Comments on Rachel Cotterill: From Script To Prose

I like to whizz back and forth within a draft and ...

2010-01-05T23:40:43.355Z

I like to whizz back and forth within a draft and change at will, but, of course, with a degree course, you must produce evidence of re-drafting, and it's been a long, hard slog to remember to save my document as a new one before I amend anything.

I have to admit, it's actually a good idea -cos when you get to draft 15 and realise that your ideas at draft 7 were the best, at least they are to hand immediately:)

The only things I’ve ever written are very short s...

2009-11-25T20:16:50.514Z

The only things I’ve ever written are very short stories for my blog – usually humorous satires – so haven’t had to suffer the problems of writing anything longer than about 5000 words. I have great admiration for those who manage to do so!

By the way, your comment about ending chapters reminds me of how Terry Pratchett writes his books without any chapters, just ‘scene changes’ marked by a few blank lines and an indicator like an asterisk. The individual ‘scenes’ can be any length at all, avoiding the feeling that chapters should all be roughly equal in length.

perhaps, it is time now to dare go also on the sta...

2009-11-24T14:51:09.246Z

perhaps, it is time now to dare go also on the stage not only behind the scenes

Ah, should've known you're doing NaNo too! I just ...

2009-11-23T12:09:41.750Z

Ah, should've known you're doing NaNo too! I just added you in my Buddy list. Looks like you're nearly done. Yay, you! :-)

Interesting post. I have a lot of theater friends ...

2009-11-21T15:12:12.268Z

Interesting post. I have a lot of theater friends but they only write plays, never thought how it would affect fiction writing. As a trained journalist, I actually struggle greatly to write my short stories. Because I've been trained to gather facts first and then write, it's very hard for me to just pull from my imagination. I always want some sort of reference to work from, even its my memories, then I have to research them! Even with my blog, I have to do a little research before I can write the shortest post. It's very time consuming and stilting I've tried to get away from this with my other writing but I haven't been successful yet.

I think what most influences my style is my incred...

2009-11-20T22:22:25.349Z

I think what most influences my style is my incredibly short attention span! I write primarily in essay format... you MIGHT be able to squeak a short story out of me... but anything longer? I'm hopeless! And I have 20 unfinished manuscripts to prove it! :)

It's a complete mystery to me. Somehow it happens....

2009-11-20T14:53:40.832Z

It's a complete mystery to me. Somehow it happens. It takes a long time. There are many drafts and from draft to draft I change most of what I've written in every way. And somehow in the end there is a book. God only knows how.

Funny, but I grew up with a love for musicals, and...

2009-11-20T14:16:53.554Z

Funny, but I grew up with a love for musicals, and old movies, the really good ones! So when I write, I pretend as if I see all the characters are right in front of me. With poetry, I look at things, and simplify my surroundings...I guess this one creative writing teaching used to tell me 'short and sweet', and no filler, so it stuck.

I always wanted to be on stage and do drama. Believe it or not, I was quiet and shy until my twenties, so I did not pursue art as I would have liked, so latent talents arrive...