Now I'm banned from joining the police

I'm not sure if anyone knows this, but if I wrote out a long list of jobs I'd like to do, Police would be at the top. Of course pro-monkey or director would be really at the top, but I'm listing jobs I could sign up for tomorrow.

The problem is I can't afford to. I have a mortgage and bills to pay, and the police don't pay as well as my current job. If it wasn't for that I'd join tomorrow.

My wife has always been against the idea, but now that WPC was killed in Bradford I'm officially banned. It's a bit freaky seeing it all on the news. I went to university in Bradford (and still live there'ish), and know the area well. In my student days, I would pass the place where it happened at least half a dozen times a day. One of my favourite night clubs is about 30 yards away (ahh Pickwicks, fun memories), and my best friend lived about 10 yards from where the woman was shot. I heard on the travel news all the streets that had been closed off and they have closed a strip of the area about 1/4 to 1/2 a mile wide (morley street, great horton road, and little horton lane are all closed at the bottom for those who know the area).

I'm not exactly shocked, I just find it a little wired that places I knew in every day life in dull old Bradford were constantly on the news for about 36 hours solid.

I did find a number of comments shocking. One community leader said he was shocked that there was an incident of gun crime in the area, and said it has never happened before, that it was a totally safe area, and that every one gets along. HA! UTTER CRAP.

Now, it has been a while since I've frequented the area, so things may have changed, but I know of numerous incidents involving guns. If I had a pound for every time I had the phrase "White bastard!" shouted at me by local youths, I wouldn't still be paying off student debt. People say that that is just the younger generation, however there was always adults in view most of the time (often the parents of those doing the shouting), and not a thing was done. One of the favourite past-times of the local youth was to go "Student bashing", late at night. I has a chuckle when they tried it on a friend who was rather good at martial arts (can't remember which one).

Anyway, that turned into a bit of a rant, but in short, I'm not shocked like that community leader was, I just find it wired to see my old stomping ground on the news. And now I'm not allowed to join the police :(

Not sure what to do

I'm a bit stuck.

Things are starting to settle down after the house move, and the only boxes left to unpack are full of the stuff we never use but don't want to throw out. They should probably stay packed and stored in the loft. As a result I am now starting to think about writing again.

I have draft number two of Good Guys about ten pages in, but I'm thining of putting that one on hold. My problem is lack of complete drafts (Good Guys is the only one). I have the horror idea and the romance idea in the front of my mind at the moment (and about six others archived), and I'm thinking of getting first drafts of those out of the way before I complete draft two of Good Guys. I feel that I will learn more at the moment by writing more complete drafts than a rewrite. That way I'm hoping draft two of Good Guys will be that much better.

Do I plod on with Good Guys, or do I get more complete drafts under my belt? I'm leaning towards the latter at the moment, but I'm still unsure.

Horror!

I have an idea for a horror script!

Now, anyone who knows me will think that a bit strange. I've never gone for horror films. I remember watching The Amityville Horror when I was about 8 or 9 at a friends house after school when his parents were out and thinking "what's all the fuss about". Ever since then they really haven't appealed to me.

I've watched "sort of horror" movies, Resident Evil (an action film), Shaun of the Dead (comedy), Scream and I know what you did last summer (not sure how to categorise them), but I've never been a true fan.

I saw a trailer for The Grudge (I think, the one with Buffy in it), where there is that CCTV footage and I remember shitting my pants, so I doubt I'm ready to be a hard core fan. Anyway back to the horror idea.

Forgive me for making assumptions, but I've always thought of horror films as no-brainers (hold the flames, I'll correct myself), but after reading several screenwriting blogs on the subject, it would seem they may be the hardest to genre to write. With that in mind I could dive into the script and write 90 to 120 pages of what I thought was horror and totally miss the point, hence the following request: Educate me!

Keeping in mind that I'm a horror novice (so I want nothing too OTT), could you please list some good genre introductory titles that show all the good points that a horror film should have. Nothing too obscure, just titles that are simple and have all the basics.

I will watch them, try to find the screenplays, and see how my idea fits the mould, and try to take it from there.

The good thing is the ideas are still flowing while I've been out of writing mode. I've had a great idea for a romance that has never been done before (at least not that I've seen). I need to get the outline for that one done ASAP.

Later

C

I've finally moved!

I've finally done it.

I thought it would never happen, but we're in the new house.

Posting will still be light as we have a garage full of boxes to unpack, plus the cable guy couldn't finish the installation and I have no idea when he will be back (must make a phone call about that).

With a bit of luck service will be back to normal in another week, but for now I'll leave you with this:

Year 1981
1. Prince Charles got married
2. Liverpool crowned Champions of Europe
3. Australia lost the Ashes
4. Pope Died

Year 2005
1. Prince Charles got married
2. Liverpool crowned Champions of Europe
3. Australia lost the Ashes
4. Pope Died

In future, if Prince Charles decides to re-marry and Liverpool wins another
European championship.... please warn the Pope :o) ...