Gavin Whyte's Blog, page 8

February 18, 2019

My New World of Theatre

I’ve just finished what I consider to be a decent draft of a stage play – my first stage play.





It’s a whole new area of writing for me; a completely new landscape. I don’t know where I am, or which direction to take next. I’m hoping that the fog will clear, and the way will be shown in good time.





I never once before considered writing for theatre, until I realised, very recently, that it’s a perfect medium for some of my ideas to be expressed.





A few days ago I read Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem, and loved every bit of it. My gut was giving me big, fat yesses with every page my eyes gobbled up.





I love how a story can be told in one place – how one place can contain and tell a story.





I’ve no idea who to send my stage play to, or even if I’ve written it in the correct format (I used Final Draft 11 because I treat it like a script – and I love using Final Draft’s night mode). I’ve also no idea if it’s too short: it currently sits at 65 (Final Draft) pages.





What’s the genre? A satire comedy, perhaps.





The bottom line is, I’ve written (again, what I consider to be) a decent draft of my first stage play, with UK theatres in mind.





It’s called Mine, Mine, Mine.





I’ve just bought the book Being a Playwright by Chris Foxon and George Turvey, which I’m hoping will make things a little clearer, by explaining the terrain that’s before me.





I also bought another two Jez Butterworth plays: Mojo and The Ferryman. Looking forward to starting them.





Wishing you well on your creative endeavors.





Here’s to a way forward.





G


The post My New World of Theatre appeared first on Gavin Whyte.

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on February 18, 2019 03:41

February 12, 2019

Anthony Hopkins – The Happiest Man on Twitter?

A friend recently sent me a wee article about the Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins.





Heather Dockray, who wrote the article, which appeared on Mashable, made the bold claim that Hopkins could actually be the happiest man on Twitter.





It doesn’t matter whether that’s true or not. The fact is, it’s hard not to smile when you see the videos of Hopkins contained in the article.





Watch him in slow motion hugging his cat; watch him praise the rain and wish everyone a happy weekend; watch him in his element playing the piano; watch him go insanely mental (in the last video).





When so many of us are ready to attack another at the drop of a hat, what could be better than a shot of joy, served to us by one of our most respected actors?





Other than some liver, with some fava beans, and a nice Chianti of course…





Enjoy: https://mashable.com/article/anthony-hopkins-twitter-best-of/#4uuD63160mqI





G






The post Anthony Hopkins – The Happiest Man on Twitter? appeared first on Gavin Whyte.

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on February 12, 2019 09:00

Papaya Seeds (Haiku)

White papaya seeds





patiently waiting, revealed—





squinting in the sun.









White papaya seeds





impatiently cast away,





never to turn black.









Over the Chinese New Year, my father-in-law gave us a papaya, which his papaya tree had kindly and ingeniously grown. That was a week ago, however, and so, this morning, I decided it was time to cut the fruit open, even though it was still green, with not a hint of orange on its skin. I didn’t want it to go bad, which has happened before.





Slicing it in half revealed over one hundred albino seeds clinging to pale green flesh. They seemed to be shying away from the light, squinting even. I felt bad spooning them out, watching them scatter into the sink, like tiny pebbles of potential.





The flesh is still usable, though. We’ll be making a soup out of it. Not all is lost. Such soup is ideal for the chilly Taiwanese winter we’re currently going through.





G


The post Papaya Seeds (Haiku) appeared first on Gavin Whyte.

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on February 12, 2019 01:00

January 22, 2019

Literary Agents…

OK, I’m just gonna come out with it:





Do you know a literary agent who might be interested in working with me?





There. It’s out. I asked.





Here’s the thing: I’ve been submitting my work to U.K. agencies for several years but keep getting the standard reply:





We read and enjoyed your work but unfortunately, it’s just not for us right now. Please don’t give up! The right agent will be out there somewhere.





It would be nice to know where, though, so I could actually look there, send an email, knock on a door, ring a bell, have a chat over good coffee.





