Hi there, how are you? Good!
I'm just going to jump straight in because I am so very, very excited to announce the launch of my brand new flash-fiction series "The Lost Ship"! Yep, that's right, it's officially arrived to us today, with the first epitale being "Locked in". I don't want to spoil a think so I am going to leave up to you to read all by yourself. I have always loved sci-fi in all it's forms and it's something I love writing too, so I have had such a good time working on this project. As you may or may not know, this is only the second piece of writing I have released so it's going to fun seeing the reaction to it! It is also the first project that I have released that Somalia, my girlfriend and editor, has worked on too, as an editor. You can read the first epitale by clicking on the "Releases" page. However, if you click the cover below, it'll take you straight there! But, that's it for now! Of course this a short one, I want you to read the first epitale of The Lost Ship! Click below to read, and keep an eye out for the next epitale, "Knock, Knock" which releases next Friday on February 8th, 2018! See you soon! Live Long and Prosper!
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Hi there! It's been ages! I told you I'd have an announcement and that I do!
So, let's get started! In this post I'll be talking about my brand new flash-fiction series that is debuting this February, "The Lost Ship" and what exactly a Flash-Fiction series is! What is "The Lost Ship"? Great question! Well, "The Lost Ship" is the upcoming sci-fi flash-fiction series that start's on February 1st 2019. After something knocked the GSS Nimbus way off-course and activated the ships lock-down mechanism, an on board engineer, Jodie, is forced to survive and fight. Will she survive? What is a Flash-Fiction Series? Okay, so I don't know if it is an actual thing, but let me explain. It's like a TV Show, you'll get episodes that are part of a season that air weekly. So "The Lost Ship" will contain 6 flash-fiction stories, just like episodes, or "epitales" as I'm calling them and they are a part of a season, which I am just calling a "part". These will be released as ebooks (PDF) for free, right here. Just like you'd watch a TV show! Well, I know this one was short but at least you know a little bit more about "The Lost Ship" just keep your eye out for more reveals in the near future! Until next time! See you soon! Live Long and Prosper! Hi! Welcome, today is exciting! Before we get into it though, check the links to your left and make sure you're following me on every platform you can because there is a big, big announcement coming very soon!
So! Today is my debut. I keep telling you I'm a writer but I have never released anything! That all changed today! Out right now, is "Held by a Stranger" by first ever release, my debut. What is it about again? We've gone through this but I guess I can tell you again, I do like the sound of my own keyboard. So, 'No-Miss' John was a bounty hunter in the old american west. He never, ever once missed a shot. He had traveled across the country collecting bounties like they were pennies. After retirement he decides to move away from his home-town and into another one called Southwind Town where John is tested, does he still have it? What's next? Great question! The is a project that I am actively working on that is a sci-fi flash-fiction-esk project and is close to being announced so stay tuned for that! On this next project I'll be returning to my wonderful editor Somalia Carty, she didn't work on "Held by a Stranger" but this upcoming project will see her have her usual, prominent and august role returned to her. This project is very unique (if I do say so myself) in the way that it approaches your usual consumption of short stories, that's all I'll say! Right, well it's a super short one today, just stay tuned for an announcement on that secret sci-fi project and if you want to read my debut flash-fiction, which you should! You can click the image below to go straight there! Oh also, you may have noticed the extra tabs up top when you entered the site today! No? okay... Anyway, yeah, there are two new pages! One is "Releases" and there you'll find all the projects that I have released! It's pretty bare-bones right now, but it'll grow! The second is "Upcoming Releases" which is where you'll see all the different projects I am currently working on! So that's it for this one! See you soon! Live Long and Prosper! Welcome back, I know theses are starting to get very irregular but I am very busy with several projects and these posts do get put on the back burner every now and then so I apologise!
