Baggers World

It's been a while.

2010-07-17T12:46:00.003-07:00

So I've been gone and no one's been that bothered. Oh well. I'm back and I'm working on the plot of a new book. So I best get plotting.

`It's

2010-07-17T12:46:00.001-07:00

Review: The Last Continent

2009-05-30T15:17:00.001-07:00

So I have just finished reading The Last Continent by Terry Pratchett. I love all of his works, equally, however I feel that this was one of his weaker works. The plot resolves around the land of 4Ecks (a parody of Australia) and how Rincewind went about saving it. My biggest problem is that the story takes so long to get to the gripping conclusion. There is a lot of time being built up to it, but when you get to the conclusion it's a little rushed.
Which is a shame as some of the books he wrote before and after I find a real page turner, whilst this was a harder reader. I felt that he spent to much time parodying the land of 4Ecks to much and not enough time developing the story. Overall this was not a great story which is disappointing.

However up next we have The King Beyond the Gate.

In other news. I won my first battle of a the small campaign we are playing. With five friends we have all chosen a Warhammer army that we have had sitting in boxes and started painting. We started out at 500 points a side and then moved on in 250 points blocks. My army is nearly fully painted (a first for me) only four Dragon Princes and an eagle to go. Then I just need to base them all but that is the least if my problems.
So anyway after 12 games I got my first victory so I am happy about that.

On the writing front. I am intending to enter the CBBC competition at the BBC Writersroom and the Black Library short story competition.

See you soon.

Blogging. Everyday for a week.

2009-04-18T00:39:00.000-07:00

It'll happen honest.

However I have been busy working on a script and developing two ideas. One a sit com and one a book. Plus I have also been painting.

That last sentence was an excuse, you know.

Be back soon.

A new day,

2009-03-08T07:15:00.000-07:00

So blogging. Yes. Not really happening is it. Anyway here's a quick update. I've been trying to work on a teen drama. So a lot of my work has been concentrated on that. We'll see where she leads.

One of my recent dvd purchases (number 497) was the show Gossip Girl. Essentially this is a teen drama, where we the auidence are shown the events from an omnipotent point of view. The titular character of Gossip Girl is a person who updates a website with information about the going ons of the characters.

So we'll get info about Dan and Serena's relationship or why is Serena buying a pregnancy kit. I like the way the show has been done. Not nessacerly all of the stories but it's a well created show. Go and get the first season on DVD now.

See you soon.

So I am going to try and blog everyday now

2008-12-01T15:31:00.000-08:00

So I am feeling blue. To cure my blueness I tend to spend. Spending is good as it gives me the thrill of new toys. I have a new HD TV (this cost me nothing) and so that should keep me entertained.

I am feeling blue as my career as a writer seems to go nowhere. For many reasons. I am bursting with ideas, that I can't find the time to put down. It then gets no further than my head. Which is fine, as there its the best idea, ever. But that not what I want. I want to see my work on the book shelf or my work on the screen.

So what's the plan for 2009. Work, work and even more work. I need to get something published. How, not sure. Going to look into getting an agent, which means I need more work done. I will probably end up with two different agents, one for telly, one for books. We'll see how that goes.

I am going to polish off my script I was working on last year. It was written into response to Invasion of the Bane. The pilot for the Sarah Jane Adventures. I watched that and saw there was need for good, one off, family drama's. An area I feel that is woefully underused at the moment. If you can watch an episode of Sarah Jane, on a side note, then do.

The story is in the vein of the Famous Five stories that I used to read as a kid. Why?, they work. Simple setting, four kids and their dog go walking, camping, etc... and meet some nasty villain, who wants to do them no good. So we have a setting, six kids/seven kids and a nasty villain and 90 pages.

So what's the plan. I am going to give it a polish. Get a friend to read it to make sure the grammar and spelling is good and then send it to a Script reading agency and see what they say. Then send it on the BBC Writersroom to see if they would like to produce it.

While working on other ideas. I am trying to get a Teen Drama off the floor. Problem is how do you keep the unique. Here is how my brain works.

Teen Drama - how to keep it unique- cheap kid dates posh girl - drat that's Gossip GIrl and a host of others. - How about a mystery- Nope, thats Veronica Mars. Drat. and so it goes on.

Well that's me out..

I really am not very good at this.

2008-10-07T05:35:00.000-07:00

So, I’m useless and I’m not really very good at blogging and so I am going to try and blog once a day for the next seven days to see if I can get in a routine.

So what’s been happening? Played a lot of World of Warcraft, as there is the release of the Wrath of the Litch King in a few weeks time. I’m now a level 54 rogue and hopefully being dinging, or gaining a level, tonight.

I have sent off my book to another publisher, having been rejected by Usborne in July. I’m now awaiting Chicken House’s response.

More tomorrow as I blog about monster and probably Cloverfield.

I'm not very . good at this

2008-07-06T08:48:00.000-07:00

So I am really bad at blogging. I have the intention, just no motivation. So this blog is going to be a review blog

Last week I saw Hancock. It's a film about John Hancock a superhero played by Will Smith. Hancock is a bad superhero and often gets things wrong when he tries to put things right. The film deals mainly with cheap jokes showing how bad Hancock is and how good he is when he is not drunk. It then, in the final act, takes a serious twist and though I enjoyed the mythology it bought in, it was left lacking as the plot tapered out. Despite this the film was highly enjoyable and I recommend everyone to see it. WIll Smith is a very good drunk.

The week before that I went to see Prince Caspian, the second film in the Chronicles of Narnia film series, based on the books by C.S. Lewis. I am already biased in favour of the book and the film of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe which was released in 2005. I thought this film was better than the previous film, the acting from the four children who played Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy was better. The story moved at a good rate and though they made some deviation from the book, it still keeps to what happened in the books. That may sound crazy, how can you change something and keep it the same. Well the attack on Miraz Castle does not happen in the book, however it does state that Caspian did attack Miraz army and fail. All in all I enjoyed the film, the only thing I did not enjoy was Susan becoming a warrior. She looked more like Legolas from Lord of the Rings than a girl from East Finchly.

