Screenwriting

Last year I wrote my first screenplay, adapting my short story Artefact Nouveau. It turned out to be only 23 minutes long, which isn't very helpful, but I did learn a lot along the way and got some useful feedback from others who know more about the subject than I do.

This week I've started writing a new screenplay, this time destined to be a 45 minute long TV drama pilot. With this script I have much more idea where I'm going, and a whole TV series planned out. None of which guarantees that the screenplay will be any good, but I'm enjoying myself nonetheless.

Screenwriting

As I may have mentioned at some point in the past, I recently spent some time learning about screenwriting. Last night, I completed the first draft of my first screenplay!

Soon after Artefact Nouveau was published at the end of 2005, I received an email from an independant film maker and screenwriter in North America who was interested in turning it into a screenplay for a possible future project. He said it was a suitable story as it contained lots of action and dialogue. He also siad that if I could turn it into a screenplay myself it would be more valuable. Of course at the time I had no idea how to do that, and the idea came to nothing.

Then, last year, after learning to appreciate comics courtesy of Murky Depths, I decided to have a go at creating a comic script. I used one of my own very short stories as a basis and found it a fascinating discipline to distill my own prose into scenes and dialogue.

At the end of last year I read Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles, the new edition that included two screenplays that he wrote based on the stories. It suddenly ocured to me that writing a screenplay is very like writing a comic script - converting your story to scenes, action and dialogue.

I dug out Artefact Nouveau and had a go at the first page or so. It's very slow work. Then I decided to look up some information on how to write a screenplay and found some very helpful websites. I discovered that thet Bradbury script is what they call a 'shooting script' - with camera angles, transitions and all kinds of detail. What I needed to write is a 'spec script' - with just the bare bones that a director can play with as he sees fit.

So I started again. According to my calculations, the finished story would make a 45 minute drama - perfect for the BBC. Yes, I know, somewhat optimistic for a first screenplay.

What I need now is to find some friendly screenplay critiquing people to tell me where I've gone wrong.

It's been a fun and interesting experience.

Part B

My copy of Universe Pathways #6 has arrived, containing part B of my time travel story Artefact Nouveau. I know enough Greek letters to be able to spot the names of my characters. That kept me amused for ages!

The Alpha and the Omega

My copy of the new issue of Universe Pathways has arrived, containing the Greek translation of Artefact Nouveau. I can't read any of it of course, though I can just about decipher enough Greek letters to read the transliteration of the main character's name.

Also today I received an email from Hub magazine to say they're way behind with reading but I should hear soon. It's nice to know that I haven't just been forgotten.

Imminent Greek Magazine

The next issue of Greek magazine
Universe Pathways, containing my story Artefact Nouveau, has been delayed until the end of this week, and the editor says I should get my copy by early October. I'm looking forward to seeing it finaly, especially as I've had nothing but delays recently.

There's always a lull over summer, but I'm hoping to start hearing back from some of my other submissions soon.

A Busy Day

It's a good day today. The new edition of Universe Pathways is out,
containing my story Artefact Nouveau. It should be available from Lulu.com, but only the first issue appears there at the moment.

My story A Word in the Right Place has also been accepted by Portuguese magazine Phantastes today. I've attached a picture of issue #1 of Phantastes.

My short flash fiction entitled The Last Adam is in the
new edition of Static Movement tomorrow, so I hardly care about the
rejection I got from another ezine today!

Universe Pathways

I had an email from the editor of Universe Pathways today to say that the English version containing my story Artefact Nouveau will be out in a few days and the Greek version is now due September 22nd.

Two Stories Imminent

I returned from holiday to find that the new edition of Aphelion is not yet on line, so my story The Grey Void is still due any day.

Also this month Artefact Nouveau should be appearing in the English edition of Universe Pathways. When I checked their website today though, it says the Greek edition will be out June 15th, so now I'm not sure.

Date Update

According to my latest information, the English edition of Greek magazine Universe Pathways, containing my story Artefact Nouveau, will be published June 15th.

So that's two stories confirmed for later this year, English in June and Greek in October.

Bilingual

You may remember that my time travel story Artefact Nouveau is due to appear in the Greek sci fi magazine Universe Pathways in October. They began printing a semi-annual English edition this year and have asked if they can use the original English version in that too. Not sure when that will be out, presumably July, but here's a picture of the first issue: