Claire Weaver

Art, Writing & Etsy

2011-11-07T19:09:00.000Z

I've been busy creating more artwork and have decided to open an online store through Etsy. There's a lot more still to come, including prints of the Nova Roma fantasy map, but so far I have a range of framed art inspired by the "Follow Your Dreams" campaign and a collection of candle accessories featuring Victorian Ouija board designs and vintage poison labels. Go check them out!

In writing news, my co-writer and I are plowing ahead on the feature film, EL DIABLO, and I have a new project in development titled EXORCIST, INCORPORATED. It's quite hush-hush right now, but I hope to be able to share more info on that soon. Stay tuned!

Summer Projects

2011-09-17T19:38:00.009Z

It's been an incredibly busy summer; not only have I moved house (from OC to the South Bay - yay LA county!), but I've also written a feature and outlined/pitched lots of ideas for TV, film, and web series.

I've also flexed my artistic wings this summer, finally (after years of planning) starting work on Magpie Museum as well as creating a couple of pieces of art...

Alternative History Maps

Imagine a history in which the Romans crossed the great sea and discovered America in 117 AD...

In the first of a series, this fantasy map documents the expansion of the Roman Empire to the eastern shores of America and the establishment of forts in New York or, as it was called by the Romans, Novus Roma - "New Rome".

This is the first in a series of alternate history maps. Purchase this piece of art through eBay.

Follow Your Dreams - street art project

Inspired by the homemade posters advertising get rich quick schemes and offering rewards for lost cats, I created my own version to inspire passersby to follow their dreams (complete with a handy tear-off reminder).

Download the poster or create your own and spread the inspiration in your neighborhood!

Updates on my writing can be found on my website (or just follow me on Twitter).

El Diablo & The Harbingers

2011-05-19T21:24:00.007Z

I have two super-cool projects in the works right now - El Diablo and The Harbingers.

I've mentioned The Harbingers on here before - it's an original TV pilot I've been working on for some time (about four years, if you go all the way back to when I had the original idea). Back at the beginning of the year, I entered it into the 2011 Scriptoid TV Challenge and I just heard that it's made it through to the quarter-finals round! The semi-finalists are announced in a couple of weeks, so keep for fingers crossed for me. This one's also in development right now and I've just completed a new draft of the pilot. Hopefully I'll have some more good news to share with you all soon!

The second project is a feature I'm co-writing with Pete Greenwald at Formula Productions. The movie's going to be shot in September this year in Denver, Colorado. It's a lot of fun - it's set in the world of heavy metal music and involves some cool spooky supernatural shenanigans! I love me some horror.

I've been suffering a lot of back and neck pain recently - I think for the most part caused by bad posture when doing all this writing. After a week of agony, I went to the doctor and he gave me some muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory pills. I also bought myself a laptop stand that elevates and tilts my laptop into a better position, and it all seems to be working! I still have some tension but it's slowly easing. In a few weeks' time I'll be spending a long weekend in Monterey - the break should also do me some good.

More soon!

Doing my happy dance

2011-02-25T18:04:00.003Z

I’m very pleased to report that 2011 has rapidly become the best year yet for my creative career (as well as my intrinsically-linked mental well-being).

BIG NEWS: After much hard work, one of my original TV scripts has garnered the attention of a development company here in H’wood. I can’t say much about it right now – in fact, I’ve been instructed to keep my cards as close to my chest as possible – but I can say that this is a huge opportunity and I’m really excited! Keep your fingers crossed for me and I’ll post more when I can.

I’ve also been working at a TV production company as an Assistant to the VP of TV Production – pretty much my ideal job (after working in the writer’s room). It’s only a temp gig, but the experience is invaluable and I’m hoping I can turn this brief opportunity into something more. Plus, the income really helps.

The down side of being self-employed

2011-01-24T17:57:00.002Z

I'm on the phone right now to the HMRC - the UK's version of the IRS - and I've been on hold for now 19 minutes. The reason I'm calling is that I received a letter saying I have to complete my tax return by the end of the month or face a £100 fine. The irony is, I'm not registered as self employed anymore. I haven't even been in the country since 2008.

I tried to tell them this in 2009, and again in 2010, when I had to go through the same rigmarole. Obviously, to no avail.

And so I'm on hold... 20 minutes and counting. My call is important. Someone will be with me shortly.

Fingers crossed they can sort it out this year. Fingers crossed someone picks up the phone.

My call is important...

Happy New Year

2011-01-13T18:27:00.004Z

2010 was a super productive year - I wrote a feature (SPEAR), four television shows (THE HARBINGERS, THE REFUGE, INDIE BAND and 2030, DO YOU COPY?), and four short films (OVER THE LINE, FALLING SNOW, MASKS, and MASTERPIECE). I've uploaded some of the scripts to my website, claireweaver.net, if anyone's interested in reading them!

2011 is shaping up to be another productive year - I've started on a new feature (THE EXPO) and I have outlined a spec script for THE WALKING DEAD. I have high hopes for the next twelve months and it's going to be a lot of work - but isn't that part of the fun?

Screenplay Central

2010-10-05T05:57:00.011Z

I've been working on so many projects lately, I'm starting to dream in screenplay format! Here's an update on my latest projects:

2030, DO YOU COPY? is an original TV pilot for a children's show. The script is ready and available!

An unadventurous 13-year-old boy finds a magical radio that allows him to communicate with the future, but once he learns the year 2030 is a bleak, dangerous place, he resolves to change things in the present day and save the world from ruin.

FALLEN SNOW (working title) is a short film I've penned for Ryu Koyama, a Chapman student working on his senior thesis. Shooting begins later this month.

A struggling single mom fights to protect her child from the ghost of his deceased father.

SPEAR is the feature film I've mentioned here before. The script is available, pending one final edit.

A rebellious teenager finds a mysterious artifact of great power and he terrorizes the town in a misguided attempt to right perceived wrongs.

INDIE BAND is still under wraps but is steadily progressing... More soon.

I've also been interning at Level 1 Entertainment for a couple of days each week, reading scripts and writing coverage. It's a fantastic company and a great place to work.

I'll be at the LA Screenwriting Expo this weekend, pitching and schmoozing and generally having educational fun. Look for me if you're there!

Only Monday

2010-08-17T04:20:00.010Z

I've had so much good news already this week - and it's only Monday!

...I've been offered an internship at super-cool production company Level 1 Entertainment - starting next week I'll be reading scripts and writing coverage on the 26th floor of the MGM Tower...

...Dominic Harman's shiny new website, designed by yours truly, went live this morning...

...My hubby's psychedelic punk EP, Burst Your Bubble, was reviewed in the OC Weekly (just a couple of weeks after the band was interviewed in the same publication)...

...Speaking of Roosterhead, their music video shoot this weekend just gone was a HUGE success...

...And it's my birthday tomorrow!

Smiles all round, methinks.

Scripts, a website, and a band

2010-06-13T18:43:00.015Z

It's been a busy eight months since last I wrote.

I'm working on two new projects - THE HARBINGERS and INDIE BAND - and, three drafts of VIRUS later, it's back to the drawing board with a new concept for the series. Now titled THE REFUGE, it is still in essence a zombie horror show but now features an interesting scifi twist.

My website's coming along nicely - you can check it out at www.claireweaver.net. It should be completed in the next couple of weeks, if not sooner.

I've also been promoting my husband's band, Roosterhead - check out their fabulous site at www.roosterheadmusic.com and follow them on twitter. They have a tonne of info on facebook and myspace too, so look them up. Better still, if you're in southern California, come to one of their gigs:

Jul 5 2010 9:00P - Que Sera, Long Beach, CA
Jul 28 2010 9:00P - The Doll Hut, Anaheim, CA
Jul 31 2010 1:00P and 4:00P - Orange County Fair, Costa Mesa, CA
Aug 9 2010 9:00P - Que Sera, Long Beach, CA
Sep 1 2010 9:00P - The Doll Hut, Anaheim, CA

Progress is optional

2009-10-08T17:33:00.002Z

Great news! I'm a Finalist for the Exposurama screenplay contest, with my script VIRUS one of the top 3 in the TV pilots category. The winner is announced October 15th.

More great news! I now have a manager! I'm represented by Los Angeles literary management company House of Scribes. I was really pleased this morning to see my name is up on their site and mentioned on their Twitter feed.

I'll keep you posted!

Virus

2009-10-06T04:12:00.001Z

VIRUS is shortlisted for the 2009 Exposurama screenplay competition, in the TV pilots category.

Producers

2009-07-28T18:54:00.004Z

The Morgenstern/Weaver project proceeds at a steady pace. I've just completed an eight page synopsis for the pilot episode and sent it off to the producer; I now eagerly (and nervously) await his feedback. I'm very enthused and I have high hopes for the project - I'll keep you posted!

I'm also looking forward to a very, *very* exciting meeting on Thursday with a different producer about a different project. This one's not mine - I'm a research assistant for a writer/director, and it's his project - but it's all very exciting as there are some big names floating around. Sorry to tease, but again I can't say anything yet. It's still very early days but I will update you when I can!

Until then...

Semester's end

2009-05-12T22:22:00.004Z

I can't believe it's here already; this semester has gone by so quickly. But final exams are next week, and I am almost (almost) done with all my college papers and projects.

SPEAR is going through a complete overhaul with a shiny new synopsis developed in my screenwriting class. The first act is written, and I plan to have the rest of it finished, polished, and sent out by the end of June.

PROJECT X (also known as the Untitled Morgenstern/Weaver Project) is ticking along - there's nothing I can really post here *yet*, but I have a meeting in a couple of weeks and I might be able to say more afterwards.

APOCALYPSE is in hiatus at the moment, but watch this space for news! Great things are happening off-screen...

I was recently interviewed for SciFiNow magazine (left) about the Arthur C. Clarke Award. Quite the turn-around - one year I'm writing for them, the next I'm being interviewed by them!

INCARNATE is, yet again, relegated to the backburner, but I'll get to it over the summer. One thing at a time!