So, I'm just gonna jump right into this one (#PhilipDeFranco). I want to tell you about my brand new flash-fiction "Held by a Stranger" that will be released this coming Thursday, on October 4th 2018. You'll find the cover below! I really enjoyed writing this flash fiction and will definitely do more in the future! What is it about? Set in the old American west and every town in the west had heard about 'No-Miss' John. This guy had never, ever missed a shot, never lost a shoot-out. Where will it be available? The flash fiction will be able to read and download the upcoming flash-fiction for free as PDF from this site. The story will also be available on Wattpad and Scribd. What is a flash-fiction? Good question. A flash fiction is a short story, basically. The word count I'm going with, it's different everywhere you go but the one I'm sticking with is, Flash-Fiction: fewer than 1,499 words, Short Story: 1,500-7,499, Novelette: 7,500-17,499 words, Novella: 17,500-39,999 words, Novel: 40,000 words or over. "Held by a Stranger" will be released October 4th 2018. I am planning on doing more, in fact, I have a few more projects, like this that you'll hear about soon! That's it for now, check in on Thursday to read "Held by a Stranger". See you soon! Live Long and Prosper! Welcome back! How are you? It's been a while! To your right you'll see all the necessary links for my social media, so go ahead! Follow me! (Yes, that's right. I'm not doing it this time. Deal with it!). Sorry I disappeared with out a trace I promise next time I'll wake you up before I go-go (fantastic song, "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", Wham!, 1984 -- Damn It!). Okay so, we have a tonne to talk about today! From the first look at Captain Marvel to Lenny Kravitz's new album! So let's start with Captain Marvel!
Lenny Kravitz's "Raise Vibration" Review So, Let's move on to "Raise Vibration" (Lenny Kravitz, 2018)! "Raise Vibration" is the brand new record from Lenny Kravitz. As normal, every instrument on the record is played by Kravitz with exception of the horns and maybe the strings (unless he played them on a keyboard, which is very likely) as well as every vocal, with the exception of Michael Jackson on "Low" (Lenny Kravitz, 2018), is sung by Lenny Kravitz. I stayed up until 00:00am to listen to the record when it first dropped and I am so glad I did. This album is everything I hoped for. I listened to it from front to back right then and there. First off, if you were thinking that this album would be a cop out, since we haven't had an album from Lenny since 2014 with "Strut" (really, really, really great album by the way), I can see why'd you think that, maybe it's just to get a bit of cash to keep the lights on. However, this is not so. This album is a full 12 track album and is stuffed. Each song is around 5/6 minutes long (approx, there are always exceptions) some even reaching to 7/8 minutes long, this album is not a half measure at all. The album really brings back the classic Lenny Kravitz, we're talking, 1989, "Let Love Rule" (Lenny Kravitz, 1989) era as well as his later sounds and newer sounds, it's a very well rounded album! So let's get into the track by track review! Track 01: "We Can Get It All Together" This track opens with a reversed sample of some sort (probably a symbol) behind an organ sound that is rocking back and forth from what sounds to me, like the IV chord to I chord. At first I thought it was a reversed sample from "Let Love Rule" (Lenny Kravitz, 1989) though I think more likely it's just another organ sound and the track in in the same key as "Let Love Rule". Over the top of this almost eerie organ sound we here our first vocals from Lenny in the album. He opens with a nasally vocal style very reminiscent of "Let Love Rule" (Lenny Kravitz, 1989). This is classic Lenny Kravitz. This song is a classic, signature Lenny Kravitz song. It's fit perfectly on any of his albums and not seem out of place, especially this one. This is a great opener and a great song. Track 02: "Low" (Feat. Michael Jackson) Okay so this is one of my favorite Lenny Kravitz songs of all time, this was the second single from the album and had great cover art to it! So there was a lot of people saying, when the single came out, that Michael Jackson was on the track, which he clearly is but some people said he was doing backing vocals on the track too. However, from what I can here, Michael Jackson was not in the harmonies or background vocals at all, though I could be be wrong, to me it sounds like it's all Lenny a part from the samples he used. To me it sounds like the first sample was taken from "Billie Jean" (Michael Jackson, 1983) and that sample is used through out but seems to descend in pitch every so often which is a nice touch, I think. At first, I thought that the lower-pitched sample was taken from "Cry" (Michael Jackson, 2001) though it's more likely it's just the one sample