Now onto books. I have read the new book by Danny Wallace. You may remember a few months ago I blogged about Dave Gorman's America Unchained which was a tale about a man, Dave, and his trip. Well this is a tale of a man, called Danny, who set out to find his old school mates. I read it in five hours and though this is a personal tale than his quest to start a cult or say Yes more. I enjoyed it, their are emotional highs and lows and you feel what Danny is going through. I recommend you go and buy it.

Right, I'm going to blog about Doctor Who later and maybe CSI. CSI is good

War!!!!!!!!

2008-06-13T05:37:00.000-07:00

I'm at war. Well technically the alliance I am in, in Ikariam, is at war. My fellow Argonauts (That's the name of our alliance) are attacking, but due to me being several days travel away (Ships really do take their time) I’m not doing too much, at the moment, but I am preparing for the inevitable counter attack.

This leads me onto the next port of call, which is also war based. This is my new army for Warhammer. I have decided to take the plunge and collect a Chaos Warrior army. I already have a unit of twelve warriors armed with hand weapons and shields, which I am going to try and paint over this coming weekend. Photos will be posted, as and when the unit is finished. I also have plans for a monstrous demonic mount for my Lord to ride into battle on.

I have been replotting my vampire novel. If you’re very good, I may put up the original plot. However the new version is looking good and I am looking forward to getting to the actual writing part. I’m far too impatient for my own good.

My tv show is coming along. I am still at the 20 page mark because I have been thinking about how to show the next set of scenes, which is all about a raid and so I have been mulling over lots of ideas. I could go for a heavy CG or Model route or the opposite and go for a light CG route. So many choices.

Thinks that’s about it for the moment.

If you are very good, I may post a bit of a short story for you all to read, or not.

Cyas.

Big games part 2

2008-06-09T09:15:00.001-07:00

So, mission week has begun and that means that the Warhammer Event has occurred. The event was basically designed for people, whether kids or adults, to turn up and play. So, I ran a LOTR based game with Aragorn leading a force of men, elves and dwarves against a Ringwraith and Orcs of Mordor. The event was well attended and everyone I spoke to enjoyed it. So I am glad that is over.

Speaking of big games: the european championship have now started. In fact as I type this France are playing Romania. Twenty minutes have passed and the French are looking poor. Who am I tipping to win. Well, seeing as England are not participating I am going to go for either Germany, who won 2-0 yesterday against Poland yesterday, or Italy who are playing the Netherlands tonight. As long as Portugal don't win thought I will be happy.

I have been working on my TV script i've reached the twenty page mark. Another 30/35 to go at least. I then intended to write a treatment for the rest of the series. This treatment will include what happens in three series and so I have a lot of work to put in. I am slowly working on the plot for my Vampire novel. I've been working on it for two years now, mainly for the stop start nature I have used. However I am now motivated to finish it. Shall keep you informed.

Anyway as I said, I am watching footy and so I am off. See you in a couple of days.

David

P.S. I am trying to update this every couple of days now. Well, I will try. Whether I do or not is we will find out.

big games

2008-06-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

So tomorrow I have to run two big games, one of Warhammer and one of Lord of the Rings, for a church event. I will let you know how it went.

So its been a while again

2008-06-04T05:17:00.000-07:00

Hello

I'm useless at keeping this blog up todate. In my defence I have been busy playing a game called Ikariam. Its basically Civilisation but in real time, more or less. Its great fun building up empires and watching my mighty city of Bagdonia come a world player. Join me or ikariam.com and on world Epislon. Drop me a message, I'm called Bagdonia.

In terms of work. I'm still waiting to hear about my book. It's called The Fall of Assurance and in true DWM style it contains the words Clare, Monster, and Matthew. Not very exciting words but I am at work at the moment and can't remember anything more exciting than that.

I've begun work on a new tv project. I am a bit exicted about it, but I have a lot of work to do for it. If I can only find time to put some work in. I also have a secodn idea which is going to need even more work, or it will turn out like Spaced.

On the reading stand has been Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Not really sure what I thought about this book. It's a story about a project to introduce Salmon in to the waters in Northern Yemen, which by all accounts (so says the book) is impossiable. It was written in an intresting style. Some of it was done from diray extracts, other are personal emails and so on. In the end I read the book in less than 24 hours and enjoyed it. I felt the ending was a little rushed, but this does not distract from my own personal enjoyment of the book.

I've been watching Alias (which I am sure I've mentioned before) and I am onto Season 4. I feel a bit let down by series 4 but I am only half way through and I've heard that it picks up. Also watching the OC, more on that in another post.

Later tonight I am roleplaying and so will blog how that goes, tomorrow.

I'm a bit rubbish at doing this

2008-05-04T14:56:00.000-07:00

But i've been busy. Mainly watching Alias. I've just finished series 3, full report once done with all five seasons.

In other news I am working on a new TV show. It's rather fun,

Web Comics

2008-04-08T23:13:00.001-07:00

I love two web comics. Tim Buckley's Ctrl Alt Dlt and Rich Burlew's Giant in the Playground. Both are great, both are listed in my links. Go check them out.

Dave Gorman

2008-03-30T15:02:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday, I went into town and managed to pick up the latest Dave Gorman book. For those of you who don't know who Dave Gorman is, he's one of my favourite comedians. He shot to fame when he, along side a guy called Danny Wallace (who also writes very good books), went and met 54 other Dave Gorman's. They were drunk which explains the whole story really. Next he went on a quest to find Googlewhack. This time on his own. He was also drunk when he started that quest.

So the new book is all about his journey across the continent of America. Or more precisely the USA. This was done by not visiting any chain hotels like the Hilton or Travel Lodge, and chain restaurants like Macdonalds or Burger King. Now, I already know the story because it was filmed and I watched the film in Feb. But still the book was brilliant. It made me laugh, a lot. Dave Gorman has a great writing style which what makes the book good. The only bad thing is that he is signing the book on Tuesday and I am unable to go. :(

On the TV: After finishing the OC Season 1, I have moved on to Alias. I've seen most of Alias season 1 and a bit of season 2. So, time to watch the beginning and see what we can learn.