Spear and Project X

2009-03-26T17:22:00.005Z

I recently sent out a query letter for VIRUS, my spec TV pilot, which (among other things) led to a very interesting conversation with a producer about a new project he'd like me to be involved with. I have a meeting with him this afternoon up in Calabasas (I've had to borrow a car to get up there; and I really should get a Californian driving license sometime soon!). I'm extremely excited to meet with him and discuss the project in more detail... Obviously I can't go into details here, but watch this space for info!

SPEAR is coming along nicely; I've done a massive overhaul of the plot, sharpened the characters, and mapped out the location (Fort Waverton even has its own map, closely based on the existing town of Webster, South Dakota). I'm writing the first act for my Feature Screenwriting class, and expect to finish the script about a week after finals!

APOCALYPSE, in collaboration with JuteBlue, is slowly coming along. I delivered the first chapter to the band last week, so they're working on the song as I plot out the rest of the story. Updates soon!

Speaking of the band, they have a gig at the Doll Hut this Sunday (March 29) at 11.30pm. Be there!

Progress

2009-02-19T19:27:00.003Z

Things tick along steadily.

VIRUS has been unleashed to just over 4,000 producers, agents, and execs; here's hoping one or two of them are interested!

The story for APOCALYPSE is growing day by day - mostly in my head, but a lot of it is down on paper. I'm writing it prose-style to begin with, then breaking it down into episodes, and finally turning it over to the guys at JuteBlue to turn into great music.

SPEAR is on the back burner, but bubbling away. The past few weeks have seen some coincidental events in my life that mirror the script; once I get to the core of my emotional response, it will make the script all the stronger.

No word back on INCARNATE yet, but I read through my outline for ANGEL HUNTERS (the comic) and will try to find a market for that in the next few weeks. I also need to gear up on the freelance journalism again! Here's hoping I don't require any sleep for the next month...

SPEAR, VIRUS, APOCALYPSE, INCARNATE - all one-word titles. Do I do that on purpose?

2009-02-08T20:32:00.005Z

Spring semester has started, so things have been a little hectic the past couple of weeks as I try to adjust to the new routine. Not much has happened on SPEAR since the table reading two weeks ago, though I've decided to do a completely fresh draft (verison 2.0) which I'll be starting soon.

Higher up on the agenda is VIRUS, the TV pilot, which is just about as polished as it's ever going to get and is ready to send out into the big wide world of agents and execs. It's been two years in the writing (on and off), and finally I'm happy with it - so stay tuned for details!

The main focus is APOCALYPSE, a webisode-structured sequence of four-minute musical shorts, which I'm co-writing with JuteBlue. I'm creating the story, narrative, characters, and some lyrics; their focus is on songwriting and musical composition. We're going to be filming the first two or three (depending on funding), which is why it's important for me to focus on this right now while I have access to cheap/free equipment and crew. I'll be directing and (hopefully co-)producing, and the band make up the cast.

JuteBlue at the Gypsy Den:

Left to right: Luke Johnson, Christian Calvert, Shawn Her Many Horses

I've also started submitting my novel, INCARNATE, to publishers again, so hopefully I will have some news there soon. I realized I only submitted the latest draft to one or two places before I shelved it, which wasn't really fair on the manuscript!

Ok, scripts to read and treatments to draft. Signing off.

California Dreamin'

2009-01-29T03:15:00.000Z

There are many moments in life that, for one reason or another, we rush through without taking proper notice of. We don't pay attention until the moment has passed, and it's always too late to go back and re-experience it. All we have as proof of the moment are half-memories and a nostalgic sense of longing.

It's early 2009 and I'm halfway through my first year in California, so I wanted to take a moment to notice where I am, what I'm doing, the people I'm meeting, and what I'm achieving.

I've met some fantastic people and made some really good friends, in particular Megan, Ruthie, and Becky. Megan is so sociable – she's always up for a laugh and hanging out, having fun (and we do have a lot of fun; see Maritime Golfing below). Ruthie is the kindest, sweetest person I have ever met, and is a wonderful, genuine person. I recently recorded some voice-over narration for a trailer she's making for her mom's book, Come Along, which was great fun and a truly unique experience! Becky and I have such totally different tastes, we really shouldn't get along – but we do! We've just moved into an apartment on campus and we're going to have great fun living together (especially as we've just bought a foosball table)!

Outside of Chapman, I've been spending a lot of time in Huntington Beach with three really great guys from the Dakotas; Luke, Calvert, and Shawn. They're amazing musicians, and their band, JuteBlue, totally rocks! There's no doubt that they're going to make it big, and it's fantastic to have the chance to hang out with such intelligent, dedicated, and passionate people. England often seems so short on people who are willing to work hard for the pursuit their dreams, so meeting these guys is truly special.

Megan, Luke and I have invented a new sport – Maritime Golfing, or MGT for short (the T stands for Tournament). In layman's terms, it's no-rules golf on the beach after dark – but don't let that fool you! There are many intricacies to the game, such as the The First Rule (which comes into play before the game even starts, when you're choosing your club), the Last Hole Invocation, and the Seashell of Ineptitude. Glowsticks, LEDs, and sometimes even pick-up sticks are involved! We started playing in the middle of winter when it was freezing cold, but I'm really looking forward to summertime and long, warm nights running up and down the beach with a flashlight and a five iron!

