The list is in rough order of priority but I like to be adaptable. The first three are pretty well fixed but the others may float about or pop up at a quiet moment ahead of schedule. As to deadlines. Well the first one is out of my control but the others I set a goalpost and work towards it but if it needs longer then I don't really fret about it. The joys of writing spec work.
So here's my little list.
1) The Gate (Horror) - TV Series for Red Planet Competition. I've missed decent, non-gloss horror on the telly so I thought I'd write one. Seems lots of others thought the same so a load of us have had a go. Well at least it shows there's a demand and the more the merrier. Anyway getting first episode completed before the deadline. On page 40 so the 1st draft end is in sight. Had been blocked on a bit I wasn't happy with. It felt like talking heads even though they were driving in a car. Found a way to make it more dynamic while also giving more information about the characters relationship so happy now. Until others read it and go WHAT? of course. Then I'll be a blubbery wreck and resort to the chocolate I've hidden away for Christmas.
2) Don't be Koi (Romcom) - Radio. I'm on 1st draft but it is going well. The characters are bouncing off each other nicely and it's got a wierd streak so I'm comfortable with it. I want to get the 1st draft finished this month.
3) Witch's Stone (Teen Horror) - Novel. An allegory for addiction in its many forms. I thought I had the full story blocked out but when I want back to it after a couple of years break I realised I only had half the story. I'm going to write what I've got then free-wheel the rest to get that dreaded 1st draft done. This is my big winter project.
4) Blood, Sweat and Tears (Black Comedy) - Feature Film. This is muck and drizzle rural life rather than chocolate box stuff. A nice bit of grizzly murder to boot. I'm done a page 1 re-write on this one after noting everyone banged their heads against the wall while reading it. My first attempt at a feature film and I just tried to put everything in it. It is very different from the original version now but still has the theme and tone I wanted. All the scenes blocked out so its head down to get this draft finished.
5) Life to the Full (Drama) - TV Special. It's about an old woman and young boy that have become dispossessed from society. Not as gloomy as it sounds. Again the story is all blocked out but I need to get the thing written.
6) Rain on My Parade (Comedy Drama) - Feature Film. Sex and drugs and rock and roll for the over 40s, 50s and 60s. A pet project that I've not got quite right yet. It involves three interlinked threads about some non-conformist women so I know it is harder to write. Keeping the balance but letting people keep track of them all. I have two of the threads in a form I am happy with but one still seems too obvious. Can't have that.
7) Solitary Sky (Science Fiction) - Radio. I wanted to have a go at an SF play. First draft half way throught but still needsa lot of work.
8) Under the Thumb (Horror/Drama) - Stage Play. Set in the near future in a totalitarian state where things get very nasty. The staging of this is integral to the play so I'm still experimenting a lot.
And I've got some more Thoughts for the Day to do of course and there's a lot at the knocking around your head and scraps of paper stage.
Some of you are now thinking (hope it isn't giving you a headache) that might be why I've been erratic posting recently. Yep. 'Fraid so. I found I'd got into a spell of posting to avoid getting down to other writing. Trying to be more disciplined so hopefully a bit less of flood and famine. Unless I get bored of course then I might sneak out a few more.
Oh and I met someone the other day who didn't know who the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse were. What's going on with education these days? Clearly not read enough horror. I can recommend the Book of Revelations for bedtime reading.
And continuing the horror theme, here's a pretty picture. Enjoy.
6 comments:
Bloody hell woman, how in the name of mad puppeh do you fit all that in??? Even by my madly industrious standards that is INSANE. Have a break. And a kit kat. STAT.
I'm not doing them all at the same time! Well not too many. Decided to think of my figure and passed on the kit kat but went to see Daniel Craig instead.
Whoahh! That is a lot. I love the sound of your black comedy feature. I keep trying a radio play, TV series and feature film but all I get is ideas for more short scripts :0 So well impressed with your developing 'slate'.
Good luck.
Hi Caroline. Thought a list would show me why I was knackered. It worked.
As to shorts. You could always put a bunch of them together to make a feature? Then you could film them in instalments.
Hope your Red Planet is going well.
Howdy! Gotta say - that's alot of projects you've got going. And also - I'm so glad to see a woman writing sci-fi. There seem to be far too few female sci-fi writers out there!
I'm also a 'lots of projects' person. I have dozens of ideas out there and i've put the plans down for most of them. The problem is - having time to write them all. I like to have more than one project on the go, cos then if you get writer's block with one, you can shift onto the other. I dot around ALOT!
Love the blog - keep up the great work. Oh, and shameless plugging of my own blog - I'm an aspiring Brit screenwriter with a wild interest in sci-fi.
-Neil
http://writewithhonour.blogspot.com
Hi Neil. Thanks for popping by. I've loved SF for years and it used to drive me nuts when people said it was for boys.
Used to write a lot of short stories along that line but have lapsed for a while. Trying to get back into it.
I've noticed age has changed my tastes though. Used to write Cyberpunk but now more interest in psychological stuff.
Post a Comment