Bloggers, online columnists, internet diarists, call them what you will, in this new global village in which we live, they're part of the furniture.
In the interests of healthy discussion (a discussion taking place over on our Facebook group page) we can't help but wonder whether blogs are quite the worthy endeavour and resource that they're taken to be. Do they enhance the prospects of aspiring screenwriters or are they a displacement activity in disguise? Do they assist in a writer's productivity and networking opportunities or simply distract him/her from getting on with the next draft of 'Procrastination - The Movie'. Whether or not you're a Blogger yourself if you have a view on the issue do join the discussion HERE.
We at SWF take a closer look at what's out there for the likes of us... (click on the titles to go directly to the blog in question)
An invaluable resource for all UK Writers North of the border!
Journey of a Screenwriter - Mina Zaher
Follow the experiences and lessons learnt of screenwriter Mina Zaher as she attempts to break into the real world and beyond! This is the journey of a screenwriter!
Julian Friedmann (TwelvePoint.com)
Julian Friedmann (of Blake Friedmann literary agency and co-founder and owner of TwelvePoint.com) keeps his finger on the pulse of the industry and shares his findings with those canny enough to take note.
Hayley McKenzie is an experienced script editor and is developing a script consultancy and production business - do take a look at her website, www.scriptangel.co.uk complete with link the the Screenwriters' Festival of course! She's also just started this blog and will be posting information helpful to new and aspiring writers.
SHEIKSPEAR Scriptwriting Screenwriting Spec Monkey - a blog by Gareth Turpie
It has 2500 regular readers and is bright, fun, helpful and has loads of informative links including a certain one about a little gathering in Cheltenham...
David Turner's Procrastination Station - a blog by David Turner
Updated daily, it's a user-friendly, handy diary of future events and contests of interest to screenwriters. Naturally, the Screenwriters' Festival was the very first thing logged!
Clicking on the agenda will give you a link to the event's official website, or, if it exists, a link back to the original post with all the details.
Selecting "Full Calendar" beneath the Diary, it'll launch a full searchable calendar. Also, if you have Google Calendar, you can import any of the entries into that. You can also synch it to iCal, Outlook or any other desktop calendar.
And in this world of the Interweb 2.0, it's fully interactive. If you come across anything that you might be of interest, or you're organising something that you'd like fellow screenwriters to attend, click on the "Email Me!" link and it goes in the diary. In the blog, I'll name you and, if you give the details, provide a link to your blog or website.
The Columbo Effect - a blog by David Melkevik
Rather than working on his latest script, Cardiff-based David Melkevik freely admits to displacing his energies onto his blog. Stuffed full of film and TV reviews The Columbo Effect is "just one more thing" about screenwriting.
Hello all, here is a link to my screenwriting blog. I have a small handful of articles online, mainly craft related, and there are more to come. I'm a screenwriter with several feature length commissions and have sold pitches. Still no production though - always the bridesmaid...
Anyway, hope you like the blog!
Chris Jones (Living Spirit Films)
Writer/Director/Producer Chris Jones, 'Urban Ghost Story', 'White Angel' and the recent short film 'Gone Fishin', and author of the well known 'Guerilla' film manual series, has a blog that is filled with information, advice and low budget film tales. A great blog if you are finding the whole low budget/fund raising stuff a bit daunting and nigh on impossible...
UK writer, filmmaker and editor of the Networking ebulletin 'Shooting People', Andy Conway's website/blog is packed with content including reviews of films, TV dramas and screen-industry-related events.
A daily tutorial composed by an experienced script consultant covering the errors commonly made by screenwriting beginners. Also includes reflections on the industry, tips and techniques, exercises, and so on.
Thoughts and things from Laura Anne Anderson, a writer from Edinburgh.
"Hello there! I'm a screenwriter, reader, script editor and Screen Academy Scotland graduate from Edinburgh. At some point soon I'll branch out into novel writing too. That's the plan, anyway..."