just decreased in pitched through out. The second sample is the one that ends the song and to me it's sounds like it was taken from "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (Michael Jackson, 1983) and really ends the song in a way that is very similar to "Do You Know Where Your Children Are" (Michael Jackson, 2014). I'm not sure if these vocals are taken from Michael's vault though because Lenny said today actually, that he, of course requested permission from the Estate and Michael's family and then once they said yes, he dug through his tapes and found vocals that fit, so the samples may not be from Michael's songs but might actually be from other unheard work that Jackson and Kravitz may have messed around with whilst Michael was alive. The song itself fuses, R&B, Pop, and Funk all together. It's an extended version of the single and that really helps the groove and feel play out. I was hoping for a few more adlibs from Michael towards the end with Lenny's but the adlib absence does not diminish this track in the slightest. This is Lenny Kravitz at his best. Also, the bass is really great on this track as well as the harmonies and scratch guitar. Track 03: "Who Really Are The Monsters?" I have to be honest. I was half expecting Prince to turn up on this one. It has the fantastic feel of a Prince song. It is very out there and I would say that the genre of the song would be "Prince", you know how a lot of Prince's songs were their own genre? This is one of those tracks and Lenny Kravitz pulls it off like no one other than Prince could. It opens with a deep synth bass and a super light synth on top. The bass calls out and receives a reply from a mixture of samples that I am unable to identify. Before a classic Prince Linn Drum beat enters. Followed by the drums comes a very heavy guitar riff that is drenched in fuzz. The vocals have a filter on them too, it sounds great. The rhythm is great on this track and so is the percussion. In the middle we have bluesy guitar solo followed by a percussion solo that has Shelia E. written all over it. It's great! There is a great synth bass fill towards the end that is super funky and is followed by a funky scratch guitar line that sounds so similar to something you'd get it in a Motown record but somehow fits so well here. We also have a great conga solo towards the end followed by a sax solo which sounds great. Singing us out are some backing vocals that sound like they were deeply inspired by "Ghosts" (Michael Jackson, 1997) with chesty, almost spooky, Prince style adlibs over the top. The song ends and we are left the question, "Who Really Are The Monsters?". Great, innovative song. Track 04: "Raise Vibration" The title track of the album, Raise Vibration really plays with the idea of the format of a song. We open with no music. Just Lenny Kravitz's vocals dueting with a very bluesy guitar. The song slowly builds up from there. The song has a very similar message to "Let Love Rule" (Lenny Kravitz, 1989). The song kicks in with an instrumental with a similar rhythm of "Let Love Rule" (Lenny Kravitz, 1989) but with quite a spooky synth melody in background. Towards the end we get some classic Lenny Kravitz adlibs and end with just the sound of what I believe is the music of a traditional African celebration, though I could be wrong. This is a great song and really brings Lenny Kravitz's classic sound back whilst taking it in a new direction. Track 05: "Johnny Cash" This song does not feature Johnny Cash but is great song. It opens with a super funky instrumental which sounds like it has Parliament Funkadelic roots. This lasts for around 5 bars until we're left with a bar of silence as the instrumental slowly ends before Lenny's vocals enter and where are into a classic Lenny Kravitz ballad. Towards the end I started to feel like the track was getting a little repetitive. However, as soon those thoughts entered my head the song turns upside down and turns into that same 70s, psychodelic funk feel from the beginning and again some some super funky adlibs that bring back that "Mama Said" (Lenny Kravitz, 1991) sound. This is a very deep, emotional ballad but at the same time a funk classic, only Lenny Kravitz can do that. Track 06: "Here to Love" This track is carrying on the slow vibe int the middle of this LP. It is another really great ballad with an important message that I think will apply now and for years to come. It's about not judging and how someones life is their life so leave them alone, let them live how they choose. The strings are great in this track and I think I also heard some brass in there too which I haven't heard in strings for a long time (a part from classical and orchestral pieces, of course). It's also very important to note that Lenny Kravitz's vocals on this track are phenomenal. At 54 years old, Lenny Kravitz has not lost a thing. This album proves that he is going the way of Prince. Never