On the Shelf
Reviewing and revisiting my failures
REVISITING REJECTED AND ABANDONED SCRIPTS TO WORK OUT WHY THEY LANDED ON THE SHELF.
Not every script or story idea makes it into production. There are far more reasons for a story not to be made than for it to actually see production. Iain McLaughlin, who has written for, amongst others, James Bond, Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes and Blake's 7 revisits more than half a dozen scripts and proposals, giving background to the creation of the stories, explaining why the stories were ultimately rejected or abandoned, and revisiting them with fresh eyes some years later to give an honest opinion of his earlier work and to offer some suggestions and amendments to improve the stories.
His essays on the stories are full of valuable information, advice and hints for aspiring writers.
Stories include:The Point of No ReturnThe Last ChanceA Stitch in Time (a Doctor Who proposal for Big Finish)Time Heals All Things (BBV)The Celestial Toymakers (a Doctor Who proposal for Big Finish)Cold Comfort (a Doctor Who proposal for Big Finish)Kill or Cure (BBV) I often give workshops and classes on writing. I did this book to accompany those workshops and classes, because I honestly do think we can learn an awful lot about writing from our failures. If we see the mistakes that made those projects fail we can avoid making those mistakes again.
Not every script or story idea makes it into production. There are far more reasons for a story not to be made than for it to actually see production. Iain McLaughlin, who has written for, amongst others, James Bond, Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes and Blake's 7 revisits more than half a dozen scripts and proposals, giving background to the creation of the stories, explaining why the stories were ultimately rejected or abandoned, and revisiting them with fresh eyes some years later to give an honest opinion of his earlier work and to offer some suggestions and amendments to improve the stories.
His essays on the stories are full of valuable information, advice and hints for aspiring writers.
Stories include:The Point of No ReturnThe Last ChanceA Stitch in Time (a Doctor Who proposal for Big Finish)Time Heals All Things (BBV)The Celestial Toymakers (a Doctor Who proposal for Big Finish)Cold Comfort (a Doctor Who proposal for Big Finish)Kill or Cure (BBV) I often give workshops and classes on writing. I did this book to accompany those workshops and classes, because I honestly do think we can learn an awful lot about writing from our failures. If we see the mistakes that made those projects fail we can avoid making those mistakes again.