Bookstand: Well after finishing Dave Gorman, I am a bit unsure what to read next. I am going to try and blog at least every other day for the next few weeks, so I will let you know what I choose.

See ya.

Its been a while

2008-03-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know. I aint being posting in a while. I wish I could say that I had some super cool, ultra top secret project, I've been working on, but that would be a lie. I am plain lazy and not blogged. I've been watching far to much tv and not enough writing. However, I have started a new short story and plans for a tv show.

Still not heard anything back about the book and I am waiting to hear if I have won the BL (Black Library) Space Marine competition.

Reading - The eye of the world by Robert Jordan. Its the first of the Wheel of Time series. I am slowly reading them til I finish book 11. Don't know when that is going to happen. I just hope it does.

TV - The OC. I love Teen Dramas. Don't know why but I do. It might be because Mischa Barton and Rachel Bilson are good looking, or just the fact I really enjoy them. Not sure, but what the hey.

PS2- I got Final Fantasy 10, 3/4 years ago and never touched it. To tell the truth I hardly ever touch my PS2. So I dusted it down and have wracked up six hours so far in the last couple of days. I think its addictive.

See you soon.

Roleplay post 1:

2008-02-17T14:22:00.000-08:00

And another thing, my copy of the new 40k role play came this week, leaving me highly excited. So in honour of this I am going to post some of my role play stories. They will be spasmodic. This one comes from Inquisitor.

Rogue Trader Brandenburg ran down the narrow street. Huge metal walls rose up on either side, boxing him cutting off his escape route. He risked a glance over his shoulder, to see the huge form of Battle Brother Cain, a member of the Adeptus Astartes, bearing down on him. Turning his attention back on the street, he tripped as he stood on the hem of his cloak. He heard a crack, as a rib broke in his chest. The towering form of Cain loomed over him, blotting out the light from the globes. A hand reached down, and grasped him by the neck, raised him high. Brandenburg struggled, but his attempts were wasted on the mighty power armour Cain wore.
'Die heretic' the marine snarled. A frag grenade in his hand, he clicked the primer. He closed his hand around the throat of Brandenburg, cutting off the air supply. Raised the grenade to ram it down the man's throat. When a single low shot echoed off. Brandenburg dropped to the floor.He looked up, the marine took a step forward, blood flowing from a single bullet hole in the only unarmoured part of his body, his head. Then he collapsed, his knee obliterating Brandenburg's skull into a puddle of blood and skull fragments.

This actually happened.

Got to stop thinking

2008-02-17T14:14:00.000-08:00

As the title said really. I've got to stop thinking. I've a tendency to have my head in the world of daydream thinking about things I want to do. Then I think, why can't I have them now. Meh. I have to work harder.

On the Reading Stand: The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan. I love the Wheel of Time series. Robert Jordan has created such a great world in his books. If only they were not so dry. But I like them and spurred by the fact that book 12 is being worked on, despite the fact that he is now dead. I have begun to reread and in the case of book 10 and 11, read for a first time.

Scary

2008-02-04T11:02:00.000-08:00

Lo all.

This has been a scary but exciting weekend. Firstly on Saturday morning The Last Alliance (A Lord of the Rings website dedicated to the wargame from Games Workshop) published my article on a large reenactment of the Battle for Helms Deep. Despite it being listed as written by my friend John (he sent it in, and put myself and Terry (the third player) as co-authors), I am technically a published author so go me.

Today (04/02/08) I sent my book to Usborne's for consideration to be published. This is quite scary , as I am now beginning to brace myself for rejection. I will be sending more submissions outs over the next few weeks. I am thinking of sending my tv script out as well to the BBC writers room. You never know, they may be both liked.

On the TV Front: Watching Scrubs Season 6. Very impressed with the way they have handled topics such as Post Natal Depression and Abortion, while being able to keep humors approach. Now, I will admit that I do love Scrubs but there is something about it that its very cool.

Anyway, I promised a website. Well it may be on its way. Maybe.

I also seem to be blogging more. Go Figure.

See you soon.

Brilliance

2008-01-24T15:58:00.000-08:00

Bleed it out

2008-01-24T15:56:00.000-08:00

The greatest day of my life. Ever.

2008-01-24T15:50:00.000-08:00

Lets set the scene. It’s March 2003, I’m listening to Radio 1 and I’m very excited. Why? Simple, Jo Whily is playing Somewhere I Belong, the new track from Linkin Park, and I can’t wait. Then she goes and drops a bomb shell, a one of gig in the UK. Where? Rock City, Nottingham.

Before we can carry on, we need to jump back a couple of years, and go back to 2000/2001. I have discovered Linkin Park through my friend Ruth and I like them so much, they become my fav band and I want to see them live.

So back to 2003, did I go? No. Was I disappointed? Yes. So I listened to it on Radio 1. So close to them (well six miles) but yet miles away. Lets jump to 2008. Today to be precise. (24/01/08). The location, Nottingham Arena and there they were. Linkin Park played an hour and a half set. I find it hard to describe how great it was.

Have you ever felt that by doing something, you were at home. That’s I felt. I have been to several gigs (3) and loved the bands that I saw. However this was more, this was bigger, better, louder. It was great.

The only downside was I saw someone get crushed against the barriers in the standing arena. It puts a dampener on your evening when you watch someone carry an unconscious girl out of the arena. I hope she is ok.

Writing: Or the art on how not to do it!

2008-01-19T08:33:00.000-08:00

So at the moment I am working on my novel. In reality this means that I am doing anything and everything but. There are so many distractions, Facebook, friends, Facebook, DVDs, Facebook, reading books, oh and did I mention Facebook. There are to many things to distract my attention.

I am thinking that facebook giving up is going to happen. eek

not good.

And another thing.

2008-01-17T13:20:00.000-08:00

Go and watch this, and count the cult references.

Flight of the Darned

Two posts in a day. Shock Horror.