Bloggery-Pokery - a blog by Jason Arnopp
Screenwriter (and good friend to SWF) Jason Arnopp's blog is deserving of mention for a variety of reasons. He not only provides great coverage of the Screenwriters' Festival and in particular our pitching competition (listing the kinds of questions that the Pitching judges inevitably put to those pitching a story, the questions all screenwriters would do well to bear in mind throughout the development of an idea and script), Jason also offers up amusingly quirky entries alongside such pearls of informational wisdom as contained in his interviews with the likes of Steven Moffat.
Write Here, Write Now - a blog by Lucy Vee.
"Okay, so after many, many months of supposed research, general panic, swearing, avoiding phone calls from my agent about it, internet surfing and talking about starting I have, finally, started my novel." Lucy's blog is a resource for screenwriters and covers mostly craft and has an e-library of all the best online articles by the likes of: Danny Stack, John August, James Moran...
Alexis Dallas's blog
Alexis is an Australian writer and new media producer currently based in London. His blog is an invaluable information resource and the most recent entry points readers to the financial and creative rewards available to those filmmakers who post their work on such sites as YouTube and Bebo (who are sharing the advertising revneue generated by the popularity of films posted on their sites).
Shakespeare's Housekeeper - a blog by the wife of a writer.
Behind every great writer (well many great writers) is a great spouse. This blog is all about what its like to be the person behind the writer. We all know what it takes to be able to write; a stable environment, no noise, minimal disruption etc. But who makes sure that all that is going to happen? All written by a writers wife, in a lighthearted fashion, with a view to letting other writers and their partners know that they are not alone...
Scribomatic - a screenwriting blog index
Well whadyaknow?! Someone's already done our work for us! Curses! Andy Coughlan has been running this database for the past couple of years and it currently has 329 screenwriting blogs listed, mainly from the US and UK.
The main features are:
A Screenwriter-centric Google search which indexes only the selected blogs and a few other screenwriting related sites.
The Scribomatic widget, which many screenwriting bloggers have on their site (it even got the UNK seal of approval).
Follow @Scribomatic on Twitter and get alerts when anyone listed on the site posts (I find this particularly useful, though the Screenwriting population, especially here in the UK, seem to be a bit slow on the uptake with Twitter, which is a shame).
Andy is also just adding a new RSS feed which aggregates all the blog posts into one feed. This feature is due to go live on the site in the next few days.
Bigger Picture Research - a blog by Jim Barratt
Although not primarily concerned with screenwriting, Bigger Picture Research is relevant to writers and anyone else involved in the serious business of film. It provides news of, and commentary on, film business research from around the world, including box office updates, policy studies and audience research. Jim was formerly Head of Research at the UK Film Council, so he knows a thing or two about these things! There is also an extensive list of other research sources, which should be helpful to anyone wishing to delve a little deeper into the business side of things (whether in the UK or internationally).
Screenwriting on the blog - a blog by Jez Freedman
Jez is a screenwriter and former Red Planet Prize finalist. He's also a script reader for various companies and individuals and runs the script reading service Script Reading on the Blog.
Ressurecting Critique - a blog by Bonnie Gutsch
Bonnie is a screenwriter with a keen political consciousness. Her blog is sub-headed: 'Adventures in life, politics and critical sociology' and takes a intelligent look at a whole range of topical issues. A welcome alternative to the overtly screenwriting-centric blogs.
Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild Blog
The Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild is the representative body in Ireland for writers for the stage and screen. Its blog brings together news and information about the industry in Ireland and Europe, as well as highlighting competitions, courses, residencies, and sources of funding that playwrights and screenwriters should find useful. If you're Ireland based (SWF always enjoys a healthy contingent of Irish delegates) and haven't yet stumbled across this site - this is one to 'bookmark'.
Dom's World - a blog by Dominic Carver
Dom's World is a blog that bears testimony to the strugle faced by so many writers. Sentiments we can all identify with: "It's not the rejection. I can handle the rejection. It's the hope I can't stand!" Dom's recent entries discuss his submission for the Red Planet competition and his entry for Friday 26th September invites the reader to consider the relevance of the lyric's to Noel Gallagher's 'The Importance of Being Idle' (Oasis). Too true.
