James Devo's Blog
July 30, 2016
Interview
Hello there
Here's an interview I did with the lovely NYAREADS -
http://www.nyareads.com/2016/07/30/in...
Enjoy!
Here's an interview I did with the lovely NYAREADS -
http://www.nyareads.com/2016/07/30/in...
Enjoy!
July 15, 2016
World War 2 Bomber Crews
Hello there
I know it's a long shot but can anybody recommend a really good World War 2 bomber crew book?
I want something along the lines of the beginning of A Matter of Life and Death (aka Stairway to Heaven)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9v5H...
and this -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF5_h...
If anybody knows an indie author looking for reviews, I'll be very happy to read for review...
Cheers
James
I know it's a long shot but can anybody recommend a really good World War 2 bomber crew book?
I want something along the lines of the beginning of A Matter of Life and Death (aka Stairway to Heaven)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9v5H...
and this -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF5_h...
If anybody knows an indie author looking for reviews, I'll be very happy to read for review...
Cheers
James
July 10, 2016
Mo Music to Write To
This playlist is all rather uplifting. It’s from the third playlist to which I wrote the Wonder, so it’s all rather propelling and motivating, getting both me and characters through that final push…
Let’s start with Jerry, one of his earlier, sexy numbers from In Like Flint – Flint Is Alive;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en4LZ...
Michael Giacchino can do a decent Williams pastiche, as shown in this Medal Of Honor soundtracks, but here he takes on the Barry himself…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_wvb...
But then he’s not called THE Barry for nothing…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjkzd...
Now for TV based spy fun, by Laurie Anderson, who learnt his trade working with Military marching bands. And it’s quite clear here –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btLAK...
And now the new new Avengers – Silvestri, who started with the disco soundtrack of CHIPS, is all very Super hero here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VGJG...
And then the best moment of Williams from the prequels, although I’m still an asteroid belt fan. EVERYBODY knows this…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt0Uu...
Now I prefer his The Ghost and Mrs Muir but this was on the playlist. From the original Journey to the Center of the Earth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2tPh...
My favourite track from LOTR by far –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdsR8...
Another non-Hitchcock Herrman –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paMlY...
And finally, from one the greatest pieces of Trek, stealing the Enterprise…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEmAi...
That’s it for this installment. Hope you enjoy.
Also available here -
https://wordpress.com/post/jamesdevo....
Cheers
James
Let’s start with Jerry, one of his earlier, sexy numbers from In Like Flint – Flint Is Alive;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en4LZ...
Michael Giacchino can do a decent Williams pastiche, as shown in this Medal Of Honor soundtracks, but here he takes on the Barry himself…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_wvb...
But then he’s not called THE Barry for nothing…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjkzd...
Now for TV based spy fun, by Laurie Anderson, who learnt his trade working with Military marching bands. And it’s quite clear here –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btLAK...
And now the new new Avengers – Silvestri, who started with the disco soundtrack of CHIPS, is all very Super hero here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VGJG...
And then the best moment of Williams from the prequels, although I’m still an asteroid belt fan. EVERYBODY knows this…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt0Uu...
Now I prefer his The Ghost and Mrs Muir but this was on the playlist. From the original Journey to the Center of the Earth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2tPh...
My favourite track from LOTR by far –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdsR8...
Another non-Hitchcock Herrman –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paMlY...
And finally, from one the greatest pieces of Trek, stealing the Enterprise…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEmAi...
That’s it for this installment. Hope you enjoy.
Also available here -
https://wordpress.com/post/jamesdevo....
Cheers
James
June 25, 2016
More to write to
And we're back in the room...
So Cliff Eidelman, a bit of a hack, lifts from Holst's the Planets (at the request of director Nick Meyer), comes up trumps - The Overture from Star Trek VI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT-wu...
Goldsmith lifting from Saint Saen's Aquarium, also for Star Trek, also comes up trumps - Floating Office -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVxn_...
Needs no introduction, nice follow on from the Goldsmith - Morricone's The Mission theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gonKh...
Browncoats HO! David Newman's theme from Serenity...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLmkf...
More from the Mish. Falls by Morricone -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ez8g...
More from Morricone -
Addio a Palermo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn7d0...
and
For a few Dollars more - LIVE! on school RECORDER!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3lGa...
and
Tena D'Amore from Cinema Paradiso
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPnG9...
