“I don’t analyse it too much, otherwise I’d freeze up and fall over, like a fridge”. Interviewed at the Edinburgh Festival, on BBC Radio 5 Live, this is sparkling, fascinating, honest talk on political power, the world, the universe and writing comedy. The interviewer, Nihal Arthanayake, talks to him about how he goes about writing comedy. Immediately, Dylan says he doesn’t investigate why he writes … Continue reading Dylan Moran: on Writing Comedy
Poet Andrew Motion’s tips on writing better poetry Continue reading Tips for writing good poetry – Andrew Motion
These tips for writing comedy come from Andrew Ellard, an English comedy writer and script editor who has worked on hugely popular British TV sitcoms such as “Red Dwarf” and “The IT crowd”. In the video below, he’s giving advice about writing sitcom – but much of what he says will help us writing comedy of any type – whether in books, plays or for large or small screen.
Here’s a brief, non-executive non-summary of the main points in the video:
The main character should have a central flaw, a problem, of which they’re unaware. Continue reading “6 tips for Writing Comedy from Script Editor”
The tone of this seminar at Xponorth2017 was very positive – some advice specifically for Scotland but generally useful for UK writers. Main advice for new writers: Look at the website BBC Writersroom for writing opportunities in BBC but also theatres When there’s an open call for submissions, send in your scripts. Keep sending them your work so they get a sense of your writing … Continue reading 14 tips for new TV comedy/drama writers
From the moment I watched “Baking is Easy” It could only be a matter of time till I attempted to bake the lavish chocolate cake piled with raspberries and framed with cigarrilloes…. it looked wildly impressive, frivolous and colourful, had expensive ingredients, was unusual, involved multiple stages of making, and was well outside my range of skills and tools. Typical. When I open a new … Continue reading THE chocolate cake with cigarrillos
Just watched a BBC documentary on the making of the album “No Secrets” – which includes the song “You’re so vain”. Absorbing. We get to hear from the producer, bassist, sound engineer, drummer, lead guitarist, her manager and most of all Carly herself. What were her inspirations for her songs? What was it like to be at the centre of recording such a phenomenally … Continue reading Songwriter – Carly Simon
with film star Richard E Grant. And the painter Matisse. And a BBC camera crew. As you’ve probably guessed, I am watching a BBC Arts documentary – “The Riviera: a history in pictures”. (We have only seen episode 1. For UK viewers, episode 2 is on Monday at 9 pm, BBC4). http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01ps9jr/the-riviera-a-history-in-pictures-1-painting-paradise Joyfully, our companion/presenter/guide, Richard, is obviously glad to be there in the … Continue reading I’m on the Riviera…..