Classes start again next week. I've been spending my time over the (very quiet) winter break writing a screenplay, SPEAR, and I completed 96 pages in 11 days! I'm just finishing the second draft now... I've also finished a TV pilot, VIRUS, which one of my professors, Jeff Stanzler (IMDB him), recently gave me feedback on. We met up in Mel's Diner on Sunset Boulevard (where American Graffiti was filmed); I had a burger, he had soup, and we talked about how powerful my writing is. I'm taking his class next semester (Directing I) because I feel I have a really good connection with him and I love his teaching style, even though he scared me at first! He seems to really respect me and my work, and he's genuinely interested in helping me find success. Now this is why I chose to study in America!

My time here so far has been exactly what I expected and like nothing I could predict. I can feel myself changing into a more confident, positive, and relaxed person, and I know I am achieving a hell of a lot in terms of my writing, skills, and contacts. The weather is fantastic; the people are friendly; opportunities are aplenty; and my friends are wonderful, creative, and kind. Life's good here in California – I never want to leave!

Claire Weaver
Orange County, CA
January 23rd 2009

Words from Stateside

2009-01-20T21:45:00.005Z

Just a brief update on what I've been doing lately...

I'm currently interning for Cinematic Instinct, reading scripts and writing coverage reports. It's great experience and very enjoyable, and I'm learning a lot about screenwriting and the industry.

Here at the university, classes start again in a couple of weeks. Over the winter break I wrote a feature-length screenplay, titled SPEAR. I'm currently on the second draft, and I'm holding a roundtable later this week to get feedback from my peers. I've also been gathering feedback on VIRUS, my TV pilot, and I expect to have a new draft finished soon so I can start submitting it to agents. Watch this space!

Dominic Harman's website is nearly finished - I urge you to check it out! The portfolio section is filled with his amazing artwork, from book jackets and CD covers to commercial work and personal prints, and there's an insightful article on Dominic under the 'About' tab. The online store will be open in about two-three weeks.

The latter half of 2008 didn't see much in the way of freelance jounralism for me, but expect that to change in 2009! I'm currently pitching a bunch of articles and interviews to various UK publications.

I'm also submitting my novel, Incarnate, to publishers again - I'm testing the waters out here in the US, so keep your fingers crossed for me!

I'll also be updating this blog more often, so come back soon!

Hello from LA

2008-10-01T15:16:00.005Z

It's been a while since I last wrote, but in that time I've given up my job, started university, and moved to a different continent!

I'm settling in well at Chapman U in Orange County, California. My classes include visual storytelling, film aestheticals, screenwriting fundamentals, American science fiction films, location filmmaking (where we make a professional fifteen minute short film), and Industry Insiders, which involves Q&As with industry pros each week.

I'm also working part-time on campus. My first job is tech support for events, which often includes video-taping guest speakers with a really nice Canon XL1S digital camera; my second job is updating the Film & TV school's website: www.ftv.chapman.edu

Outside of university, I'm busy building a new website, portfolio, and online store for Dominic Harman, as well as designing a brochure and new green logo for London Calling.

California, here I come

2008-07-28T15:18:00.008Z

I had my visa application interview at the US Embassy last week, and I'm pleased to say it was accepted. That was the last hurdle to jump - now I'm all set to go!

I finally decided on Chapman University; I leave August 18th. Classes run from August 25th through to May next year, and I'll be coming back for the three month summer break.

Stay tuned for updates!

'The Tollhouse' reviewed on The Fix

2008-07-06T15:56:00.005Z

Janice Clark reviews Myth Understandings story by story on The Fix:

http://thefix-online.com/reviews/myth-understandings/

It's a short but positive review and, I'm pleased to note, the reviewer sees the protagonist as male (which he is, though most people seem to think he's a she - I'm not sure why)!

If you haven't yet read The Tollhouse (and all the other great stories in Myth Understandings), you can buy a copy direct from the publisher or via Amazon.

More acceptances

2008-05-14T17:09:00.001Z

A very quick post to say I've also been accepted into Loyola Marymount University and Chapman University (both undergraduate Screenwriting courses).

More of an update later, I promise.

AFI application

2008-03-20T17:06:00.005Z

I have been accepted onto the Screenwriting program for the American Film Institute in California, one of the top film schools in the world (it's ranked in the top 5 graduate film programs along with USC, UCLA, NYU and Columbia University by Princeton Review and US News and World Report).

It's a graduate MA program lasting two years. Only 28 screenwriters are accepted out of hundreds (if not thousands) of applicants each year - it's an amazing opportunity for me to develop my skills and make contacts within the industry, something I've dreamed about all my life.

Amazon

2008-02-25T16:28:00.005Z

Myth-Understandings is available from Amazon. Go buy it - you know you want to.

(Meanwhile, in my head: Wow. My work's on Amazon! *Grin*)

Available to Buy

2008-02-19T11:46:00.007Z

Checking the NewCon Press website I see that Myth Understandings is available for pre-order.

There's also further detail on the contents:

1. Introduction – Ian Whates
Myth

2. Owl Speak -- Storm Constantine
3. Seaborne – Kari Sperring
4. And Their Blood Will Be Prescient to Fire – Freda Warrington
5. Do You See? – Sarah Pinborough
6. Queen of the Sunlit Shore – Liz Williams
7. Heart Song – Kim Lakin-Smith
8. The Grass Princess – Gwyneth Jones
Understandings
9. Found in the Translation – Pat Cadigan
10. TouchMe™: Keeping in Touch – Heather Bradshaw
11. We Shelter – Leigh Kennedy
12. Dinosaur – Deborah J. Miller
13. Further Orders -- Elizabeth Priest
14. The Tollhouse – Claire Weaver
15. Body of Evidence – Justina Robson
16. The Ecologist and the Avon Lady – Tricia Sullivan

The book is available in two editions: A5-sized paperback, plus a limited edition run of just 150 individually numbered hardbacks.

Paperback/Hardback : 224 pages
Publisher: Newcon Press (21st March 2008)
Language: English
Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9555791-2-7
Hardback ISBN: 978-0-9555791-1-0

The book can be pre-ordered now and will be sent out prior to the official launch on March 21st.

If you are ordering a hardback and would like to reserve a particular number, please specify a number between 11 and 150 when ordering and we will reserve that specific copy for you if it has not previously been allocated. Please note that we cannot guarantee that any given number has not already been claimed.

Price:

Ltd edition Hardback: (£18.99 plus £2.25 shipping) £21.24
Softback: (£9.99 plus £1.60 shipping) £11.59

For multiple orders and where shipping is required to a destination outside the UK, please query for costs.

Issue 10, 11

2008-02-13T15:48:00.004Z

I've uploaded scans of my latest work for SciFiNow - Spoilers and Events for issues 10 and 11 - so if you want to recap on favourite TV shows or find cool cons to attend, check out the links on the right hand side of the screen.

You can also find the Spoilers on the SciFiNow website.

Myth-Understandings

2008-02-11T09:52:00.000Z

A new anthology from NewCon Press, titled Myth-Understandings, comes out March 22nd at Eastercon, and features my short SF story "The Tollhouse".

MYTH-UNDERSTANDINGS
Edited by Ian Whates

Communication: the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information.

Featuring a World Fantasy Award winning story from Gwyneth Jones

Plus original stories from: Pat Cadigan, Storm Constantine, Justina Robson, Tricia Sullivan, Freda Warrington, Liz Williams, Leigh Kennedy, Deborah J. Miller, Sarah Pinborough, Kim Lakin-Smith, Kari Sperring, Heather Bradshaw, Elizabeth Priest and Claire Weaver

Fifteen stories of science fiction, fantasy, dark fantasy and horror, showcasing the very best women authors in today's speculative fiction.

How time flies

2008-01-28T13:45:00.000Z

It's been nearly two months since my last post. I've been busy finishing the uni applications (all done now, yay!), being made redundant, getting rehired (same company, different department), and enjoying Christmas and New Year.

I hear back about the uni applications over the next few months - probably from Chapman first, then the AFI, LMU, and UCLA around March-April.

The new day-job title is 'Products Researcher' for Blueprint and FX Magazines, which involves writing editorial copy, laying pages and selling advertorials. It utilises a lot of my skills but is challenging at the same time. I'm in the same office as before, just a couple of desks over.

I haven't been doing much writing - prose, scripts, comics or anything else. I'm having a bit of a break from it all for a few weeks, though that's not to say I'm not eager to get stuck in to it. The ideas are there, I'm just waiting for the words to start flowing.

On the journalistic front, I have been busy working for SciFiNow, continuing to write the Events DPS and now doing the Spoilers section each month (recapping about 15 episodes of a selection of shows each issue). It's good work and great money. I'll post scans soon.

New scans online

2007-12-11T14:08:00.001Z

Just a quick post to draw attention to the new scans of my freelance work (see side bar on right for links). There are book reviews and events news for SciFiNow, plus my interview with the wonderful writer/illustrator David Petersen that appeared in issue 8 of Death Ray.

On a recent visit to the Tate Modern I saw they have the Mouse Guard graphic novel for sale in the book shop. It's good to see "comics" being treated as real art for a change!

With flying colors

2007-10-26T15:14:00.000Z

Got my SAT results back:

Math: 550/800 (national percentile 61%)
Critical Reading: 680/800 (national percentile 93%)
Writing: 730/800 (national percentile 98%)

This is very, very good. I'm so pleased with myself right now!

Mouse Guard & working hard

2007-10-07T11:28:00.000Z

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing David Petersen, creator and illustrator of the fantastic Mouse Guard comic series (left). The interview will be appearing in issue 8 of Death Ray, out 15th November.

I've also got another Events DPS coming up in issue 7 (out now) and 8 (out early November) of SciFiNow - scans to be posted shortly.

On the university front, I took my SAT test yesterday and feel pretty confident about my scores, plus I have an interview-slash-meeting with the International Admissions Officer for Chapman University (my primary choice) on Wednesday afternoon. The marvellous Jon Courtenay Grimwood has written me a sterling reference letter; now I've just got to get on and finish the rest of the application forms.