One of Williams' greatest that aches with passion. From Raiders - Marion's Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxCUJ...
And finally, the best track from Giacchino's Star Trek, Enterprising Young Men
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMu5j...
That's it for this week's installment. Thanks for listening.
Cheers
So Cliff Eidelman, a bit of a hack, lifts from Holst's the Planets (at the request of director Nick Meyer), comes up trumps - The Overture from Star Trek VI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT-wu...
Goldsmith lifting from Saint Saen's Aquarium, also for Star Trek, also comes up trumps - Floating Office -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVxn_...
Needs no introduction, nice follow on from the Goldsmith - Morricone's The Mission theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gonKh...
Browncoats HO! David Newman's theme from Serenity...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLmkf...
More from the Mish. Falls by Morricone -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ez8g...
More from Morricone -
Addio a Palermo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn7d0...
and
For a few Dollars more - LIVE! on school RECORDER!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3lGa...
and
Tena D'Amore from Cinema Paradiso
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPnG9...
One of Williams' greatest that aches with passion. From Raiders - Marion's Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxCUJ...
And finally, the best track from Giacchino's Star Trek, Enterprising Young Men
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMu5j...
That's it for this week's installment. Thanks for listening.
Cheers
June 22, 2016
Longterm or a Dirty Weekend?
It may be obvious but the act of writing a story is like having a relationship.
It starts off and you're excited and you don't know if it's really going anywhere. You come across idiosyncrasies and little foibles you obsess about that may not be worth considering in the big picture. You miss big problems as you try to work out what's going on and build something special.
Obviously you're not desperate to plough through to the end and you don't get a second draft BUT... ...if you write, you might know I mean.
Short stories (and short films) feel like one night stands or dirty weekends away, little bursts of satisfaction.
I've got some stories that I've written for competitions, or sitcoms I've written or rewritten on commission, and they feel like going through the motions. Like I’ve been set up on a blind date by friends.
Then there are those tales that started off so strongly, effortless, the Best Thing Ever …and then trailed off.
The Wonder 1&2 (they were split in half by the publisher so still work as one in my mind) were written to save me from the outside world. Pregnant wife, contract work not paying on time, building work at home, mortgages, all the stuff that keeps one awake at night. The Wonder came along to help me sleep at night, grown from a long held acorn. It gave me something to run to. It was a port in a storm. A mixed metaphor offering support.
It was like a relationship with an old friend I'd always fancied. We worked well together and it lasted a long time.
I'm halfway through the latest installment, and it's a different beast. Now that people have enjoyed the other books, (and the publisher has said, longer series sell better) I've returned to the world a different man, a different writer.
It's like friends have said, "You two go really well together."
I’ve written other work since finishing 1&2, finally finding my voice completely in my screenwriting. Bringing that experience to The Wonder is like saying to an ex, “I’ve changed. We’ve both grown up. Let’s give it another try.”
The first visit to the Wonder was about world building and finding characters with whom I was willing to spend time with.
It was about fun.
There were parts that were awkward and difficult (the following is not really spoilery, I hope) – the beginning of the journey beneath the Lodge, Spicer’s whole character arc, where the heck everyone was off to after they escaped the place with the thing
(oh, it’s harder to avoid spoilers that I thought).
There were parts that I had really looked forward to, that were like the best holidays ever with a partner – the battle of Maisy, written in one long weekend with a bottle of wine in darkness. Kind of everything I became a writer for. And also a favourite with many readers.
There were parts I expected would go one way and they went off elsewhere – (non-spoiler version) the bit on the thing where the people meet the other people and don’t do what you think they’d do – which added a lot more depth to the story and the characters than I’d expected.
Like one of those soul-searching weekends away with a partner where it rained all the time and you had a bad back so the sort of fun you were expecting turned into a different type of fun where you talked and talked all night and watched the sun come up…
This new relationship I’m having with my ex is different.
The action is happening in three different places, and I start to really get into something, start building the world and then realise I need to save stuff for later. As this is probably the last book with these characters, I need to answer some questions, and finding the point to answer those questions is really difficult…
I’ve plotted it out to an extent, but finding the rhythm of the characters and each scene, working out the time to cut away, how much to leave the reader wanting, that only comes with the first draft (I write in long hand on the bus, as mentioned previously, and then tidy up as I type it up – I like to call it the ‘free’ second draft – which is where I make those decisions on where to cut away).
