So waht does the future hold for all those who don't make the shortlist? For myself, it will be much as now. Continuing to send out submissions in most written forms, short stories, plays, poetry, letters to the editor, etc, etc. Ever seeking the validation of my peers and the general public for my time spent pounding the keyboard. So what about everyone else?
"A need for quotation confesses inferiority"..Ralph Waldo Emmerson
firstly it aint the 30th yet but I guess we'll all plod on - if we don't then we may as well give up thr ghost -but I can't see anyone doing that knowing the spirit that exists in this forum
Originally posted by AuroraLionheart: I'm writing a script for an episode for a local tv programme - (unpaid and for love, but you got to start somewhere.)
That's great Aurora! That's useful and valid experience that!
I sent out my TTPT proposal to a few theatres in London and they have come back asking me to send the final script. So I am slogging slowly to completion.
My husband's green card came yesterday so we are free to move back to the States but I think we may just stay here until I get something I've written performed. I think I'm in a unique position to comment on London today, being a big fan of the islanders even though I'm a disparaged American. I've got interesting things to say about the intersection of the English, the Welsh (my mother and husband), multiculturalism, the rocky love-hate thing with America . . . and let's face it, a lot of Americans come over here and go see plays.
So I will always be grateful to TTPT for giving me a kick in the butt and getting the proposal together. And for the joy I have taken from this forum. But I'm sure that's it.
My problem is that as a result of all this I've got three ideas for new plays, and I haven't yet revisited my first (which needs work), done anything more than the TPTT minimum for my second, got past the first edit on my collab with Jay or finished my 10 minute shortie!
It's true Adman... The more you do, the more you think of doing - it's a busy spiral to being chained to your laptop.
And of course, as soon as I get new ideas, I forget about ‘crafting’ the old ones.
I've promised myself that after I've finished this F****** book (I'm holding out no hope for TPTT at this point and therefore have no intention of finishing that play), I'm going to spend a week each editing and revising all of my other stuff. After that I'll consider whether I really think I want to do this at all anymore…
Reason being - every week I watch X-Factor and all the loonies that think they can sing/dance/entertain and wonder – could that be ME? Could I be the literary equivalent of a tone deaf, glazed face X-Factor contender
Originally posted by Adman 1961: Laptop Minxy? Do you really write on a laptop?
That's something I can't do. I find the posture is wrong, the keyboard too small - and I HATE those stupid pad or rollerball 'mice'.
I write on a desktop, and I'll carry stuff around on a laptop - but never work on it!
Indeed I do Adman, I much prefer it... I have a desktop, currently under the desk... (Hmm) and no plans to get a new one. I do everything on my blue beast and wherever I go, he comes with me...
I actually like the mouse pointer(?)... I can do it with my middle finger - mid typing flow now... And as for backing up - flash drives - plugged into the USB port – copy / paste in explorer, 2 minutes and you’re done… One at home and one with me! Now that’s what I call a workable system!
It takes all sorts. Anyone still on a typewriter?!
I have to admit - until 2000 I was still on an Amstrad 1640 I bought in 1988! It still did everything I needed to do (up to then!) and it's still boxed up in my garage - I can't bear to part with the old faithful beast, and I've been told by a good friend I have who runs a major PC company that as a still-working antique it is appreciating in value. There's also 15 years worth of work on there - believe it or not, I actually had it upgraded with a 30mB hard drive! Wow!
The first draft of one of my TPTT submissions is still on it, and when I wanted to rework it I couldn't transfer or convert the files, so I had to print it out on the old printer that's with it and OCR scan it to get it onto my 'new' machine (which itself is 5 years old now).
Originally posted by Adman 1961: It takes all sorts. Anyone still on a typewriter?!
I have to admit - until 2000 I was still on an Amstrad 1640 I bought in 1988!
LOL! I had a PcW10 about 15 years ago that I used for about three years - and still have it - because my first novel is on it and I can't get it off! Apparently you can take them into specialists (see the net), where you pay £30 and they put it onto disk for you as a standard text file... 300 pages - I think it may be worth it!
Originally posted by Adman 1961: It takes all sorts. Anyone still on a typewriter?!
I abandoned my trusty old Olympia way back in '97 got mesel' a Sharp fontwriter(TM)
Joined the superhighway with a 2nd hand computer 3 years later (1 year ahead of my govt dept the old Department of Stealth & Total Obscurity (now the DWP). The civil service is cautious when it comes to spending our money! [taxpayers] Upgraded to present super PC (all whistles and bells) 2 years ago. I miss my old Olympia. It's gathering dust in the cupboard under the stairs.
I've been chatting a lot to people (in the 'real world' that is, as opposed to the cyber one) talking about the x-factor's unchallenged and despicable mocking of people with mental health issues....along with those poor deluded individuals who really think they can have something simply because it appeals to them. I reckon they listened too much to the Spice Girls' mantra: 'if you want something enough, you can have it'! Don't think it occured to those ladies that they were the equivalent of lottery-winners really. To be that mediocre and that successful has got to be some kind of freak of nature!
I've also been discussing that depressing x-factor vision of the world, compared to the vision shown on this forum. On the one hand, we have deluded people who think that turning up wearing their best togs is going to get them where they want to be. On the other hand, we have people here who obviously have wit and ability who are prepared to slog their guts out for even a tiny bit of success and who are constantly examining their worth within their chosen industry. I know which catergory I'd rather be in. And the fact that you even question yourself means you're streets ahead of those x-factor saddos!
These bouts of self questioning scare me so... and are quite a good excuse for procrastination too!
I think you're so right about the X-Factor and mental illness btw! I was chatting to my boyfriend about it on Sunday... That it seems like we’ve just found a semi-legitimate reason to laugh at the Nation's mentally ill… It doesn't feel right when you look at it like that.
), I'm sick to death of writing and think I need to take a break...