Between the Pavement and the Stars - a blog by Piers Beckley
London-based screenwriter Piers Beckley offers up his droll observations on Life, the Scribosphere and Everything. His entry dated September 19th lists things he's learned while recently in California, among them: "Few People in California can spell. When a bank can't spell 'withdrawals' that's a warning sign." I'll say.
Everything I Can See - a blog by Jonathan Bart
Jonathan Bart's blog covers among other things screenwriting, photography, and film. Among the recent entries is a review of Christopher Nolan's 'The Dark Knight'. Despite Jonathan's judgement that the film is Nolan's "worst" (he clarifies this as meaning "least brilliant") it's a positive review. His only real criticism being that the script suffers from glaringly problematic plot holes. It struck me as amusingly ironic (or perhaps ingeniously postmodern) that he neglects to discuss or even identify these plot holes anywhere in the review.
Less Said - a blog by Andrew Bindon
Andrew is (among other things I'm sure) a poet, a wordsmith, a lover of lyrics. As well as maintaining this blog for his poetic outpourings, Andrew also maintains www.notreallyrelevant.com/ an online project that sees Andrew interviewing people who discuss a subject which is creating happiness, for themselves and perhaps for others too. There is a blog site to support this fascinating (and wonderfully positive) project HERE. Andrew also runs another blog Ecstatic Union which offers an alternative philosophy on life and religion (or rather on life and 'un-religion'). And lastly there's also Andrew's Questions Only blog which, as you might imagine, involves a lot of er... questions.
Onlies for Lonlies - a blog by Jon Mitchell
Jon is a welsh-born screenwriter now based in Japan and his blog details his endeavours and experiences as such - from a presentation given to a conference in Seoul on the 'redemptive powers of story-telling' to the positive feedback received from the Film Agency Wales about the latest draft of his screenplay and his recent success in securing an Agent in London.
Lock and Load, Brides of Christ - a blog by Elinor D. Perry-Smith
Elinor is a London-based writer, carer and owner of Nun with a Gun productions Ltd. Elinor finds her blog provides a means of keeping in touch with other writers, many of whom have become friends in the 'real' world (should I be putting 'real' be in inverted commas there?) A recent blog entry touches on what Jon Mitchell (see above) might regard as part of the redemptive power of story-telling. She muses on the way in which, when re-reading material we've written long ago, we can glimpse something about our state of mind at that time. Whether it's an old diary or blog entry or an early draft of an old screenplay we were once working on. "It shows how change is possible. In scripts as in life."
http://www.timclague.com/ - a blog by Tim Clague
Tim describes his blog as looking at things from a slightly different angle to most other blogs. It is 3 years old now and has always looked at making writers much more pro-active. Questions like; how to you write scenes that are original and feel fresh, why aren't you shooting your own scripts, how does the internet fit into it all, how do you write for interactive scripts - and so on. So it is very different to the 'pure' writing blogs out there. It is more for mavericks and people who's ambition is more than simply writing for others and being told what to do.
Highlights from Tim's blog include: The Scriptwriter's Life Diagram and his Beachcombing - How to Work on New Ideas
Far Away Scriptwriter - a blog by Amanda Holiday
Amanda Holiday is a South African based Screenwriter and her blog has been ongoing since 2006. It's varied and details her musings and experiences but rarely strays far from her continuing creative endeavours as a writer.
Raving Dave Herman - a blog by Dave Herman
Dave Herman's blog consists of reflections on his experiences as a screenwriter and of lessons to be drawn from the experiences of others.
Great Screenwriting - another blog by Dave Herman
Dave has a second blog which takes a more specific and analytical look at award-winning screenplays in a bid to understand what makes them so effective.
In addition Dave has a third site which is still in its infancy but currently offers a gallery of cartoons and artwork designed by himself and his creative partner. This can be found at: http://www.luftgescheft.blogspot.com/
Sun Flick - a blog by Lucy Filmore
Recent Pitch-in-Time finalist Lucy Filmore's blog is hosted via her MySpace profile.
