Trevor, the crazy puppy

* hearing children laugh

* dancing in the rain

* the beauty of trees

* getting lost in a book

* pancakes with ice cream

* the company of interesting people

* writing

* how things look by candlelight

* shimmer body lotions

* bars of handmade soap

* the smell of a woodland

* the sound of waves on the shore

* sand beneath my feet

* watching a good movie

* music

* family and friends

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