aging, staying in his prime and staying on top of everything. Great song that fills the room with strings, bass, piano and the great voice of Lenny Kravitz. A ballad, masterpiece. Track 07: "It's Enough" This song was the first single from the album and remains unchanged from single version. This song is funk all over with a solid amount of R&B. The percussion on this track is excellent with a bass line playing a melody that is very nicely complimented by the synth, which sounds like a sampled loop, though I'm not sure. This is lengthy track of 7:55 that only breaks the funky bass line and groovy percussion once for a soulful bridge that brings the song together. We get some super funky adlibs towards the the end and a great trumpet solo from Ludovic Louis. The song also peppers in some Michael Jackson-esk sounds throughout that really makes this song even funkier. Super soulful song, great message and undoubtedly funky. This track also contains explicit language, by the way. Track 08: "5 More Days 'Til Summer" This was the third single from the album and is again extended with a different ending to the single. This song carries just two chords (for the verses at least) and it's the same two chords as track one, "We Can All Get It Together" (Lenny Kravitz, 2018). This song is very much a summer song, its a feel good upbeat rock/pop song that has great harmonies. I also hear some sort of percussion sound that leads into a Linn Drum clap. It's the same thing Lenny used in the song "Empty Hands" (Lenny Kravitz, 1989) but I have no clue what it is, so if you know, let me know! Great song. Track 09: "The Majesty of Love" This is one of my favorite songs Lenny Kravitz has ever produced. This song has the same kind of vibes as "Live" (Lenny Kravitz, 1998) and is drenched in that signature Lenny Kravitz funk sound. The horns are spectacular and the scratch guitar is timeless. The percussion is fantastic with what sounds like glass bottles being the prominent element. The start of the song brings us a rising sound that I thought would bring something to the track but it just fades out which felt anticlimactic but again, this doesn't diminish the song by any measure. This song is signature Lenny Kravitz, I cannot stress that enough. It is super funky and classic. Track 10: "Gold Dust" This track has fantastic background vocals that just fill the track with great harmonies. Behind the vocals is a piano sample chopped and looped which really brings a great percussive element to the otherwise bare introduction. The band kicks and follows the rhythm of the sample. The silences are filled in with the reverb of the snare and other instruments. These gaps get filled in for the chorus with Lenny Kravitz's fantastic guitar tone. This song really did remind me of "Raise Vibration" (Lenny Kravitz, 2018) with the way it starts and stops. This a great song and has a really great melody. Track 11: "Ride" This song is another great slow one. It's again, vintage Lenny Kravitz. From the chord progression to the melody. It has a very Motown-esk feel and it sounds great. There's a great synth line over the top of all of this sounds like it was ripped straight from the "Thriller" album (Michael Jackson, 1982). Again, the harmonies and background vocals on this track are fantastically full. The bass guitar on this track is great and really shines. The track fades out though the drums, percussion and vocals remain almost like a break down until we are left with just the vocals to end. This is a great track that brings back the Motown feel we all so miss. Track 12: "I Will Always Be Inside Your Soul" I love this track. It's a super laid back and almost has a Lo-Fi sound that incorporates a more modern element of the rolling hi-hat which I love! It sounds like it would fit perfectly on the "Invincible" album (Michael Jackson, 2001) with its Soul and R&B groove. The Rhodes really stands out too which really adds to the super smooth sound of this song. Again the background vocals are great with a really nice yet funky melody towards the end. At the end of the track we are left with sounds of the ocean waves roaring behind the delicate sound of a Mbira playing the melody of the song. Super relaxing track and a great way to end the LP. Conclusion So to sum up, if you ever get the chance to listen to this record or get a hold of it, absolutely do. It's drenched in classic Lenny Kravitz sounds fused with psychedelic funk, the sound of Prince, Motown and Michael Jackson. It's not just Lenny Kravitz at his best, it music at it's best. I would just like to acknowledge the great Burt Reynolds who sadly past away yesterday. Rest In Peace to a fantastic actor and another fallen idol. Burt Reynolds 1936-2018 Okay, so due to the length of this post, I will leave the review of Prince's new single, "17 Days (Piano & A Microphone 1983 Version)" (Prince, 2018) for another post, along with the review of Iron Fist Season 2.
Below you'll find the cover art to "Raise Vibration" (Lenny Kravitz, 2018). If you click it, you'll find all the links you need to listen and/or get a hold the album! Okay, so that's it! Until next time, when I review Prince's new single and the first episode of Iron Fist season 2! See you soon! Live Long and Prosper! Welcome back! Hope you're well!
To you're right, as normal, they haven't moved, you'll find all the links you need to follow me! Click away! All your friends will, because just like me, they long to be, close to you! (fantastic song, "Close To You", the Carpenters, 1970- These are getting harder and harder with each post). So, What's happening with that script? Okay... So, in May of 2017 I wrote a script. The script was awful, looking back now, but I thought it was okay back then so I decided to cast and shoot it. I had a producer, a cast, two make up artists and a big plate full of underestimation. You can guess what happened. It flopped, hard. After about 2 months. That's how much time I put into it. About 2 months, that's why it flopped. So, I shelved it, knowing that it was something that I'd want pursue in the future. I knew that before I could pick it back up, I needed to make sure that script and story were solid, which neither were, back then. That's where my editor came in and gave some notes, I also received notes from Tarrell Christie from Lost Utopia Films and upon receiving his notes and running the script line by line with my editor we discovered that the formatting of the script was horrendously off! The script was a mess. So I re-wrote the entire script from scratch with my editor over looking. It still needs work, maybe quite a bit more, so we aren't completely ready to start Pre-Production yet, but we're closer than before. I can't tell you exactly what it is and what's about just yet. Not because "it's a surprise" but mainly because I don't want to start sharing these ideas and telling you to get ready for something and then it fails again and everyone is let down. Saying that, I am in talks with my good friend, Laurence Mason-Guetta who is the writer and director of "Night Walk" (had a great time on that film! Should be out soon!) and I very confident that this "partnership" if you will, is going to be great for this film and almost locks it in, though anything can happen. ...and the book? Okay, that's a confusing story. So, remember when we first met? That first post? All those days ago? Well, back then I told you I was working on my first book, but I'll probably release the second book I write first. Well, now the second book has become the first because I have put the first book, the first, first book not the second first book, on hold in order to write the second book that has now become the first. (I told you), Basically, the book is being written and is connected to the film. Okay, that's it! Until next time, when I through how and why I keep everything I create, and why it's important to keep adding to your collection of ideas! See you soon! Live Long and Prosper! Hi there. How are you? Good! Welcome to today's post. To your right you'll all the links to follow me! Follow me as much as your heart desires and when that rainbow's shining over you, that's when your dreams will all come true! (fantastic song, "Reach", S Club 7, 2000- I know, I know... It's cheap but I'm really stretching it here!) Today I'll be listing the 6 best YouTube Channels for film-makers and writers! These are in no particular order what so ever and I have not been endorsed or even contacted by any of these channels, it's all my personal opinion! Just click the logos on your right to go straight to their channels! Well, that's it again for today! Sorry for yet another stinker! But, I'm working extremely hard on trying to bring you some news about the future! So, until next time when I do just that! Spill more beans! See you soon! Live Long and Prosper! Hi there! Welcome back! Hope you're okay!