Scriptuality - a blog by Paul Campbell
Paul describes his blog as the "mutterings and babblings of an apprentice screenwriter" but actually offers the reader a pleasingly accessible and charmingly self-effacing account of life as a writer of scripts. Sometimes that's really all we want to read... something accessible, pleasing, light hearted, not too instructional, not too serious. Something that reminds us that there are other writers going through much the same kind of thing.
David Lemon @ 'jetpacksandsuch'- a blog by David Lemon
Screenwriter David Lemon (writer of 'Faintheart') appeared as part of the line-up of speakers for Screenwriters' Festival 2008. His blog here he describes as being "a place for me to talk about the things that excite and infuriate me and keep anyone interested up to date with what I'm up to."
My Cat Likes Elvis - a blog by Christine Patton
London-based comedy writer Christine Patton's blog is a quirky and entertaining collection of musings on all manner of real-life experiences.
The Pen is Mightier than the Spork - a blog by James Moran
The screenwriter behind the movie 'Severance' and episodes of well-known TV shows such as 'Doctor Who', 'Torchwood', 'Primeval' and 'Spooks: Code 9' regales his readers with off-beat nonsense that just makes one smile and want to read more. What is it with quirkiness and offbeat nonsense? There's a lot of it in the rarified atmosphere of blog-land. Thankfully.
David Bull - Script Consultant and Screenwriter - a blog by David Bull
David kindly namechecks Screenwriters' Festival in his blog (and in the most flattering terms) and so it automatically qualifies for inclusion in our list here. Flattery will get you and your blog everywhere!
Scriptwriting in the UK - a blog by Danny Stack
Danny (a speaker at SWF 2008) is a scriptwriter and Scripteditor and his latest blog entry includes an insightful Q & A interview with James Watkins the rising new talent responsible for scripting Eden Lake, the new white-knuckle thriller about a young couple reluctantly pitted against a gang of unruly youngsters while on a weekend break at the eponymous Eden Lake.
Adaddinsane - a blog by Steve Turnbull
Steve Turnbull's blog is significantly more regular than many others on this list. For his readers, this must be a very good thing. For the well-being of his own scriptwriting on the other, I can't help thinking it must be a rather burdensome obstacle. The entry's are very much from the standpoint of an aspiring screenwriter and include discussions of competitions, deadlines (or the absence thereof) and screenwriting events such as, gosh... how wonderfully embarassing... the Screenwriters' Festival!
Paul Cornell's House of Awkwardness - a blog by Paul Cornell
Paul Cornell is a novelist, comic book writer and indeed television writer. His TV credits most notably include Doctor Who. In fact I'm sure Paul wouldn't object if I were to describe him as a dyed-in-the-wool Whovian (we're everywhere we Whovians). Paul's blog keeps readers informed of his professional engagements, events he's due to attend, discussion panels he's participating on. And he shares some amusing links too.
Real Blogs by 'Unreal' People...
In a postmodern twist there are a number of blogs out there that are fictitious, in one way or another. Among them:
http://www.newmetv.co.uk/ / "Undercover Girl"
Web TV series 'Undercover Girl' features blogs apparently writtten by the characters in the show. In reality these 'blogs' are the work of SWF 2008 Pitch in Time finalist Nicola Depuis.
Emily Joyce's Weblog - a blog by....
Quite how finely this blog walks the fine line between being fictional and simply being written under a pseudonym, we can but wonder. 'Emily Joyce' is described as an aspiring screenwriter with a penchant for cake, stuck in a professional (and creative) rut working as a lowly journo in the cut-throat world of women's weeklies. I can't help thinking this is the blog that Daisy (played by Jessica Stevenson/Jessica Hynes) from 'Spaced' would have written if she'd ever landed that job (in the episode "Art"). I digress.
This is just a tiny sample of the screenwriting-related blogs that are out there. If you would like to tell us about your blog or a blog that you enjoy reading and would like to call attention to - whether for its informative content or simply for its entertainment value - then please do get in touch.
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Email us with a link to the blog. info@screenwritersfestival.com
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Post a link to the blog on our Facebook group, and discuss it with others.
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Oh, and Quid Pro Quo - do add a link to the SWF website on the mainpage of the blog itself. Ta.
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