Just to liaise with an agent about my work would be a huge step forward. Let’s discuss the potential of a young adult novel, a children’s rhyming picture book, or a screenplay (all of which I’ve written and continue to write). Let’s see how we can create some magic.





I’m currently working on a children’s fantasy novel for the Taiwanese film director Wei Te-Sheng (), which he will adapt into a screenplay for an animated movie. (I’m also having fun working on a stage play.)





I’m beginning to think literary agents are mythical beings, conjured up by authors who don’t want other authors to join the party.





Knock knock… door opens a notch… sounds of laughter and loud music is coming from inside. A successful author (let’s say Neil Gaiman) is wedged between the door and the door frame, so you can’t see inside… “Party?” says Neil, with a yellow strand of a party popper stuck in his hair. And judging from his heavy eyes and his constant grin, you’re pretty damn certain he’s tipsy. “What party? No party here.” Slams door in your face. Laughter erupts from inside.





No offence, Neil. I’m sure you’re a nice guy and would happily step aside, invite me in and get me a glass of whatever you’ve had five of.





I know this post makes me sound like a Desperate Donny but, to be frank, I no longer care. There’s a chance that somebody, reading this, knows of an agent I can contact.





Perhaps you’re an agent yourself, with years of experience under your belt and have been looking for a new client to get your teeth stuck into. If so, let’s talk.





Or you might be just starting out and want to extend your client list (from zero to one perhaps) – if so, let’s talk business. Let’s see what we can do together.





If you’d like to get in touch, please comment on this post or send an email to gavinswhyte@gmail.com.





Thank you.





Gavin


The post Literary Agents… appeared first on Gavin Whyte.

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on January 22, 2019 00:52

Literary Agents

OK, I’m just gonna come out with it:





Do you know a literary agent who might be interested in working with me?





There. It’s out. I asked.





Here’s the thing: I’ve been submitting my work to U.K. agencies for several years but keep getting the standard reply:





We read and enjoyed your work but unfortunately, it’s just not for us right now. Please don’t give up! The right agent will be out there somewhere.





It would be nice to know where, though, so I could actually look there, send an email, knock on a door, ring a bell, have a chat over good coffee.





Just to liaise with an agent about my work would be a huge step forward. Let’s discuss the potential of a young adult novel, a children’s rhyming picture book, or a screenplay (all of which I’ve written and continue to write). Let’s see how we can create some magic.





I’m currently working on a children’s fantasy novel for the Taiwanese film director Wei Te-Sheng (), which he will adapt into a screenplay for an animated movie. (I’m also having fun working on a stage play.)





I’m beginning to think literary agents are mythical beings, conjured up by authors who don’t want other authors to join the party.





Knock knock… door opens a notch… sounds of laughter and loud music is coming from inside. A successful author (let’s say Neil Gaiman) is wedged between the door and the door frame, so you can’t see inside… “Party?” says Neil, with a yellow strand of a party popper stuck in his hair. And judging from his heavy eyes and his constant grin, you’re pretty damn certain he’s tipsy. “What party? No party here.” Slams door in your face. Laughter erupts from inside.





No offence, Neil. I’m sure you’re a nice guy and would happily step aside, invite me in and get me a glass of whatever you’ve had five of.





I know this post makes me sound like a Desperate Donny but, to be frank, I no longer care. There’s a chance that somebody, reading this, knows of an agent I can contact.





Perhaps you’re an agent yourself, with years of experience under your belt and have been looking for a new client to get your teeth stuck into. If so, let’s talk.





Or you might be just starting out and want to extend your client list (from zero to one perhaps) – if so, let’s talk business. Let’s see what we can do together.





If you’d like to get in touch, please comment on this post or send an email to gavinswhyte@gmail.com.





Thank you.





Gavin


The post Literary Agents appeared first on Gavin Whyte.

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on January 22, 2019 00:52

January 6, 2019

Asking for Help

It can be hard to ask for help.





We can feel like we don’t deserve it, that we should suffer in silence, that we somehow deserve the pain we are going through.





It’s nonsense.





It’s sad that, for some unknown reason, we can feel ashamed to ask for help.





All these people! And we find it hard to turn to a single one of them and say a variation of the magic words:





Please can you help me?





Here’s something about people that you should know… and it includes the majority of humanity:





Humans like to help fellow humans.





We all want to feel wanted.





And we all feel wanted when we are helping another.





We’re wired that way.





All of us deserves some assistance, no matter who we are, or what we’ve done, or what we’ve said, or how warped our past is – we all deserve a helping hand.





Help is here



Oliver Clark recently got in touch with me. He operates a national hotline called Rehab Recovery for people afflicted by substance abuse such as drug addiction or alcoholism, and also for people who are suffering from bereavement.





His hotline deserves a post of its own.





Hence this.





Admitting to ourselves we need help is the first step to receiving it.





Didn’t the Buddha say that life is suffering? And that was over 2000 years ago.





We haven’t changed. We’re still suffering. Still asking the same old questions, being distracted and puzzled and frustrated by the same old noisy chatter of the mind.





But we don’t have to deal with it alone.





We really don’t.





By opening up and being honest with ourselves, our suffering can be dramatically reduced and our lives can improve.





You’ve got nothing to lose and so much to gain.





When you are ready, go to:





 https://www.rehab-recovery.co.uk/





… and let 2019 be the year you look back on with a smile.





[image error]



**





All the best.





G







The post Asking for Help appeared first on Gavin Whyte.

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on January 06, 2019 04:46

December 28, 2018

The Books I Read in 2018

Being the book nerd that I am, every time I’ve finished reading a book I write the title and author in a wee notebook. I’ve done it since 2008.




Why?




Who knows…




Maybe I like lists too much. But I do like looking back and seeing what I’ve read. Seeing the titles sometimes triggers a memory. For instance, I’ve just flicked back to 2012 and seen My Search for Truth by Henry Thomas Hamblin. Instantly, I see myself sitting up in bed with a chest infection, the book on my lap.




Not a good memory, but a memory nonetheless.




Anyhow, I thought I’d share with you my reading list for 2018… without the memories. Most of them I read for the first time, but there are several that I revisited just for the sheer pleasure of it. I’ve finished the year off by reading screenplays, so I’ve included those, too.




Let’s see if I’ve read anything you like:





Mouse, Bird, Snake, Wolf – David Almond
Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales – Gordon Jarvie
Season of Secrets – Sally Nicholls
Junk – Melvin Burgess
Just So Stories – Rudyard Kipling
Seeds from a Birch Tree – Clark Strand
Little Women – Louisa M. Alcott
Quiet Influence – J. B. Kahnweiler
The War of Art – Steven Pressfield (audiobook)
As a Man Thinketh – James Allen (audiobook)
The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
Howl’s Moving Castle – Diana Wynne Jones
The Philosopher Next Door – Anna Wallis
How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method – Randy Ingermanson
Literary History of Taiwanese Indigenous Peoples: Volume 1 – Pasuya Poicon
Sabriel – Garth Nix
A New Illustrated History of Taiwan – Wan-yao Chou
The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
Tortilla Flat – John Steinbeck
A Theory of Human Motivation – A. H. Maslow
God Needs to Go – J. D. Brucker
Cannery Row – John Steinbeck
Frindle – Andrew Clements
Acres of Diamonds – Russell Conwell
Lord of the Flies – William Golding
Stopping for a Spell – Diana Wynne Jones
Coraline – Neil Gaiman
The White Mercedes – Philip Pullman
Lyra’s Oxford – Philip Pullman
Natives of Formosa: British Reports of the Taiwanese Indigenous People, 1650-1950 – Edited by Henrietta Harrison
Poppy – Avi
Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert
Reading Like a Writer – Francine Prose (only read 50%… got bored)
The Coral Island – R. M. Ballantyne (only read 50%… got bored)
Slaughterhouse-Five – Kurt Vonnegut
The Formosan Encounter: Notes on Formosa’s Aboriginal Society: A Selection of Dutch Documents – Edited by Leonard Blusse
Call of the Wild – Jack London
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man – James Joyce
The Indian in the Cupboard – L. R. Banks
Hard Times – Charles Dickens
Taiwan’s 400-Year History – Su Beng
Babe: Pig in the City – Justine Korman
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
The Red Badge of Courage – Stephen Crane
Rogue Trader – Nick Leeson
K-PAX – Gene Brewer
Intimacy – Hanif Kureshi
Disgrace – J. M. Coetzee
Anna’s Book – Fynn
A Street Cat Named Bob – James Bowen
Paperboy – Vince Vawter
My Name is Mina – David Almond
The One and Only Ivan – Katherine Applegate
The Tightrope Walkers – David Almond
Five Children and It – Edith Nesbit
Steppenwolf – Hermann Hesse
Theodore Boone: The Abduction – John Grisham
Fiesta – Ernest Hemingway
The Sorrows of Young Werther – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Everyman – Philip Roth
Happy – Derren Brown
High Fidelity – Nick Hornby
The Stolen Bicycle – Wu Ming Yi
Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World – Mark Williams & Danny Penman
Kafka on the Shore – Haruki Murakami
Eat Pray Love – Elizabeth Gilbert
Demian – Hermann Hesse
Meditations – Marcus Aurelius
Italian Neighbours – Tim Parks
Joyland – Stephen King
The Bird of Night – Susan Hill
Waking Up – Sam Harris
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
Skellig – David Almond
Frankenstein – Mary Shelley
The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Withnail and I – Bruce Robinson (screenplay)
Writing Screenplays That Sell – Michael Hauge
Good Will Hunting – Matt Damon & Ben Affleck (screenplay)
Storytelling Made Easy – Michael Hauge
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Eric Roth (screenplay)
Reservoir Dogs – Quentin Tarantino (screenplay)
Man on the Moon – S. Alexander & L. Karaszewski (screenplay)
The Man Who Invented Christmas – Susan Coyne (screenplay)
The Artist – Michel Hazanavicius

The post The Books I Read in 2018 appeared first on Gavin Whyte.

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on December 28, 2018 01:00

My 2018 Reading List

Being the book nerd that I am, every time I’ve finished reading a book I write the title and author in a wee notebook. I’ve done it since 2008.





Why?





Who knows…





Maybe I like lists too much. But I do like looking back and seeing what I’ve read. Seeing the titles sometimes triggers a memory. For instance, I’ve just flicked back to 2012 and seen My Search for Truth by Henry Thomas Hamblin. Instantly, I see myself sitting up in bed with a chest infection, the book on my lap.





Not a good memory, but a memory nonetheless.





Anyhow, I thought I’d share with you my reading list for 2018… without the memories. Most of them I read for the first time, but there are several that I revisited just for the sheer pleasure of it. I’ve finished the year off by reading screenplays, so I’ve included those, too.





Let’s see if I’ve read anything you like:





Mouse, Bird, Snake, Wolf – David AlmondScottish Folk and Fairy Tales – Gordon JarvieSeason of Secrets – Sally NichollsJunk – Melvin BurgessJust So Stories – Rudyard KiplingSeeds from a Birch Tree – Clark StrandLittle Women – Louisa M. AlcottQuiet Influence – J. B. KahnweilerThe War of Art – Steven Pressfield (audiobook)As a Man Thinketh – James Allen (audiobook)The Alchemist – Paulo CoelhoHowl’s Moving Castle – Diana Wynne JonesThe Philosopher Next Door – Anna WallisHow to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method – Randy IngermansonLiterary History of Taiwanese Indigenous Peoples: Volume 1 – Pasuya PoiconSabriel – Garth NixA New Illustrated History of Taiwan – Wan-yao ChouThe Hobbit – J.R.R. TolkienAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis CarrollTortilla Flat – John SteinbeckA Theory of Human Motivation – A. H. MaslowGod Needs to Go – J. D. BruckerCannery Row – John SteinbeckFrindle – Andrew ClementsAcres of Diamonds – Russell ConwellLord of the Flies – William GoldingStopping for a Spell – Diana Wynne JonesCoraline – Neil GaimanThe White Mercedes – Philip PullmanLyra’s Oxford – Philip PullmanNatives of Formosa: British Reports of the Taiwanese Indigenous People, 1650-1950 – Edited by Henrietta HarrisonPoppy – AviBig Magic – Elizabeth GilbertReading Like a Writer – Francine Prose (only read 50%… got bored)The Coral Island – R. M. Ballantyne (only read 50%… got bored)Slaughterhouse-Five – Kurt VonnegutThe Formosan Encounter: Notes on Formosa’s Aboriginal Society: A Selection of Dutch Documents – Edited by Leonard BlusseCall of the Wild – Jack LondonA Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man – James JoyceThe Indian in the Cupboard – L. R. BanksHard Times – Charles DickensTaiwan’s 400-Year History – Su BengBabe: Pig in the City – Justine KormanPride and Prejudice – Jane AustenThe Red Badge of Courage – Stephen CraneRogue Trader – Nick LeesonK-PAX – Gene BrewerIntimacy – Hanif KureshiDisgrace – J. M. CoetzeeAnna’s Book – FynnA Street Cat Named Bob – James BowenPaperboy – Vince VawterMy Name is Mina – David AlmondThe One and Only Ivan – Katherine ApplegateThe Tightrope Walkers – David AlmondFive Children and It – Edith NesbitSteppenwolf – Hermann HesseTheodore Boone: The Abduction – John GrishamFiesta – Ernest HemingwayThe Sorrows of Young Werther – Johann Wolfgang von GoetheEveryman – Philip RothHappy – Derren BrownHigh Fidelity – Nick HornbyThe Stolen Bicycle – Wu Ming YiMindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World – Mark Williams & Danny PenmanKafka on the Shore – Haruki MurakamiEat Pray Love – Elizabeth GilbertDemian – Hermann HesseMeditations – Marcus AureliusItalian Neighbours – Tim ParksJoyland – Stephen KingThe Bird of Night – Susan HillWaking Up – Sam HarrisWuthering Heights – Emily BronteSkellig – David AlmondFrankenstein – Mary ShelleyThe Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-ExupéryWithnail and I – Bruce Robinson (screenplay)Writing Screenplays That Sell – Michael HaugeGood Will Hunting – Matt Damon & Ben Affleck (screenplay)Storytelling Made Easy – Michael HaugeThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Eric Roth (screenplay)Reservoir Dogs – Quentin Tarantino (screenplay)Man on the Moon – S. Alexander & L. Karaszewski (screenplay)The Man Who Invented Christmas – Susan Coyne (screenplay)The Artist – Michel Hazanavicius

The post My 2018 Reading List appeared first on Gavin Whyte.

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on December 28, 2018 01:00

December 26, 2018

A Treasure Trove of Scripts

Dear fellow screenwriters, I’ve just come across this treasure trove of scripts. And, knowing how important it is to read screenplays that have been produced into awesome (and some not-so-awesome) movies, I thought I’d share.


Enjoy…


https://www.scriptreaderpro.com/best-screenplays-to-read/


Happy writing for 2019

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on December 26, 2018 23:47

August 24, 2018

Flag (Haiku)

The flag in the wind


never ceases to amaze


those that really see.


 


***


Thanks for stopping by.


G.


The post Flag (Haiku) appeared first on Gavin Whyte.

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on August 24, 2018 03:30