As you know by now, just to your right are all the links you need to follow me so that you'll always be up to date, no matter if you're near, far, where ever you are! (fantastic song, "My Heart Will Go On", Céline Dion, 1997). So! I'm going to talk about world building today! This one isn't as long as the last one though, so their's no need to worry about getting comfy! Let's just get started! What is world building? Well, that's an awfully vague and generic header, but let's just roll with it! Now, world building means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, so I can only really tell you what it means to me. For me it's about creating a rich back story and sometimes even future to the world around you're charterers. Does this include writing a backstory for my characters? If so, how do I do that? Of course it includes writing a backstory for your characters! A lot of writers will write their backstories differently. Some write only a couple of paragraphs and some write a page! Like I keep saying, everyone is different so there is no write or wrong answer (did ya notice? I don't think you did! Go back, read that sentence again!). For me, I usually write about a page but then, other times I will write a book. Yes, a literal book. In fact that's what I'm doing now! Stay tuned because I'm trying to get some news to you soon! So, it really depends on you and how much you feel is necessary and how much you want to write, really. Here's quick tip! When writing you're character's backstory ask your self the following questions: Who are their parents? What did their parents do for a living? How was their up-bringing? Did they have many friends? Questions like these will help determine who your character really is and why their personality is a certain way. What did you mean when you said "writing the future"? Exactly what I said. I write, not just a back story but also a future story, if you will. I tend to write around the story. I like to know exactly where the character comes from and exactly where the character goes next. I will often do the back story and "future story" in separate documents. Other News Okay, okay... I know. This post was trash compared to yestarday's, so, I apologise for that. Though, there is a reason for this. The reason is, I have had an extremely long and busy day re-writing a script. Ascript that we're now looking to actually move forward with and develop. With this new re-write we feel the story is in a place that is strong enough to start developing other things, whilst we refine the script. I will share as much information as I can on this script as we move forward through coming months. I will also share with you ways that you could maybe able to get involved too. Along with the script, I have also started writing that book, the same book I spoke about just a couple of paragraphs a go. More information that will be on it's way too. That's it! I'll see you tomorrow when I give you a list of the 6 best YouTube channels that will help you as a film-maker and as a writer! See you soon! Live Long and Prosper! Hello! How are you? (Please don't reply to your screen that'd be weird!) I hope you're doing well! As I keep saying, people of Earth and hopefully one day Mars, to your right you will find all the links you need to follow me! Click away and instantly, every move I make, every breath I take, you'll be watching me (fantastic song, "Every Breath You Take", the Police, 1983). The Disclaimer So, just a disclaimer before you start reading the rest of this advice from a 19 year old kid who sits at home writing on a blog from a free website he made when he was bored... Take everything as a tip. Aaron Sorkin, (who is great writer) Isn't the award winning writer he is today because he wrote the "right way", because there's no such thing. Aaron Sorkin is the award winning writer he is today because he is a fantastic writer and he got the gig or got discovered. Just because you may not have won awards yet (If you want to, of course) it doesn't mean that your writing doesn't affect people. It doesn't mean that your stories and worlds don't bring people joy and if you show your script or book or short story or whatever to 100 people and only 1 person says they like it, well at least you're on the right path. There is literally no right or wrong way to write! So, let's get started! Also, all of the resources are not in order of worst to best but rather in order of relation the subject matter. Oh, and non of them are sponsors, I have not been paid they're just really great resources that I use regularly. Whilst we're here, you can just click on the name of the resource (it will be in bold and underlined) and it will take you straight there! How do I start? What's the first thing I do? Okay, so the first thing I do, is get ideas and this is always different for every project I start. Sometimes they just appear and I have an idea, sometimes I am directly inspired by something, sometimes I might just feel like writing a particular genre and sometimes I really have to work to get it. In order to get ideas and be inspired I tend to always think about a story. If you are looking at piece of art work, like the one below, think about a story.
FIRST GREAT FREE ONLINE RESOURCE This now brings us to the first great free online resource. That is Fantasy Name Generators. I kid you not. This site is more than what it says. You can generate anything from this site. Names of people, civilizations, cities, fruits and veg, planets, bugs, armor names, herb and spices names, drinks, countries, holiday names, descriptions of people, places, you can even generate and build a space station. All for free, all online. You can use this to give names to your characters or you can use it to just give you a stepping stone for a bigger idea. I have used it for both on multiple occasions. I mainly use it and take what it gives me and make it my own and build from it, but however you use it, this site will give you exactly what you need! Just a quick tip! To be a good writer, imagination is key! Think of it as a muscle, you have to keep it strong in order to use it. So how to you make it and keep it strong? Read. Now, I don't read as often as I should but I do read a lot of comics. Comics are fantastic, you can get some real inspiration from the art work, the colours, the characters and story arcs. But, when I say read, I mean novels. For the one simple reason of... Novels do not have pictures. The reason this is good is because it forces your imagination to run wild, to create in your mind, what the world the writer is describing looks like, smells like, feels like. Okay, solid idea. What's next? For me it's all about creating a vision from the idea and staying motivated. So the next thing I do is something that most people think about later. Of course, I get a title, so lets just stay with the photo above and we'll call our film, "The Fisherman" (which is already the title of a great short film directed by Alejandro Suárez Lozano but our film is different!). So, here's where I think I work differently to most. Next, for me, comes the logo. Making the logo and even a teaser poster early on, really helps me stay motivated and craft my vision for the film. I do this almost every time. Below you'll see a super quick poster I crudely slapped together to show you what I mean.
SECOND GREAT FREE ONLINE RESOURCE
The second great free online resource is dafont. This is a great resource for free fonts to create your logos! The font used in the example is called "Uptown" and was created by AnthemType. Here's a couple of those quick tips! You can type in the name of your film or book or whatever in the little search bar labeled "Preview" to see what it looks like in each font and also, always be sure to read the terms and conditions of every font that you download, so that you don't break any laws and plagiarise the work of any creators. If you click "More Options" you can tick the boxes "Public Domain" and "100% Free" to ensure you can use it for commercial use but always give credit to the original creator. Right, there's an idea, a title, a logo, a poster... So now what? Well, now comes the writing for me. Some people like to plan first, apparently you "should" but don't listen to that. I think it's great to plan if you want to, go head, I don't though. I tent to get out of the way, let the story form it's self and just write. I don't like to think to much, in fact, I don't think at all, really. I just write, I don't worry about grammar, punctuation or spelling, as those things come naturally almost like second nature to me and you. Everyone knows how to spell some what decently and everyone knows how to order words and use basic punctuation. What I mean is, if I make a mistake, which I 110% always will because I am terrible at spellinng, I worry about it after, I write a chapter or an act and then go through it and catch as many as I can but that's where my editor comes in. She's wonderful at catching things like grammar and things that I didn't catch, so her role in my writing process is essential. There's another quick tip! Get an editor. Now, that's easy for me to say, sure, but you don't actually need a real editor like I do and like many other writers do. You really only need somebody you can trust, somebody who enjoys reading your stuff, someone you know will be honest and somebody with fresh pair of eyes to read over your work! THIRD AND FOURTH GREAT FREE ONLINE RESOURCE So, the third great free resource is Trelby. I left "online" out because Trelby isn't online, but, it's a completely free downloadable script writing software and is fantastic. It's a great program that for works a dream because as I said before, I don't think much when I write, I just write and write and fix the mistakes later and Trelby is a software that does all the screenplay formatting for you, I don't have to think, I just write. Though, I do feel obligated to supply you with an online version and that would be Celtx. I used to use Celtx in the early days when I first started writing and although it seems to have gotten more and more limited throughout recent years, It's still a great online software that you should utilise if you need to. The fourth great free online resource would be Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slid- Google. The things I just listed are like getting a 15GB Flash-drive, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint and the answer to any questions you could ever have all for free, all without leaving your home. Google Docs is essential for my work flow. It is extremely powerful and allows me and my editor to communicate with ease. I send her the book or whatever and she is able to edit it, highlight things, add notes and comments, all in real time. I can sit there and watch her do this and respond to her notes as she makes them. It's incredibly easy and very powerful. Utilise Google, people! OTHER GREAT FREE ONLINE RESOURCES Film Riot Indie Film Hustle Film Courage Well then! That was a long one, right?! I hope you've found this one useful! If not... I'm sorry...But, there's not much I can really do about that...Anyway! This is it! Until next time, when I talk about world building and writing characters! See you soon! Live Long and Prosper! Captain's Log: Supplemental The amount of views and traffic this blog is getting to say its only been going, now, three days is great! Keep sharing and liking! Thanks a lot! However, let me know what you think! reach out on Twitter, Facebook and comment on these posts! Let me know what you want to see, what you think about the posts and ask questions! See you next time! --Message Ends-- Hello again, welcome back. Hope you're well!