Jack's Back

2008-01-17T13:14:00.000-08:00

So last night, after a disastrous game of LOTR, I watched the return of Captain Jack Harkness in Torchwood. Surprisingly I enjoyed. I was not a big fan on series one, far to much sex and swearing for my liking, but despite the snog between John Barrowman and James Masters and a few other sexual references. I was entertained. My hopes for series 2 are high, so lets hope they won't be dashed.

So check the episode out on the BBC's I player. It's worth it just for the blowfish.

See you soon.

Now over a 120 pages in my editing. So not long to go. However I have nine chapters left, and a lot of rewriting to go. :(

So then... 2008

2008-01-10T12:35:00.000-08:00

So welcome to the first post of 2008. Now that we have got that formality over and done with. I can get back to my part time job of procrastination, I mean Writing.

Work is being hampered by a cold. Yep, I have manflu and I have even had a day of work. So there has been a lot of slacking, which I am trying to make up for. However I seem to find my self blogging. So its not working well.

I have scribbled a few pages of a script down in my new shiny program Scrivener. Nothing majorly exciting. I just wanted to play with it. I have fallen in love with it, so go get it. (Warning, it is a Mac only program. So if you have a PC. Go and get a proper PC).

Anyway work.

See you all soon.

Words

2007-12-28T03:06:00.000-08:00

So, I have been redrafting my story and with each draft it gets bigger. When I finished my original draft in September, it stood a little over 27k. I was aiming for 50k and so to get to 27k was ok. My first redraft gave me an extra 10k, leaving the total at 37k. I am slowly getting closer to the magical 50k. Now I am on my final redraft, the plot has been finalized, I'm editing it so that it all makes sense to the reader. I reckon that I will hit 50k if not more.

Got an idea for my second novel. Its been kicking around for a few years in my head. I still need to work on the plot. It was originally conceived to be a film and so I have broken down the film synopsis into the book. Problem is it reads like a film and film is a different medium to books. With books you can get into characters minds, tell the reader what is happening. With writing a film, you tend not to be able to do that, as its something you show. So you write things like this.

SAM cries as she sees her dead lover.

Now in a book you can go something like this.

Sam looked down. Lying motionless at her feet was Charlie, her lover. The gun was warm in her hands. She retched and threw up into a nearby bin. What had she done. She loved him. She killed him.

Now apart from the name Sam. None of this will make it into my book. For starters its set in space, and is all about a little girl lost.

See you.

The year comes to an end.

2007-12-27T15:45:00.000-08:00

Hum, you may get some 2007 musings, I have to decide if I want to yet. Watch this space. Or not. I don't actually think anyone reads this, but you never know. If you do read this, then let me know.

So how was Christmas. It was good, my brother gave me, Veronica Mars Season One, on DVD. Now Veronica is one of my favourite shows. Its whity, intelligent, emotional, and above all if you try to work out the mystery, confusing. The show is about a high school girl who, in her spare time solves crimes. So its a mixture of murder and teen angst. Sounds bad, but surprising its not. Plus its has one of the greatest characters ever written for a TV Show. Logan Echolls. He starts out as an annoying idiot, but as the show progress, we find out more about him, and watch as he develops into well you will have to watch and find out.

So, Voyage of the Dammed then. For months; I was looking forward to seeing David Tennant on the HMS Titanic but it turns out to be a space ship. Am I bothered, to use a forthcoming companions catch phrase. No, I am not bothered in the slightest. Russell T Davis wrote a script. I sat there, literally, on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happends. Who would die, who would live, and what is in level 31. If I could write like him I would be rich. Got to have something to aim for.

On the reading stand. Contract by Simon Spurrier. Not going to say anything yet, mainly as I have only read ten pages, but so far so good. Almost makes me want to be an assassin.

See you all next year.

Unless I blog again.

Bye.

Christmas is but a week away

2007-12-18T00:37:00.000-08:00

Indeed Christmas is now seven days away, and what fun it will be, what with 70 minutes of Titanic based fun with the new Doctor Who and of course presents. :) Looking forward to the presents, asked my parents for a range of books, which I should be reviewing over the next few weeks.

Other than that, going to spend some time painting my miniatures. I am currently playing through the Return of the King sourcebook from Games Workshop and need to get a lot of Knights of Dol Amoroth painted.

Other than that I am going to be working on two things. Getting my book finished is my number one priority, it now stands at 40,000 words which is a lot, however there is still a major rework to comer, and I think it shall now end up being closer to 50,000 and then I am going to send it to publishers, and or agents. Not sure about the latter, but we shall see.

There is a new competition being run by Shizzam magazine for a 3500 steam punk story. I think I am going to enter, but need to think of some ideas first. Got till the end of Feb, so got some time there. Going to replot my vampire novel. Got some great ideas from a friend of mine and so will be throwing them into the mixer.

The final thing I intend to do over Christmas is work on some TV proposals. I have a great idea for some crime stories in the genre of Morse, and Lewis. So intend to get massive amounts of CSI and the rest of Morse in the sales. (Here’s hoping for a buy one get one free offer :) )

Finally I shall leave you with two links. The first is for the author Dave Bishop, stumbled across his blog by accident, he is want I want to be, and that is a free lance writer, and reading his blog, has given me insight into the writing world. The second is Paul Cornell's blog. Now Paul is a Doctor Who writer, having written Father's Day and Human Nature/Family of Blood and by reading his blog, he has got me into some great shows like Heroes, and of course Veronica Mars.

Its almost Christmas

2007-12-13T15:30:00.000-08:00

And that means Doctor Who and presents. So 2007 is drawing to an end, so look forward to my year end review, and we shall see what Santa brings. I am still finishing my book, and should be either A ) presenting to agents or B) direct to companies. We shall see. I know one thing about 2008, and I am going to attempt to enter the TV writing agency.

See you all soon.

Dave.

Helms Deep

2007-11-24T06:12:00.000-08:00

Arh the mighty fortress of the Hornburg, where armies break upon its walls like waves on the beach. Recently I played out a large reenactment of this battle using models, photos and a write up will be appearing soon.

Just wanted to touch base,

See you all soon.

P.S. I am procrastinating far to much on Facebook.