With all this going on, it's non-stop here and I feel like I'm burning the candle at both ends. So to really finish me off, I just got an email from Objective Productions saying they want to use me in a documentary they're making for Channel 4. I responded to an ad in the back of the London Metro about a month ago and went to an audition in a stuffy little room above a pub near Waterloo - I had about given up on it, thinking they'd have let the successful applicants know already, but as I said the email came through yesterday...

I can't say too much about it right now but I will post details here as and when I'm able.

So, annoyingly, not much time for that little thing called writing at the moment. And I have so many ideas to get out...

Sellerage!

2007-09-20T14:25:00.000Z

This week I've not only secured another DPS in issue 8 of SciFiNow, I've also sold an interview to another Brit sci-fi glossy (I'm sure you can guess which one)! Details to come, be patient...

>>>

2007-08-16T08:37:00.000Z

Check out the sidebar for scans of my latest freelance work.

Promises, promises

2007-08-09T08:20:00.000Z

I have more scans of SFN to upload - from issues 3, 4 and 5 - which I will upload very soon. This weekend, in fact. I promise.

Past For Sale

2007-07-31T15:21:00.001Z

I've written a three-page script as part of the application for one of the American universities. The theme I chose was 'two siblings waiting for their father's funeral'.

Comments are welcome - in fact, they're positively encouraged!

PAST FOR SALE
by
Claire Weaver

EXT. QUIET RESIDENTIAL STREET, MID-AFTERNOON

A BOY and a GIRL (twins, aged 8) sit beside a small table in front of their house. Both children are wearing funeral attire – the BOY is in a suit and tie; the GIRL wears a black dress and veiled hat.

A hand-written sign reading ‘PAST FOR SALE’ is taped to the tablecloth. On the table are a pile of photographs and an urn.

A MAN walks up the street and stops in front of the table.

MAN:
Are you kids selling lemonade?

The BOY solemnly picks up a photo and hands it to the man. The picture shows a middle-aged man enjoying a fishing trip.

MAN:
You’re selling photographs?

The children share an exasperated look. The girl pushes the urn forward.

BOY:
If you don’t buy him, we’ll have to bury him.

GIRL:
Again.

The MAN looks at the children, confused. The lawn behind them is littered with dug-up patches and holes.

MAN:
Huh?

GIRL:
His name’s Mike and he’s our dad. He’s good at fishing and maths and he’s a very careful driver, but he doesn’t come with the car.

The BOY hands the MAN more photographs as the GIRL talks – one of Mike fixing a car, another of him at a barbeque, and so on.

GIRL:
He knows lots of jokes and cooks the best hamburgers. Are you interested?

The MAN stares at the GIRL for a moment then gazes at the darkened windows of the house, searching for the children’s mother. The house is quiet.

MAN:
You’re selling your father?

The children nod.

MAN:
And he’s… dead?

BOY:
Don’t worry – he’ll come back. He always does.

GIRL:
But you have to wait until it’s dark. He doesn’t come out in the day – not since he got turned into a vampire.

MAN: (laughing)
Vampires don’t exist.

The children stare at him, quite serious.

MAN: (unnerved)
Do they?

GIRL:
Do you want to buy him or not?

MAN:
I think I’ll pass.

The MAN hands the photographs back and walks away quickly, clearly disturbed.

BOY:
It’s getting late.

GIRL:
It’s your turn to dig the hole.

BOY:
No way. I did it last time.

The GIRL sighs and holds up her fist. They play a round of Rock/Paper/Scissors, which the girl wins.

GIRL:
Come on.

BOY:
He’ll only come back again.

GIRL:
Not for a few days. It’ll give us time to sort out mom.

BOY:
Did you find out how to kill a zombie?

GIRL:
Not yet. But I’ll check the Internet after we bury dad. I’m sure there’ll be something.

The BOY gets a shovel from behind the table and goes to dig a hole. Taking the urn carelessly under her arm, the GIRL follows.

END

Quick Post. Quicker Sentences.

2007-06-11T19:03:00.000Z

I am currently...

...excited to receive my first application form for a US university. More to follow!

...apprehensive to find out how much work US university application forms are to complete. But still excited nonetheless.

...up at 6 every morning to work on my TV script about gross diseases (kind of).

...ecstatic about the continued gig with SciFiNow (currently writing for SFN5) and hoping it long continues.

...not scratching my new tattoo. Itchy, itchy new tattoo.

..about to have dinner, then watch S5 of 24.

Images & tattoos

2007-06-07T18:36:00.000Z

Seeing as issue 3 of SciFiNow is available I thought it'd be ok to put scans of my articles from SFN2 online...

I have to take this opportunity to say, cover feature, people! Cover feature! Woo-hoo!

Click to view readable scans.

,

,

Thanks to Tom for the title. Inspired, as always.

Also, just for kicks, here’s a picture of me getting tattooed:

Blueprint & SFN

2007-06-06T12:21:00.000Z

Currently working full-time at Blueprint Magazine in Production as well as keeping up with the freelance mag work. Watch out for my words in SciFiNow issues 3 (out tomorrow, I believe, though that might just be for subscribers) and 4 (next month).

