Uncategorized – The Aspiring Screenwriter

The Fever

Lots of screenwriting content in my next post, including WINNING a screenwriting award at a festival(!!), but first an article I’ve written for the excellent Blackwatch football magazine about the unrelenting fever of childhood sports passion. In my case it was Everton Football Club, but for you it could have been the Chicago Bulls orContinue reading “The Fever”

A Summer in the Hope Machine

Loads of news since my last blog, including a quarter final placement in The Nicholl Fellowship, the single biggest boost to my self-belief since I entered this crazy world. However, this post is about my summer spent in what’s been dubbed The Hope Machine… That world of consultants and coverage services in L.A that provideContinue reading “A Summer in the Hope Machine”

My first final – and an 18 month progress report

It’s been an interesting few weeks since my last blog, I’ve made the final of a big Coverfly competition and passed the 18 month mark as an aspiring screenwriter. Let’s do a brief recap of my journey so far… 0-6 months – Clueless Newbie. (Warning… offensively bad writing ahead) It is incredible to me thatContinue reading “My first final – and an 18 month progress report”

My first competition placing! (And some Channel 4 disappointment)

A mixed week in my screenwriting journey, but first a story from my murky, troubled past. I don’t believe I have gone public with this story before… I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember the bone chilling fear and the adrenaline rush as my human survival system kicked in. The room was dark.Continue reading “My first competition placing! (And some Channel 4 disappointment)”

7 brilliant tips from script readers

Apologies for the click-baity title. I’ve read an article about how placing a number at the start of your blog title vastly improves clicks. It lets the reader know how much of their time they’ll need to invest. I almost went peak click-bait with ‘You won’t believe what Todd from Neighbours looks like now!!’ ,Continue reading “7 brilliant tips from script readers”

Writers Block

A few years ago, when I was a personal trainer, I had a free-spirited, open minded, bohemian client called Clare. One day, she signed up for a week long ‘Silence Retreat’ in some woods near Colchester. The entire week she was away I battled the urge to send her a text message with no words,Continue reading “Writers Block”

Is social media killing democracy? (And a trip to the Rhondda)

‘Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own Government.’ That’s Thomas Jefferson. It’s a nice, inarguable idea. You cannot trust an ignorant population with a democracy. Or, to rephrase it slightly: If you wanna have a democracy, you MUST make sure everyone is educated, and the children of poorer peopleContinue reading “Is social media killing democracy? (And a trip to the Rhondda)”

A Beautifully Constructed Savaging

This week, an important moment in my development as a writer. A moment I have been waiting for since I tapped out the opening slug line of my first script last year. It may prove to be a huge turning point in my career. I’ve had my very first savaging. Receiving professional script coverage reportsContinue reading “A Beautifully Constructed Savaging”

Fraud

I started screenwriting just under a year ago… Actually scratch that. I started ‘aspiring screenwriting’ just under a year ago. Despite having five spec scripts under my belt, I still can’t tell friends that I am ‘screenwriting’ because, thus far, I haven’t even been shortlisted in a competition (though I have only entered one), letContinue reading “Fraud”