You won't beat me Mr Murdoch

2007-10-25T15:13:00.001-07:00

Aha its mine, Lost Season 3 is mine on DVD, I have Virgin Media, and thanks to Mr Murdoch I lost Lost which IMHO is one of the best things on Telly. But now I own it on DVD and so can watch and find out what happens. Its an odd show, and I still don't know what is really going on, but I don't think any one does.

From a writers point of view, I am a big fan of the flashback sequence as it allows us to get to know characters in a more relaxed setting. Sometimes the flashbacks are rubbish. Take Ana Lucia in season 2. But sometimes they can be really good. My fav character is Charlie, and there is something rather tragic about his flashbacks, he did not have to take heroin, but he failed.

On the bookstand: Still Apocalypse Watch. Its pretty unisipiring stuff from Robert Ludlum. It really does seem that his best stuff is the Bourne Trilogy. Its 800 pages long, and is overly converluted, and quite hard to read. But I shall perservere.

See you all

Death of a general

2007-10-20T07:08:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday night I played a game of Warhammer agasint my friend Terry. In that game my general the mighty champion of chaos, the Deamon Belakor, was quite happily castin magic spells left right and centre, befroe sending himself into the realm of chaos by miscasting a simple magic ball of doom. The battle went downhill for there for me, and despite a spirited attacks by a badly wounded horde of nurglings agaisnt a chariot. I lost, even if I almost managed to cause enough damage to my own army as Terry did.

Its funny how war goes. Next time Terry, next time.

Its been a while

2007-10-12T13:46:00.001-07:00

Well the book is finisihed, 37k and is now been read by some friends. Scary, will they like it or not, its a scary moment. Got a few ideas, for a trilogy of books brewing, so we shall see where that take me. Off to see QI, see you soon.

Links

2007-09-17T15:10:00.001-07:00

So I have been playing with my blog, and added some links to my fav sites, there much more intresting than my page. Go read

Your back are you, thats nice.

Sunny days

2007-09-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

I love the sun, well not to much or that will be idolitary. But yesterday the sun shone, and we descended on Wollaton Park. As a child I spent a lot of time there, its a nice big park and had a great adventure play ground. Also when it snowed every one in Nottingham descened to sledge down the hill. It has happened once, and I am waiting for the next time. Since I got older, I have been there less and less, and so for the afternoon it was nice. After a chat about how Highlander relates to conquers we got there.

So we descended, chatted and watched a game of cricket. a Kite was flown and people took photos. Good times were had by all, that were not to last. It got cold, the sun went behind the clouds and we went to church.

What am I talking about, not sure. Just wanted to talk about it.

its done

2007-09-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

After a little under 27,000 words, 15 days and two sprained wrists my book is done. Time to edit

Spam

2007-09-07T09:48:00.000-07:00

I love spam emails, at work I get a lot of them, and apart from the ones that offer to increase my weekly income, which is fine. I get ones from Africa asking for the use of my bank account. To be honest, most of the ones I get are so poorly worked out that they make me laugh. Firstly, judging by the amount of Spam I get, everyone in Africa is incredibly rich, and that whole starvation in Darfur is a load of lies. Secondly, the authors are so incapable of getting their facts right that in one I read, a bloke became a woman with two children, a boy and a girl, then she had a girl, and then the author had gone from being a she and had become a he again.

Okay Rant over

20k ish and a 100 pages

2007-09-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

Ironically I have broken the 100 page mark on my book for this times comp, as well as hitting 20k, thats right 20k in six days. Not to bad in my opinion, ands thats with yesterday as a day off. Should have it finished by Saturday, if Englad allow me to that is.

Now when I say a hundred pages, its a 100 pages the size the book would be when finished. The size is about the size of your average mass market trade paperback. So I reckon that I may be looking at a 200 page book when I am done.

So going to be off now, Mock the week is on, and I need to laugh.

On the TV: Heroes, again. Got the dvd of series 1 on import, i love heroes. I think its one of the best things in recent years and ranks up there with Firefly, Alias and Lost as well as UK hits like Doctor Who, and Hustle. Only down side is i wish I had written it.

On the IPod: Hard Fi, Once upon a time in the west. Not to sure, liked most of thier first album, which had some good tracks, but in all its not that good yet, however a few more listening shall get my opnion sorted.

17K and counting.

2007-09-04T12:41:00.000-07:00

So my orginal target of 50K of words is begining to look a bit redicoulus, I reckon that my reestimate should be around the 30 to 35K target. Not that I am fussed,I want my book to be great, and to win. Not being stuck in development as it never getd anywhere as I insist on getting to 50k.

I am enjoying it as characters are suddely doing things unexpectdly, and I think they may be making out when I am not looking. Characters these days.

Anyway this was only a brief post to let you know how I am going.

10k wahoo

2007-09-01T12:22:00.000-07:00

So in the last few hours I have finished ten thousand words, which has been my target for the day. Though I could write another couple of thousands I won't I have other things to do. So I am off for the day, and tomorrow, I am going to see if I can get to to 13 or maybe 14k

8k done, 2K to go

2007-09-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

So since the last post at half ten, I have written another five thousand words so I am on course to get to 10K :) Its coming along, and I am happy with it, but I am already eager to get to the rewrite phase and this is after only writing about a 1/5th of the book. Oh dear.

In the mean time I have bought three new Doctor Who novels featuring David Tennant as Doctor number 10 and Martha Jones played by Freema, may start one later. Anyway I am off now to watch the last of the time lords. see you after 10K

3k done, 7k to go

2007-09-01T02:30:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I am entering the Times write a kids book comp. Well I have a half decent plot, and set my self a target, today I am aiming to write 10,000 words. I began at 8 in the morning and 2 and a half hours later, I have written 3k. Not bad, but I want to get to 5k before I get some food.

On the ITunes: How to save a Life by a band called The Frey. I have heard this song one and off as I walked into the warehouse at work, love it. Go buy. you know you want to.

Oh and last night I lost completly at bowling, it was rather impressive.