There are two points where I’ve cut away from where I’ve got to in the first draft. You know, I’m writing merrily away, really enjoying what’s going on, and then take a step back and realise that now the characters know what they have to do, so it’s time to cut away. A cliffhanger if you will.
The first point is building a picture of the Capital, a city we’ve heard about for 500 pages but never visited. I put together a whole carriage journey through it that was pure joy to write, but is now sitting patiently in my notebook, an unused itinerary.
It’s like realised your partner always wanted to visit Pompeii but waiting until that big project at work has finished to give them a reward. I’ve bought them the guidebook but am yet to book the tickets…
The second point I hit this morning. I finally managed to clearly convey the history of things that have had direct effect on all the characters and the whole world. It all slotted into place, better than I’d ever considered before, after much re-reading of the first books to tie it up neatly. I’ve also now got a reason for the characters to gain that knowledge – before there was no way for them to discover this ancient history, but I’ve unblocked that with characters I’ve kept in reserve just for that purpose.
But is the mid-point the best place to reveal the truth about The Gramarye? I think not, so I need to carefully work out what to share and what to tease. I need to share enough to add to the peril my characters are in, but not so much that we now know all the background and it’s just a question of seeing the main players… play out.
At this late stage in the whole story arc, the beginning of act three I guess, it’s like I’m working out when I need to get down on one knee and propose.
Which is a nice place to stop talking, probably
It starts off and you're excited and you don't know if it's really going anywhere. You come across idiosyncrasies and little foibles you obsess about that may not be worth considering in the big picture. You miss big problems as you try to work out what's going on and build something special.
Obviously you're not desperate to plough through to the end and you don't get a second draft BUT... ...if you write, you might know I mean.
Short stories (and short films) feel like one night stands or dirty weekends away, little bursts of satisfaction.
I've got some stories that I've written for competitions, or sitcoms I've written or rewritten on commission, and they feel like going through the motions. Like I’ve been set up on a blind date by friends.
Then there are those tales that started off so strongly, effortless, the Best Thing Ever …and then trailed off.
The Wonder 1&2 (they were split in half by the publisher so still work as one in my mind) were written to save me from the outside world. Pregnant wife, contract work not paying on time, building work at home, mortgages, all the stuff that keeps one awake at night. The Wonder came along to help me sleep at night, grown from a long held acorn. It gave me something to run to. It was a port in a storm. A mixed metaphor offering support.
It was like a relationship with an old friend I'd always fancied. We worked well together and it lasted a long time.
I'm halfway through the latest installment, and it's a different beast. Now that people have enjoyed the other books, (and the publisher has said, longer series sell better) I've returned to the world a different man, a different writer.
It's like friends have said, "You two go really well together."
I’ve written other work since finishing 1&2, finally finding my voice completely in my screenwriting. Bringing that experience to The Wonder is like saying to an ex, “I’ve changed. We’ve both grown up. Let’s give it another try.”
The first visit to the Wonder was about world building and finding characters with whom I was willing to spend time with.
It was about fun.
There were parts that were awkward and difficult (the following is not really spoilery, I hope) – the beginning of the journey beneath the Lodge, Spicer’s whole character arc, where the heck everyone was off to after they escaped the place with the thing
(oh, it’s harder to avoid spoilers that I thought).
There were parts that I had really looked forward to, that were like the best holidays ever with a partner – the battle of Maisy, written in one long weekend with a bottle of wine in darkness. Kind of everything I became a writer for. And also a favourite with many readers.
There were parts I expected would go one way and they went off elsewhere – (non-spoiler version) the bit on the thing where the people meet the other people and don’t do what you think they’d do – which added a lot more depth to the story and the characters than I’d expected.
Like one of those soul-searching weekends away with a partner where it rained all the time and you had a bad back so the sort of fun you were expecting turned into a different type of fun where you talked and talked all night and watched the sun come up…
This new relationship I’m having with my ex is different.
