LSF is nearly here.

Hmm. Been a while since my last post. So what have I been doing?

Well I have a new profile photo.  I am using it on all my social media sites so you will know when you have found me. I was going to do a fancy pose but that really isn't me so I went for the natural look.

If you haven't noticed there is a list on the left of Sages and Sinners.  Take a look to find a bunch of friendly writing bloggers. Blogging went very quiet for a few years with people moving to Facebook, Twitter, etc.  The lively debates still tend to be on those sites but people are returning to blogging when they have something to say. So do take a look at the interesting people to your left.

Unsure whether I should put my one page pitches up on this site. Some people worry that the ideas would be stolen. Others think it is an easy way for people to find out what you write and if they are interested. Hmmm.  Maybe I will just put up a logline and people can contact me for more details. I shall have a think.


The script reading session at TBTL was last month. This was organised by NCS and Mary Papadima (Assistant Director at TBTL) and the theatre's resident Summer actors.  I submitted the first act of a film script and got lots of feedback from that. Take note, if you ask actors to let rip on feedback they will. It was brutal but constructive. Just as well I am not a delicate flower.

I knew my characters in my head but wanted to see how they came across on the page and their relationships. They clearly needed some more work. However I came away with lots of ideas for developing the script. Really worth getting a script-in-hand reading of your work if you can.

Planned to put a nice picture here but the internet is currently slower than dial-up and won't play ball.  So imagine your favourite image tucked in just about here.  No naughty stuff mind. I will know.

Now to the LSF. I didn't make the final 5 for the scriptangel mentoring scheme but chuffed I got to the final 20. I didn't mope. I got it submitted for a different feedback scheme.

There was a lovely gathering of Them There Northerners in Liverpool. It was wonderful to meet them all in the real world. A really supportive crowd.  Yvonne Grace and Lisa Holdsworth helped us knock our pitches into shape ready for LSF.  They had really helpful advice which I have implemented in my pitches and scripts.

Business cards are sorted and I am narrowing down which PitchFest session I will be trying for. Now it is a case of tidying up my top three scripts and making my pitches as efficient as possible. But they still need to be chatty. I prefer to chat than recite.

Really excited about the event. I am not going expecting to sell a script or get an agent. I going to learn and to network with a lot of lovely people. So. I'd better get some writing done now.

London Screenwriting Festival is drawing near.

Like my new logo? My son designed it for me. Just got to remind him to finish designing my business cards.

Well I have been keeping busy getting ready for LSF, when I am not being my alter-ego. There are still tickets available so get there if you can.

Things are hotting up as labs, script readings and mentoring schemes come on line. I want to make the most of my time there so am applying for as much as I can. This means getting loglines, one page pitches and scripts up to scratch.

I heard yesterday that I got through the first stage for a mentoring programme. Delighted to see I knew quite a few of the others that got through too. Next week the group of 20 gets reduced to a group of 5. So that is 20 writers holding their breath. Does it seem quieter?

I won't have a fully developed script for all my projects but I aim to have good pitches ready for all of them. Them There Northerners, one of the LSF groups are having a gathering in just over a week.  We will be helping each other get ready with the assistance of some lovely mentors.

That is the nice thing about the writing community.  You pull each other up rather than pushing each other down. I am just as chuffed at a friend getting an opportunity as when I do. Well maybe a little less but only a little.

This will be my first time at the festival. I have wanted to go since it started but my day job always clashed with it. This year, no clash. Yay.

Like a lot of writers there I will be hoping to write a post on each day. From what I have seen for previous years I may be too exhausted to do it.  But I will try.

And what am I doing right now? Well I have the first act of a horror film, Symbiosis, being workshopped at the Theatre by the Lakes. I do enjoy seeing what directors and actors do with a script. Quite excited. I'll let you know how it goes.