Right back to work. see you when I hit ten k

It's 1973, almost dinner time, I'm havin hoops.

2007-08-30T12:09:00.000-07:00

So I’ve been a bit quiet. Well I have been busy. Just before I wrote this I sent my entry to the Red Planet competition, owned by a writing legend Tony Jordon. My first ten pages have been entered, now I doubt that I will win. But the fact that he is offering a paid commission on a programme he writes, something like Hustle (one of the best programmes) Holby Blue, or if it was still going Life on Mars. So if I get it I will be over the moon. Plus the five K will be useful.

In other works, I’ve put on hold the short story I have been working on in favour for working on a book for a competition the Times are running with the guy who found JK Rowling. (and yes I did enjoy Deathly Hallows). Its looking good, but there is a long wait, where I can be polishing my manuscript. I just have to write 50k of words. But I have a plot, and I am about to break it into chapters, and begin work tomorrow.

In other news, I have read the new Harry Potter, brilliant. Watched Bourne Ultimatum, Brilliant and see Cov go top of the Championship Brilliant. So my summer has been quite nice, away from work.

On the stero: Life on Mars soundtrack. Now in my opinion a lot of the 70’s was rubbish. However this album gets all of the good ones, like Life on Mars by David Bowie, and Live or Let Die by Paul McCartney with the witty comments of Gene Hunt. Top notch.

Got to go, got to work on some chapers.

See you next week.

A week is a long time.

2007-07-05T15:57:00.001-07:00

A week is a long time. One week ago Britain was less than twelve hours away from the first of a three failed terrorist bombings. Gordon Brown had only stepped into the smaller/larger shoes of Tony Blair. The world changes rapidly. We don’t have time to catch up. Its either buy this now, you can’t do whatever with out it. But soon as you buy it, you have to buy something else. It’s a funny old world we live in.

Now you may be wondering what am I talking about. Well last week I went to bed thinking about doing one chapter, tonight I am going to bed with two new ideas. Firstly Tony Jordan (yes that one, the one who wrote Hustle, Life on Mars and is the person who has had the biggest impact on Eastenders) has announced a competition, enter the first ten pages of a screenplay and a synopsis and I could win five grand (that’s is half of what I will earn) and a paid commission. Now to be honest it’s the latter that I am most interested in. Getting a commission, whether its Hustle, or any other TV show and having it on my CV is worth more than five grand. So I really want to win.

It also means that I am going to have work incredibly hard to get entered. Hard work yes, pay off very little, and I will be going against a lot of talented, but the feeling that if I can get through the final twenty, and have a workshop with a man of the ability of Tony Jordan, I know I have achieved something. So let the work begin.

Also I have begun plotting ideas for a series of four books, that is a fantasy series, I have some ideas, buzzing in my head, but I am going to need a lot of work to get them sorted before I even put finger to keyboard.

I have also started a new short story, of which I have finished plotting, its an interesting idea and I hope to sell it as well which also will b quite useful. All in all I will have to say the next few months are going to be pretty interesting. But a lot of hard work.

In other news, last night I played my penultimate game in my The Two Towers game. I played as a horde of heroes sallying out from Helms Deep against my friends Terry’s horde of evil Uruk Hai. The game was a victory for me, however while playing, it felt like a Tim Henman game at Wimbledon, the balance of the game swung from side to side, and a well placed spell won the game.

I have just finished watching the Die Hard Trilogy in preparation for Die Hard 4. Die Hard was really good, Die Hard 2 and 3 were ok, but nothing brilliant. We shall wait to see what 4 is like. But the director Len Wisemen was good behind the camera for Underworld and Underworld Eveloution, so we shall see.

I have also watched Scrubs season 5. I will admit that I am very anti American comedy as I don’t find it funny, but Scrubs works because it mixes the serious and the stupid. There are two episodes where we follow the emotional journey of Dr Cox played by J C Mcginlly at the end of disc 3 and I was in awe, that was brilliant writing.,

Its midnight and I have to go to work.

Wahay

2007-06-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

Well I have just written the 25,000th word on my book. I am quite pleased about that. A lot more to go. I just wanted to shout about it. It's feel nice. However now comes the long slog as I get to 50,000 and then the ending which I am aiming to come in around the 80,000 to a 100,000 word mark.

incessant drumming

2007-06-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

So how good was the latest episode of Dr Who. I enjoyed it, and I keep finding myself drumming. Just tapping away, in the style that John Simm did on the cabinet table.

In other news, I went to the Cricket today, Notts won by six wickets, which sounds like a lot, where as in reality we had three balls of our twenty overs left, and we got the single run needed to get us past Lancashire's total of 163. The match was entertaining, thought I must admit that I never quite under stood the fact, the security stewards removed some inflatable (not stuffed as I proclaimed) animals that were being thrown around to good effect. Why, is it PC gone mad. I don't know.

In good news, I am plotting out a seires of four books and six half parts of a tv show, I have been thinking about since watching Heroes. It's a nice, I just need that spark to make it go work. It will come. I hope.

READING: Just finished Casino Royale by Ian Fleming, though the book and the film share a similar plot and characters, their is a big difference. This is due to the time of the writing and fliming. When written in the early fifties Russia was the big enemy, with people waiting for the comunist empire to sweep all aside. While now adays we have no real enemies like that, just terrorist. Despite this I found it enjoyable though a little dull as the plot was convulted, however I did learn a new card game, Baccarart, which I am itching to try out.

WATCHING: The 4400 seaon 1. I picked this up ages ago from simths and I have finally gotten round to watching it. Billed as the new X Files, I am kind of dissapointed as it has a goof potential (IE 4400 people go missing all over the world (all of which are american) and then reappear, changed) but yet the first episode has a lot to work on. Other .han that, its Star Wars.

Now bed,

Hello,

2007-06-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

So I didn’t win the Doctor Who competition, not bummed or ought, it would have been nice, but there is always next time. Rejection is part of the game. I shall soon be buying some webspace and plonking it on there for you all to read.