The action is happening in three different places, and I start to really get into something, start building the world and then realise I need to save stuff for later. As this is probably the last book with these characters, I need to answer some questions, and finding the point to answer those questions is really difficult…
I’ve plotted it out to an extent, but finding the rhythm of the characters and each scene, working out the time to cut away, how much to leave the reader wanting, that only comes with the first draft (I write in long hand on the bus, as mentioned previously, and then tidy up as I type it up – I like to call it the ‘free’ second draft – which is where I make those decisions on where to cut away).
There are two points where I’ve cut away from where I’ve got to in the first draft. You know, I’m writing merrily away, really enjoying what’s going on, and then take a step back and realise that now the characters know what they have to do, so it’s time to cut away. A cliffhanger if you will.
The first point is building a picture of the Capital, a city we’ve heard about for 500 pages but never visited. I put together a whole carriage journey through it that was pure joy to write, but is now sitting patiently in my notebook, an unused itinerary.
It’s like realised your partner always wanted to visit Pompeii but waiting until that big project at work has finished to give them a reward. I’ve bought them the guidebook but am yet to book the tickets…
The second point I hit this morning. I finally managed to clearly convey the history of things that have had direct effect on all the characters and the whole world. It all slotted into place, better than I’d ever considered before, after much re-reading of the first books to tie it up neatly. I’ve also now got a reason for the characters to gain that knowledge – before there was no way for them to discover this ancient history, but I’ve unblocked that with characters I’ve kept in reserve just for that purpose.
But is the mid-point the best place to reveal the truth about The Gramarye? I think not, so I need to carefully work out what to share and what to tease. I need to share enough to add to the peril my characters are in, but not so much that we now know all the background and it’s just a question of seeing the main players… play out.
At this late stage in the whole story arc, the beginning of act three I guess, it’s like I’m working out when I need to get down on one knee and propose.
Which is a nice place to stop talking, probably
June 16, 2016
Title Help!
Hello there
I'm halfway through Book 3 of The Wonder and was hoping for some input...
As you may know, the titles are colour-based (due to the magic system used) -
The Wonder 1: Blood Red
The Wonder 2: Deep Blue
(This is brilliant considering I am completely colourblind but never mind that...)
I need 3 to be...
The Wonder 3: red-blue and green-blue
Obviously that's a rubbish title, so I was thinking
The Wonder 3: Turquoise & Amethyst
or
The Wonder 3: Violet & Cerulean
or combinations thereof...
I'm worried they just sound a bit too cuddly/YA Fantasy but they do feel rather Victorian, which is apt for the time period.
Also, does anyone know of other colour results from combining Red/blue and green/blue?
Any help will be gratefully received!
Cheers
James
I'm halfway through Book 3 of The Wonder and was hoping for some input...
As you may know, the titles are colour-based (due to the magic system used) -
The Wonder 1: Blood Red
The Wonder 2: Deep Blue
(This is brilliant considering I am completely colourblind but never mind that...)
I need 3 to be...
The Wonder 3: red-blue and green-blue
Obviously that's a rubbish title, so I was thinking
The Wonder 3: Turquoise & Amethyst
or
The Wonder 3: Violet & Cerulean
or combinations thereof...
I'm worried they just sound a bit too cuddly/YA Fantasy but they do feel rather Victorian, which is apt for the time period.
Also, does anyone know of other colour results from combining Red/blue and green/blue?
Any help will be gratefully received!
Cheers
James
June 14, 2016
Thank you for the music III
Here's some more, in the order from my playlist, in case you're interested -
More Casino Royale OST. It must have been a thing back then - I'm the Money -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZAEl...
More Basil, not Conan this time, but The Hunt For Red October - very different tone and mood -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8mnj...
John Williams - I normally try to shy away from him when I'm writing as otherwise I just daydream about the movies, but this is just great. - Nocturnal Activities from Temple of Doom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4UWc...
More from Williams' spiritual successor, Giacchino and his faultless work on MOH -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcVJf...
The Elmer, just casually showing off his skills with the Mag 7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iteR...
Ron Goodwin, not generally mentioned, despite his epic, textured score for When Eagles Dare -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kGmx...
Giacchino channelling Barry for the Incredible -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxlE3...
Paul Oakenfold and his utterly overused Zoo York -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDrlO...
I adore James Horner, Star Trek Wrath of Khan is one of the greatest OSTs ever, even if he rips off his own work from Battle Beyond the Stars and would do again for Krull, but this is my favourite standalone moment, from 48 Hours -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkhqi...
