So I am going to try and blog everyday now

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.

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

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!!!!!!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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:

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

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

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

Bleed it out

The greatest day of my life. Ever.

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!

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.

Go and watch this, and count the cult references.

Flight of the Darned

Two posts in a day. Shock Horror.

Jack's Back

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

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.