In other news I have met Steven Savile recently. He is the author of a trilogy of books for Games Workshop that deal with the Von Carstien family, all who have tried to invade and conquer the empire, and did I mention they were Vampires. Now I am not a big fan of these books, as I find them rather predictable, due to them being based on established background, that I have known about for ten years. However despite this I enjoyed his writing, and looking forward to his next Black Library novel. He was nice and signed my books, and we had five minutes to chat. He offered a bit of advice, which was better than your standard, read widely and write a lot, which also happens to be good advice. So I am pumped about writing,

So much so that I have been busy tapping away on my novel, not especially pleased about what I have written, but I need to rewrite all most of all of it. The novel’s plot I think is interesting, but will appeal to a niche audience. I am not sure if I am going to submit it, but we shall see.

I have also been tapping away on ideas for a fantasy world, its coming along fine, and its been highly amusing thinking up of names. I quite like Ja’Khan, however if it stays as a name we shall see. My script has finished the rewrite, and now is with a few people who are reading it. I am now waiting for their response. Its been an enjoyable rewrite, as I learnt another writing tip from the Master of the Screen Russell T Davies. I learnt such a big thing that I could keep redrafting, and never get to the point of where I can say something is done. So it will soon be submitted, and we shall see if it gets picked up.

I have just finished reading the Beach by Alex Garland, now I have raved about this book, and its truly is great, however the ending seemed a bit rushed and jilted. You’ve read three hundred odd pages, and it all kicks off in the final fifty pages. This is my only major critcism on the book I enjoyed.

Watching, of course it has to be Doctor Who. Steven Moffarts episode Blink was scary. The surprise ending of Utopia had me in awe. Oh how a week seems such a long time. Still no harm in a little wait. I had to wait sixteen years to get a doctor.

Anyway bed, now. See you all soon.

The Month of May was not kind to me.

2007-05-27T09:30:00.001-07:00

So what’s going on in the world of Me. Not a lot. Survived May just. I had four bible talks to write, a short story to enter, for the Black Library, and stock take at work. Plus I wanted a life. Well I did everything on the list apart from maybe a life.

However recent events have thrown a stick in my works. I have been writing a script, which now thanks to the kidnapping of Madeline McCann. Is not going to be approved when sent in due to kidnapping of a teen being a big part of it. With the recent rewrites of similar plot lines for Corrie and Eastenders I am a bit stuck. However I rather have that little girl back with her parents than my script on telly.

I have been reading the Beach by Alex Garland, tis very good. It’s a look at what life is like when we remove all of life’s excess. When I say excess I mean technology, and is very enjoyable. Well written and fast moving, you can easily find that you have read 200 pages when you were only going to read a chapter. I recommend it.

Also have seen pirates of the Caribbean 3. Very good. Much better than the second to be honest. The second was a character piece, and spent far to long introducing all the main protagonists, while the third was a romp from Singapore, to the ends of the earth and back to shipwreck cove. Very funny, great acting from Johnny Deep go see it. Now.

I am off to church and then when I return I am going to bash out a basis for my new four book idea. I have got to stop thinking and get down to writing.

Update

2007-05-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

Hey up

So I have been a bit quiet, but I have been working hard at work. It’s stock take at the time of writing and I have been working getting all the accounts up to date, and now am sitting not doing a lot entering the data ate s it comes in from the warehouse.

While I have been working hard on entering the Black Library’s short story competition. I have an idea, I have a way of killing a planet, I have my synopsis and my writing piece. Now I just needed to get it proof read, (thanks Lorna) and now I need to enter it.

In other news I am working on a website, to showcase my writing. Using the wonders of my Mac and Iweb it should be up shortly, well as soon as I build it that is. But using Iweb it won’t take to long ☺ watch this space to get the address.

I am currently reading through I Jedi which is obviously from the Star Wars universe. its alright, I am reading it to mainly take ideas for a small synopsis I am preparing. It will probably never been made, but I like the idea with. It’s a decent read and is easy to read, but I think the fact that its also set in the same time with a trilogy of books that come under the title The Jedi Academy trilogy. I read these at the turn of the century, and so can remember some details, and thanks to Wiki I can find out the rest. I am now looking for the Thrawn trilogy books on ebay.

In terms of Doctor Who it has gone from strength to strength I feel that the two Dalek episodes were a bit weaker, but they were still very good. Especially like the Harry Potter reference in the Shakespeare Code. Can’t wait for book 7.

Anyway this is this blog post over and out.

Were back

2007-04-19T13:09:00.000-07:00

So were back once again. Well I’m now 22, and I have begun editing my script where I am suppose to be bringing it down to a nice 90 pages, and yet I have gone up by five after reviewing 12 pages of scripts. Odd.

Macs rule, its official. My 22nd birthday present is a nice 13-inch black macbook and I love it. No other word to describe it. I am lying in bed as I type this.

I have still not heard anything back from Big Finish about my Who Story I entered earlier this year, but they are looking at making the announcement at the end of May, another month. No fair. However in between then and now, I have to devise and enter a short story comp or two. One is for the previously announced SFX comp and one for the Black Library, which is based on the subject of planet killing.

I am also keeping myself busy with thinking of ideas for a short film. I have recently got the passion for film-making and I am going to have to give it a go. Watch this space.

Oh and work is taking me for pizza on Monday. ☺

Tis Finished

2007-04-09T12:47:00.000-07:00

Did you enjoy The Shakespeare Code. I know I did, and apart from a new found appreciation for all things Shakespearean, I am again rather up for Script Writing. However even better Project One has now got a complete draft. So now all I need to do is to revise, get people to proof read it, so my dodgy spelling is ok. And then to read it out loud to make sure, that the speeches do work.

Now I just need to get motivated.

In other news I have now got a shiny black mac book coming for my birthday, and I can’t wait to play on it. I just have to wait till Friday. There is a new single out by Linkin Park which is brilliant. I have now listened to is 79 times since I bought it last Wednesday (thanks I tunes). It’s a bit different to their usual style but is very nice, and has a very nice piano in the back ground.