Morricone, and in my mind his most iconic tune (without whistling, anyway...)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao4TI...
That's me done for this week. Blow that out your trumpet...
Cheers
More Casino Royale OST. It must have been a thing back then - I'm the Money -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZAEl...
More Basil, not Conan this time, but The Hunt For Red October - very different tone and mood -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8mnj...
John Williams - I normally try to shy away from him when I'm writing as otherwise I just daydream about the movies, but this is just great. - Nocturnal Activities from Temple of Doom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4UWc...
More from Williams' spiritual successor, Giacchino and his faultless work on MOH -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcVJf...
The Elmer, just casually showing off his skills with the Mag 7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iteR...
Ron Goodwin, not generally mentioned, despite his epic, textured score for When Eagles Dare -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kGmx...
Giacchino channelling Barry for the Incredible -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxlE3...
Paul Oakenfold and his utterly overused Zoo York -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDrlO...
I adore James Horner, Star Trek Wrath of Khan is one of the greatest OSTs ever, even if he rips off his own work from Battle Beyond the Stars and would do again for Krull, but this is my favourite standalone moment, from 48 Hours -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkhqi...
Morricone, and in my mind his most iconic tune (without whistling, anyway...)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao4TI...
That's me done for this week. Blow that out your trumpet...
Cheers
June 8, 2016
Thank you for more Music II
So some people read the last music thing I wrote, so here's some more.
The Wonder was written a few years ago, a couple of iPods and iTunes playlists ago, but I never updated the iPod to my new iTunes as I love the THREE playlists I had to write to...
So yeah. Here's some more -
Hollywood and the Stars - Elmer Bernstein
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xhi5...
This follows beautifully, and just before the end, it shows off subtley, Barry trumpets and all...
Dinner Jackets - Dave Arnold
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wla3k...
Love Theme from El Cid (The Barn) by Mikos Rosza
I could listen to this all day. It's Moorish and more-ish...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAR6W...
Wow - Finding Nemo - Thomas Newman
(Not available in the UK) - Newman at his smoothest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3AwW...
Main Title - Riders of Taramis by Basil Poledouris
I'm not a massive fan of Basil as a rule, but this is timeless...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR7Kf...
Just Do it from Atlantis by James Newton Howard - I completely love this whole score. Nobosy seems to know it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck3cg...
Stu Phillips - Cassiopeia and Starbuck from BSG '78
Can't find it on youtube. S'good though.
Ben Hur Love Theme by Miklos Rosza - like nothing you hear today...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks3Oh...
Capricorn One main title by Jerry Goldsmith - Amazing movie, amazing OST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46DWo...
Requiem for the California by Michael Giacchino - he learnt his trade long before he met JJ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ItrU...
That enough to keep you going?
Cheers
The Wonder was written a few years ago, a couple of iPods and iTunes playlists ago, but I never updated the iPod to my new iTunes as I love the THREE playlists I had to write to...
So yeah. Here's some more -
Hollywood and the Stars - Elmer Bernstein
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xhi5...
This follows beautifully, and just before the end, it shows off subtley, Barry trumpets and all...
Dinner Jackets - Dave Arnold
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wla3k...
Love Theme from El Cid (The Barn) by Mikos Rosza
I could listen to this all day. It's Moorish and more-ish...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAR6W...
Wow - Finding Nemo - Thomas Newman
(Not available in the UK) - Newman at his smoothest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3AwW...
Main Title - Riders of Taramis by Basil Poledouris
I'm not a massive fan of Basil as a rule, but this is timeless...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR7Kf...
Just Do it from Atlantis by James Newton Howard - I completely love this whole score. Nobosy seems to know it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck3cg...
Stu Phillips - Cassiopeia and Starbuck from BSG '78
Can't find it on youtube. S'good though.
Ben Hur Love Theme by Miklos Rosza - like nothing you hear today...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks3Oh...
Capricorn One main title by Jerry Goldsmith - Amazing movie, amazing OST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46DWo...
Requiem for the California by Michael Giacchino - he learnt his trade long before he met JJ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ItrU...
That enough to keep you going?
Cheers
June 7, 2016
Writing in public
I am not a fan.
I am not a fan of people with their mac books (it has to be a mac book) WRITING in coffee shops. Why? Do they not have Katie Melua CDs of their own? Are they incapable of making coffee?
"Oh, I do it for the free wifi."
Really? REALLY?! You can afford a mac book but you can't afford wifi? And why do you need wifi? Buy a thesaurus in book form, lightweight!
Worst place in London for it - the Soho Theatre. It drips with Performance Writers tapping away on Final Draft, hoping Kathleen Kennedy will come in and say, "Hey, nice formatting. What's it about? GREAT idea!"
I've read quite a few writer interviews and writer biogs and do you know how many got discovered in coffee shops? ...yes you do.
Ok. JK Rowling wrote in a coffee shop. Because she had a cold flat. And she wrote in a note pad. I don't consider it Performance Writing to write in a note pad. I'd rather look like an obsessive diarist than a Performance Writer. And she's JK Rowling. She's nice.
So yeah, saying all that, if you have the bug to write, write. Doesn't matter where. If you have to stoop to Performance Writing, so be it.
And why have I considered this now?
Because of Goodreads. I used to watch TV on the bus to and from work - the number 63, Peckham to Clerkenwell, about an hour long, thanks for asking.
I'd watch a Star Trek DS9 or Cheers - no nudity or violence and I didn't care if I had to turn it off because the bus had hit a cyclist or a drunk decided to urinate into his beer can next to me.
Then I started doing review pools in Goodreads - You read mine, I'll read someone else's and review it, they'll read yours - you know the drill.
Then I realised the number 63 was perfect for writing.
Sure, it gets a bit bumpy around the Old Kent Road, but if you turn up your iPod (Miklos Rosza - Epic Cinema Greats - natch) you won't hear the 14 phone calls going on around you, or the couple hissing at each other about each other's parents or whatever. But I've found a way to ensure I write 2 hours a day - that doesn't involve getting up at 4am or writing naked in the kitchen at 2am drunk (These are the only other options open to me).
So yeah, I may have become a Performance Writer after all. But like them, I'm getting my work done. So if you write, do it where and when you can. That's my suggestion.
(Just don't do it on a mac book, you fool.)
I am not a fan of people with their mac books (it has to be a mac book) WRITING in coffee shops. Why? Do they not have Katie Melua CDs of their own? Are they incapable of making coffee?
"Oh, I do it for the free wifi."
Really? REALLY?! You can afford a mac book but you can't afford wifi? And why do you need wifi? Buy a thesaurus in book form, lightweight!
Worst place in London for it - the Soho Theatre. It drips with Performance Writers tapping away on Final Draft, hoping Kathleen Kennedy will come in and say, "Hey, nice formatting. What's it about? GREAT idea!"
I've read quite a few writer interviews and writer biogs and do you know how many got discovered in coffee shops? ...yes you do.
Ok. JK Rowling wrote in a coffee shop. Because she had a cold flat. And she wrote in a note pad. I don't consider it Performance Writing to write in a note pad. I'd rather look like an obsessive diarist than a Performance Writer. And she's JK Rowling. She's nice.
So yeah, saying all that, if you have the bug to write, write. Doesn't matter where. If you have to stoop to Performance Writing, so be it.
And why have I considered this now?
Because of Goodreads. I used to watch TV on the bus to and from work - the number 63, Peckham to Clerkenwell, about an hour long, thanks for asking.
I'd watch a Star Trek DS9 or Cheers - no nudity or violence and I didn't care if I had to turn it off because the bus had hit a cyclist or a drunk decided to urinate into his beer can next to me.
Then I started doing review pools in Goodreads - You read mine, I'll read someone else's and review it, they'll read yours - you know the drill.
Then I realised the number 63 was perfect for writing.
Sure, it gets a bit bumpy around the Old Kent Road, but if you turn up your iPod (Miklos Rosza - Epic Cinema Greats - natch) you won't hear the 14 phone calls going on around you, or the couple hissing at each other about each other's parents or whatever. But I've found a way to ensure I write 2 hours a day - that doesn't involve getting up at 4am or writing naked in the kitchen at 2am drunk (These are the only other options open to me).
So yeah, I may have become a Performance Writer after all. But like them, I'm getting my work done. So if you write, do it where and when you can. That's my suggestion.
(Just don't do it on a mac book, you fool.)