A Scanner Darkly

2007-05-09T19:57:00.001Z

I've scanned the pages I did for issue one of SciFiNow magazine and uploaded them for anyone who's interested - click the images below to view full-size scans...

But don't read them there - go buy the mag! With 148 pages of great articles, you won't be disappointed.

More & Awards

2007-05-02T09:16:00.000Z

The wonderful editor over at the dazzlingly brilliant new magazine SciFiNow has decided to expand my Fanboys cons/memorabilia piece from two pages to four, as of issue three! (If you can really call it 'mine' - I don't actually own it, I just happen to be the only one who's written it so far.)

I've also got a piece in issue 3 on Dr Who collectibles, plus maybe-possibly-fingers-crossed some other stuff in the pipeline with a different new magazine. But more on that later.

Right now I'm off to meet my fellow Arthur C. Clarke Award judges to decide (argue, fight, maim, kill) on this year's winning book - wish me luck!

Percentages

2007-04-13T20:34:00.000Z

SciFi Now is available - buy your copy today!

I've done the math and worked out that a whopping 2.7% of the issue was contributed by yours truly. Assuming they keep the same page count, issue 2 will be 8.1%!

Don't forget to join the forum and tell everybody how great my pages are (kidding!).

PS Happy Friday 13th, y'all.

By Your Command

2007-03-29T15:25:00.000Z

SciFi Now do have a website - you can view it here.

The mag comes out on 12th April. Make sure you buy your copy!

SciFi Now Magazine

2007-03-23T17:02:00.000Z

There's a new magazine in town called SciFi Now - they don't have a website yet so I can't link to it, but the first issue will be out in a couple of weeks. Look for it on the news stands, because inside you'll find a wealth of fantastic articles on SF&F, Horror, Cult TV and more, including a memorabilia and conventions double page spread and an introduction to TV show Heroes, both written by yours truly!

And for issue two I'll be doing the same DPS along with an extended piece on the business of collectibles, and - here's the really big news - a 6 pager on Battlestar Galactica, including an interview with Tricia Helfer and Grace Park!

Right now I simply can't think of a better way to earn a living.

No Dice

2007-02-25T15:51:00.000Z

Incarnate rejected after 6 months.

Back to the drawing board.

Another Great Idea from the UK Government

2007-02-20T12:03:00.000Z

The UK Government are about to propose restrictions on photography in public places which could make street photography and documentary photography against the law.

There's a petition on the Downing St website against the Government's proposals to restrict the use of photography in public areas:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Photography

Sign, and forward, if you are so inclined ....

There are a number of moves promoting the requirement of 'ID' cards to allow photographers to operate in a public place. It is a fundamental right of a UK citizen to use a camera in a public place, indeed there is no right to privacy when in a public place.

These moves have developed from paranoia and only promote suspicion towards genuine people following their hobby or profession.

Scribbled Out

2007-02-01T15:41:00.000Z

The ideas blossomed; the hard work was done; and the long, tense wait for the announcement date eventually passed. All that remained… was rejection.

Or, to put it another way, SCRIBBLERS did not win the Cobravision screenwriting competition. Ah well.

But it’s another bad news/good news week, as Ian Whates (of Time Pieces fame) has invited me to submit for his next anthology. He hasn’t accepted anything yet – in fact, I haven’t sent it yet (final edit pending), but that’s really positive news!

Scribblers scribbled

2006-12-14T11:59:00.001Z

Yow! My keyboard is hot, hot, hot. I've been working furiously on SCRIBBLERS, the sitcom idea-turned-CobraVision competition entry, to complete it in time for the deadline. How quickly the months pass when you're working on a competition...

September: Ah, that December deadline is ages away! With that much time, I can afford to go into lots of detail and really plan this script out properly...

October: Ok, I haven't really started on that CobraVision thing except for a few notes. I should make a start with the actual script this weekend.

November: Erk! It's just over a month to the deadline and I've only done the first ten pages! I'd better get a move on!

December: Well that brief spurt of work at the end of November really helped get a lot of it down, but I still need to finish the damn thing, re-draft it, polish it, check it, print it, and get it sent - oh hell and work's really piling up in other places too!

But I got the work done...

Today: It's finished; it's posted; and I'm very pleased with the end result! Now there's a good feeling of satisfaction. Even if I don't win (and the chances of me winning are very slim) I have a pretty damn good script that can easily be turned into a sitcom script and six-episode plan.

***

I was out last night with Ian and the gang from the screenwriting course, in the Princess Louise pub in Holborn (which, thanks to hearing the Central Line tube announcements every day as I pass through the station, I have now started pronouncing "Ho-bun"). It's a quaint old place that is at the same time inviting, relaxing, annoying and scuzzy. Inviting because it's crowded in that nice, welcoming way and has lots of nooks, crannies and corner tables; relaxing due to a roaring open fire; annoying because the clientele don't seem to appreciate the quaintness and they hog all the nooks and corner tables unnecessarily; and scuzzy because you find the pretty vases dotted around the bar are, on closer inspection, stuffed with crisp wrappers and cigarette butts, the carpet is grubby and the place stinks of smoke.

