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Dear John

 January 14, 2009

Paying a reader to give you notes on your script is like paying a prostitute to give you notes on your sexual technique. Yes, they’re a professional.Yes, they’re good at what they do.And yes, if you’re just starting out there’s a case…

TAPS

 September 4, 2008

As far as I can tell I’m the third blogger to go on a TAPS Continuing Drama course, following in the steps of Lucy in 2006 and David in 2007. Perhaps they only let one of us in each year lest we…

On-swa! On-swa!

 May 14, 2008

I’ve just finished playing Ico. It’s a game for the PS2 in which you have to escape from a castle – and take your companion with you. The game is beautifully drawn, and instead of music features a soundtrack of ambient sound:…

David Shore

 June 26, 2007

A couple of weeks ago I went to an event at BAFTA hosted by mediaXchange. MediaXchange are a company who try and bring creatives together across the Atlantic – so for example TV execs in the UK might be taken across to…

Clams and Toppers

 May 9, 2007

If you don’t have Jane Espenson‘s blog on your must-read list, you really ought to. She writes regularly on the process of creating spec scripts. Also, about what she had for lunch, but as that’s a story on a par with Tom…

Why talent is irrelevant

 May 5, 2007

Some people claim that writing can’t be taught. That there’s an indefinable spark in a few which, in time, will blossom. That if you don’t have such a spark, training will do nothing for you. That hard work and experience is not…

The Table Read

 April 11, 2007

It’s a really simple concept, and you’d think it would be more widely done. You’ve written your spec. It’s as good as you can make it. You’ve been through a dozen drafts, stripped back the action paragraphs and deflowered the prose. The…

Sanctuary

 March 29, 2007

noun (pl. sanctuaries) 1 a place of refuge or safety. 2 a nature reserve. 3 a place where injured or unwanted animals are cared for. 4 a holy place. 5 the part of the chancel of a church containing the high altar.…

Haiku

 September 25, 2006

Japanese poem Five syllables, then seven Then five at the last To be true haiku A season must be invoked Use a metaphor Kigo, season word Cherry blossom used for spring Snow stands for winter Now use a cutting Haiku should be…