Faltered again. Well kind of...

A little catch up

Faltered again. Well kind of. I've not been here for a while, which was not the plan when I started. The plan was consistency…ain’t it always.

But I have been somewhere. A few places actually. And always writing. I’m always writing something. It might be for my day job (copy of varying sorts) or it might be snippets of my novel (and dissertation) or screenplay scenes (focus of my MA right now). So, I’ve been out here, writing in one way or an other.

Oh and I had a reading, in a bookshop, of my own work. I was thrilled about that. In fact, I was chuffed to bits to be asked to co-chair the event - a live Q & A with Golden Globe and 3 x BAFTA winning John Yorke. John wrote the leading book on screenwriting (Into The Woods), was head of drama at channel 4, controller of drama at the BBC - the list goes on.

John was so generous on the night, with his depth of knowledge and insight into creating stories that connect.

I chaired the night with several times BAFTA nominated screen writer William Ivory, most recently long-listed for The Great Escaper (tender, funny, important film). I’m lucky enough to have Billy as a tutor on my MA.

So yeah, I’ve been doing lots of stuff.

And yet, I’ve faltered again. Stopped in my tracks this week by life (washing, dust, lists, imposter syndrome, PE kits, birthdays, obligations, doubt, a clock that ticks too fast, a brain that gets disordered).

I had been gathering speed, then, I got lost. Stumped by a crossroads (I know, I come across an unusual amount don’t I?)

And when we get lost, isn’t it funny how we so quickly think there’s more to it than having taken a wrong turn? Lost, lost, lost for good. Don’t know where I’m going. Will never get there.

And then I got an email from aforementioned tutor.

And in it were some directions.

“Think story engine. But mostly think what the theme is, cos that’ll shape the engine.”

And I’m like, is he talking about my life or my script?

He’s on about my script, of course. But words of wisdom them, eh?

Because stories make the world go round - and the stuff that drives their engines, is just the same stuff that drives ours. All of us. Every day.

What’s the reason? What’s the purpose? What’s the why? What’s going to get the engine going?

Turned a corner. Back on track. (The track will never not be wobbly though).

P

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