Tuesday 23 June 2009

Writing in a Block (or in a Caravan)


So during the first week of June I packed my bags and laptop and headed off to Norfolk to work on the rewrite of the rom/com project. I say rewrite. In actual fact it was pretty much a page 1 restart (and was written as such). The goal was to literally write an entire script in a week, which was really just from Monday night to early Friday morning. Now, I'm aware that this is a pretty insane thing to do, but given the usual limitations of time etc, it was just about the best shot I would have at really having another crack at this thing, and doing it well.
Last year I spent four weeks writing with a fully qualified screenwriter, and I learned a lot. This new draft of the rom/com was pretty much the first time I'd written since (the aborted Highlander script aside) and it was truly a revelation.
I'd spent the previous two or so weeks preparing. By the end of that, I had pages of notes, the whole thing was carded and I had watched enough romantic comedies to make even the most hardened guy a gibbering sentimental wreck.
And so it began. I arrived Monday afternoon, unloaded at the caravan and hit Tesco in search of nourishment. By the early evening I was ready to begin. And things were going pretty well...

And then, on Tuesday afternoon, disaster struck. Only 10 pages in, I returned from a midday break to find the power cord on the Mac had given up the ghost. Panic set in, but soon (after a desperate call to my brother-in-law) I'd found the local (I say local, 15-miles away) PC World. Turns out you can't get the old Mac power cord any more. I only had one choice left - buy a laptop and write in Word.
Actually, it wasn't as hideous as I thought it would be, and by Wednesday I was thundering ahead. To be honest, I didn't think I'd hit my personal deadline. I hit the midpoint Wednesday night, with only one full day left to go.
Long story short, I managed it. 105 pages by 10.30am on the Friday.
A few weeks on and I'm still refining it thanks to some great feedback from some trusted eyes... I'm really happy with the outcome of this draft. It's by far the best so far, and the best thing I've written to date. I just hope my producer, and his US producer contact, agree.
As ever... watch this space.

No comments: