Write A Script/Story For Dr Who

I'm a pretty loyal person and once I like something I tend to stick to it for life. It probably won't be any surprise, therefore, if I told you that my love for Dr Who first started when I was three years old. I have an older brother, who watched it avidly week in, week out and as we had only one television in those days, then his viewing habits and those of my parents, become mine in a roundabout way. Not that I'm complaining of course. I loved the programme as much as he did, except for the Daleks and for some reason I still have a fear of those to this day.

Favourite Doctor? If you had asked me three years ago, I would have said Tom Baker without a shadow of a doubt, but then suddenly Mr Tennant took on the role and brought so much life and depth to the character, that he took over the mantle. Here was someone that for the first time, showed how alone the Doctor must feel, travelling through the universe with just his blue box for company. It will be a sad, sad day when he hangs up his key to the Tardis.

What do I love about the programme? I love it's unpredictability. You have the character of the Doctor and his Tardis and that's it. The world is your oyster in terms of plot and structure. He can go anywhere and meet anything, he is the Doctor after all, the last of his kind.

When it came to writing my story, I had a vague plot in mind. I could remember reading a ghost story set in a hotel many years ago, so without further ado I ordered the book from the Internet and once arrived, devoured the contents and began to plan my story around the basis of the tale.

The oddest feeling I found, once starting to write about it was that although you had the freedom

of writing any story line you wished, you still had this character of the Doctor that was set in stone and it felt quite restrictive in terms of what I could do with him. I'm used to building a character from scratch and making them my own, with the Doctor the formula was already there.

I had a long weekend over in Northumberland just recently and managed to have two full days of un interrupted writing. Two days full of landscapes and views of ruined castles, that would inspire anyone to write and so I did, finding such a back drop just the tonic to complete my Dr Who story.

I'm not going to share the story with you quite yet, as my first port of call is to try and get it published, but I will keep you updated on it's journey and hopefully pretty soon, you will be able to read it.

Motivated

I have another radio appearance coming up in in September. It seems they have a new system of whenever you make an appearance, they like to book your next one in the diary. Which suits me fine, at least I can plan my appearances around work stuff. It also keeps me focused on my list somewhat, as each appearance always opens with the immortal words 'so tell our listeners how many tasks you've completed since you were last in' or words to that effect. Can't really turn round and say 'well actually I couldn't be arsed to do any tasks since I was last in, so nothing to report', well I could but I don't think they would ask me in again.

So focused I am, mostly on two tasks, finishing my Dr Who story off and creating a film to go onto You Tube. If I manage to finish either one of those or even both by the beginning of September then I will be a happy bunny. In the meantime, back to the home improvements and no, I still haven't got round to sending my novel off to any agents yet.

Mini Update

So I have the six or so tasks in mind that I need to do this year and I'm getting organised. Library books have been ordered off the BBC list, Wimbledon tickets have been received and I've even begun to write my Dr Who script. My book as those of you who read my blog regularly will know, has been written. However, I have decided to take one final look at it before it gets sent off. I've also decided to do more 'writer' orientated things this year, so if you're going to the Lowdham book festival you may see me there or the Marie Claire 'How to get published' roadshow in Leeds, then you may see me there too!

Wimbledon is in two weeks time, so I'm getting super excited about that, especially now I know that it can't be cancelled on Centre Court. So come what may, I will be there, eating my strawberries and cream and sipping my Pimms. It's not a bad old life really, is it?

Gutted

That my joint favourite Dr Who is leaving.

Life in the Tardis will never be the same again and neither will my idea for a Dr Who script.

Oh well, back to the drawing board!

I Heart Russell T Davies

I couldn't let a blog post go by without mentioning the awesome end of season finale for Dr Who. If there were any Dr Who story that I would have loved to have wrote, it would have been this one. Torchwood, Sarah Jane, Martha, Rose, Donna and K9, all helping the Doctor fight against the evil Daleks (have I mentioned before that I have a childhood fear of these things that still continues to this day?!) There were so many twists and turns to this story line, that my head was spinning with it all, but it was a fantastic episode and I'm sure Russell sat on Saturday night with his battenburg feeling mighty proud of this one.

I would love to know where his ideas come from and how he creates such vivid story lines - hopefully I might just well find out, as he is booked to do a literature festival in October. I will be first in line to buy those tickets!

In the meantime, with only the Christmas special left this year to look forward to, it may be the time to get into a Dr Who state of mind and begin writing my script.

I'll keep you posted!

I Want.....

The new Doctor Who magazine. Not only does it discuss the forthcoming end of season finale, it also has an article from the great Steven Moffat on how to write a Doctor Who story. What better way to gain advice for one of my forty tasks, than from the master himself.

A Script For Dr Who

Just lately, I've been reading this:- theeyeless.blogspot.com
- a blog about a guy, Lance Parkin, who writes Dr Who books. It's full of hints and tips about how to write for the Beeb and how unfortunately they return any unsolicited manuscripts. Although I have to write a script as one of my tasks, I never really saw past doing that, which is perhaps best, considering the BBC return all scripts unread.

I love how Lance admits he has no contacts at the Beeb, as if fearful that he will get a shed load of scripts delivered to his door step! He doesn't know Russell T Davies or Steven Moffat, so sending scripts to this chappie would do no good.

I've decided I will continue with Plan A and write the script at some point, more for the experience of writing 'a script' and because I've loved Dr Who since I was three years old. Anything else that comes out of this is a bonus!

A Helping Hand

I have a new friend to help me write my novel - Captain Jack Harkness and if I am lucky he may help me write my Dr Who script too.

Unfortunately my husband also thought I needed someone to help write my novel. So now I have two. I did take one Jack to work this morning, but after someone questioned why I had an action man on my desk, I thought he was best staying at home.

So now I have no excuse not to continue writing my novel......