The third book in the Power of Five series by Anthony Horowitz has been released and I have devoured it. The series has an interesting premise of what if our real world had a supernatural element to it. He has written a decent book, and though does not focus on the main characters from previous books. Is very good and I am looking forward to book 4, which is Harry Potter sized so I am looking forward.

Finally we also have the trailer for the Bourne Ultimatum. This is the third film in the Bourne franchise, which is one of my favourite, with each film getting better. So watch this http://craigbe.typepad.com/movieblog/2007/03/the_bourne_ulti.html and I shall see you soon, after a driving lesson and redraft. Now can I force myself to loose a character.

Bye

An education from the Master. (not that one)

2007-04-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

So as I am typing this I am about ten pages from completeting my script for project one. It’s scary, now that after years, of bashing ideas and getting the style this is going to be the first that one gets submitted and most likely rejected. So I’m excited and nervous.

However on the positive side of things Doctor Who came roaring back in on Saturday night with a cracker of an episode in Smith and Jones. Just watching Russell T Davis’s script was an eye opener for me. As I thought about how he wrote this scene this way to get the new companion (Martha) over as the sensible one, and did this to get that, and so on. It was an education. So I am really looking forward to poring over my script over the next few days, reworking scenes so that instead of writing a script as one would write a novel. The visuals show the story. I get the feeling that this script is going to work out longer than I was expecting, which means I have to think about maybe loosing that subplot or even losing a character.

Trust me having six main characters running around doing things, while focusing on two out of the six, really does give me appreciation why Jon Nathan Turner killed of Matthew Waterhouse’s character Adric.

On the novel front I have just finished reading the first book in the Fiends on the Eastern Front trilogy, and to be honest it left me very disappointed. The book was gradually building up for a rather dark ending. And it did give a rather dark ending, it was just that the action kicked up a notch in the final three chapters and left me feeling somewhat lacking. Oh well. Going to give that a break and read a book set in the Necromunda game world from Games Workshop.

Other than that DVD recommendation is Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children. It’s a continuation of the game and is highly enjoyable with great graphics. The story though good was a bit weak in places and I felt that it relied on its visual, which were stunning. Done on a computer they looked really nice, I just felt that it needed a tighter plot and would have been a lot better. However it did get me playing the game again.

Houston we have a problem

2007-03-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

Well not really a problem, more of a fix. I am an addict. There you go I have admitted it. I am addicted to playing World of Warcraft (hereafter known as WOW). I am currently running around in Stranglethorn Vale, with my level 37 and a half rogue. However in January just before the Burning Crusade was released, Blizzard updated WOW and it crashes my machine, with a serious crash of blue screen doom. So I can not play WOW without it killing my machine, every time I go into stealth.

So since then instead of wasting my life in front of a screen moving my character around (and I was so close to a mount) I have begun doing other things. For starters I have got into the swinging of painting my wargaming figures. I am currently in the middle of a campaign based on the Two Towers books with little bits from the film thrown in, and were heading to a climatic huge siege of Helms Deep which will look great. I’m writing and I am doing over time at work. I more involved at Church. So

And more importantly I have begun to play on my Playstation 2. Back in 2001 I bought Final Fantasy 7 and I got about half way through disc one and I have not got any further of this three disc epic. I have a whole host of games I have hardly played on. So I can safely say that losing World of Warcraft has been a good thing. I am now having a great time and being really productive.

Oh and I am now on the home straight of Project number one. I am working on the thrilling conclusion that involves action sequence. Even thinking about it I can imagine the budget being spent here.

Also Doctor Who is back on Saturday. Doctor Who is the only decent thing on telly. So watch it and enjoy, or else we will get the Daleks round.

Right, I'm off to get some Final Fantasy 7 in. Tomorrow I go for the last push on the script and watch the Quatermass Remake.

Oooh

2007-03-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

Well after perusing the Black Library Forums at lunch, I have noticed that the magazine SFX is running a pulp short story comp. So count me in.

Already I have plans of bring a character that I once used in a campaign I ran for the miniature war-game Inquisitor, who I like so much I adapted into a novel/film. :)

So aside from my ramblings on my career as a writer I hope to fill you in on what I am doing in general. So here goes

At the moment two things are keep me interested. Firstly I have been reading a book called Fiends on the Eastern Front by David Bishop. Technically this is a omnibus which has three books which makes up the trilogy, which in turn are based on an old 2000AD comic strip, which I now want go to get my hands on.

The basic premise is that during Hitler's attempt to conquer the Soviet Block, three brothers fighting on the front line run into vampires lurking on the battlefield. Now I am enjoying this book for two reasons. Firstly it is fulfilling my lust for good Vampire stories. I am a fan of the undead, for no other reasons than they are just really cool. But also I have read a many a vampire story that has disappointed me in some how. Secondly the author has gone and done his research and made it as historically accurate as you can, when your lead character are investigating into blood sucking fiends, which has reawakened my passion for History and historical fiction.

So go buy for an enjoyable read.

The other thing, it’s now only 9 or so days till Doctor Who returns, bring it on.

Its a funny old thing

2007-03-21T15:41:00.000-07:00

Authors always say that sometimes stories take on a life of their own and characters do things they were never expecting.

Recently I have found this to be true. While writing my novel, trying to get two characters one of who is the main character to relate, even though one of them will be dead within the next few pages, is incredibly hard, and then something happened, and they clicked.

Also one of my side characters in my short story I am writing who originally was going to be a bit more timid and less confrontational has stormed into the centre of the story with magic and a tiny killing spree. Laying down the law and generally saying, your doing my will or you die.

It's amassing what characters can do when they your not watching.

Day One

2007-03-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

Hello All

And welcome to my Blog. I shall keep it uptodate with my way to becoming a best selling author.
So I shall give you a brief intro to what I am working on.

Project 1: Working on a script for a 90 minute tv adventure drama aimed at a family audience.
Project 2: Novel- A supernatural thriller set in Nottingham. It has Vampires, and well thats all I should say
Project 3: Short Story: A Short Story hopefully to go in one of many fantasy magazines.
Project 4: Film: I have just begun the vague basis of a plot for a film, which contains UFO abduction.

All rather exciting, find out more soon.