Once again ladies, gentlemen and others you may find to your right all the necessary links to get your little bit of me every day to surely keep the doctor away (fantastic song "Just a Little Bit of You", Michael Jackson, 1975). Go ahead, follow away! The Confession So, I have a confession to make... By the title of today's post you may already knew that though... You see, I can't legally tell you everything I'm working on due to the fact that I am under contract not to. However, I can tell you a few things, little things. Like, I am working with a few other people, some local to me and some over in the U.S. and what we're working on is something that will hopefully be very special. So what can you say? What are you actually working on? One thing I can say is, I am currently working on my first book, though you won't see that just yet, you'll most likely see my second book first (if that makes any sense at all) which I aiming to have out around January 2019 but this isn't an official announcement so before I get drowned in the emails from all 3 of you telling me how incredibly excited you are, just hang on! Stay tuned for more information on that. Along with the two books there are also 7 scripts (So far... I have a few more that I am gearing up to start writing too) that I'm writing and re-writing but you won't see any of those on the screen for at least another two years. Though, we are working very hard! You see me and my editor have a good little rhythm going now (my editor is also my girlfriend, which is kinda cool but also sounds kinda stupid, but she is genuinely an editor and has worked with other writers in the past. She's also an actress which is cool.. Anyway... stop reading these brackets! I bet you've forgotten what I was saying before now, haven't you? Though, you read what I write so I should just stop... Sorry... This was my fault, I take it back... Cheers....Bye...Sorry again...bye now... TTFN...See you soo-). What happens is I write a chapter and send it her, she reviews it, adds notes and edits it then sends it back. Then she works on the scripts, which ever one(s) we're working on at the time. By the time she's finished reviewing the script, I've edited the last chapter and written another, we swap, I edit and change the script to her notes whilst she works on the books and then- I'm sure you get the picture now, but it's working well! In Other News... In other news, as we head into September, keep an eye out for "Outlawed", which is a film I worked on way back in April of last year. It's coming to cinemas on September 28th! I was only a tiny part of a huge crew though, but everybody was incredibly talented and great to be around. Last time I spoke with the director he said it will be up on Netflix sometime in the near future too, whether that's changed or not I don't know. You can find out more information and check out the trailer by just clicking on the poster at the bottom of today's post! September is going to be a big month for me. I'm super excited. Though, other than "Outlawed", there is nothing more that I worked that I know is being released but... Lenny Kravitz has a new album out on September 7th! Next week! Called "Raise Vibration" so, expect a full review on that! As well as Prince! He too, also has an album coming out on September 21st called "Piano & a Microphone 1983" which again, I am extremely excited for! Along with all that it's also rumored that we'll be getting something on Captain Marvel! whether they release a teaser trailer or a poster I don't know, it could just be a lie, who knows! So, that's the end of yet another uneventful blog... Again, click the poster below to get more information on "Outlawed". Until tomorrow, when I go through my writing usual process, share with you the greatest (in my opinion), free, online resources that have helpped or still help me in writing and film-making in general! See you soon! Live Long and Prosper! |
About Dan BarkerHi there! Welcome to my blog! Here you'll find me and my journey as a writer and film-maker. Archives
February 2019
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