But my night wasn't about the pub - it was about the company. And what great company it was!

***

Today's work: A step outline of ENCHANTED. The aim is to start and finish it, but for now I'm happy just to get started. Now where the hell are my notes?!

I'm a journo now

2006-11-28T16:22:00.000Z

My first paid article, an interview with Chris Priest on The Prestige, is now up on the Sci Fi Channel's UK website. Here's to it being the first of many!

Currently working on: my sitcom idea Scribblers, adapting it for the Cobravision screenwriting competition, and my screenplay Enchanted.

Currently found at: an evening course on screenwriting run by Initialize Films. These guys really know how to write scripts, and how to teach!

Contentment is Natural Wealth

2006-10-07T22:08:00.000Z

ENCHANTED was turned down for funding.

This is good news, of sorts - it means I'm free to do what I want with it, not what the Film Council tell me to do with it. Which would have been fine too: I'm not precious about my work.

Well, not in that way.

Good news: seems I'll be writing for The End Is Nigh. And there's plenty other things in the mix too, which'll keep me busy if not always paid. Good thing I don't mind much about that either.

Busy Bee

2006-09-02T17:27:00.000Z

Work has stepped up more than a few notches of late, hence the lack of blog-time. I currently have too many projects on the go but, fortunately, lots of free time and not too many deadlines to meet.

Good News/Bad News

Well, mostly good...

I finished the treatment for ENCHANTED recently and sent it off to the UK Film Council for a funding application - I'll hear within eight weeks if they've accepted it or not.

My short story Thomas & Clarissa was rejected for Polyphony 6 (annoyingly I found out via the website, although it could just be that I missed the message due to problems with email).

Finished a final polish on INCARNATE and posted it to an agent for consideration. I've also finished lots more shorts and am currently switching my head from edit mode to mail-out mode, so stay tuned for news.

I'm now officially Production Editor (as well as Features) for Matrix Magazine, which is very exciting.

Lots more ideas are in the mix, including TV pitches for a sit-com called SCRIBBLERS and a series called MARLOWE; several comic/graphic novel ideas; and an art exhibition designed for children.

East End Film Festival

2006-05-04T08:35:00.000Z

On Tuesday I went along to the East End Film Festival's 'Meet the Experts' event. You sign up to see four different experts, ranging from writers to producers to fund managers and so. All the experts were lovely and extremely helpful, giving me some great advice, tips and inside info.

Jack Arbuthnot, a Development Executive for the UK Film Council, advised us about funding which seems a lot more supportive than you'd think!

"The UK Film Council's Development Fund aims to broaden the quality, range and ambition of British film projects and talent being developed. More specifically, the aim is to raise the quality of screenplays from the UK through targeted development initiatives."

The only proviso is that your project must be UK based (obviously) and a feature-length theatrical film (ie cinema, not tv or shorts). Check out their website for more information.

Long time, no post

2006-04-04T12:52:00.000Z

It's been exactly a month since my last post - a month of heavy lifting, endless unpacking and stress. My new home on Bethnal Green Road is lovely, except it's way too small for all the books Tom and I own! The study is the only room not finished - that's where we've put all the boxes filled with stuff we don't know what to do with yet, or stuff we plan to eBay when we (eventually) get an internet connection. My desk is about the only uncluttered surface.

I'm now settled into a new routine and getting lots of work done. Since discovering it takes almost exactly the same amount of time to walk to work as it does to catch the bus, I now don't need to worry about missing the number 72 / getting stuck in traffic / having to recharge my Oyster Card. This has led to much less stressful mornings and a much calmer and more productive disposition.

The script writing is going really well, and I've penned quite a few journalism articles over the past couple of weeks. The novels have taken a bit of a back seat for now, mostly because I need to knuckle down and get something finished (if only to remind myself that I am capable of finishing something) and the script is the piece that has the best 'flow'. Once that's done, I'll be finishing Glass and Shadows & Ashes in no time! That's the plan, anyway...

Scripting & Packing

2006-03-04T10:17:00.000Z

Its been a while since I last posted because I've just been so bloody busy. New job, old job, flat hunting, Matrix, websites, writing, scripting - oh, yeah, and that little thing called 'life' crammed somewhere in between.

The script, WINGS, has gone through a major planning session (thanks to Tom) and now has a shiny new title, maybe. I'm still seeing whether or not it fits. Today I'm going to be putting down a load of scenes ("putting down" as in pen to paper, not what vets do) in between lots of packing. Today, I'm packing clothes - at least I can pretend like I'm going on holiday...

Old Fiction

2006-02-05T11:57:00.000Z

I've been clearing up the office in preparation for moving house (a process that is going to take several weeks, at least), and found a load of old writing from years back. I threw a small amount of it away - hardcopy duplicates of stuff I have on disk, and don't need any more - but I will keep most of it (albeit locked away where no one except me can ever get to it).

I even found a "portfolio" of samples of my "best" work, ha ha! (Mind you, I'm sure in five years' time I'll look back on what I'm writing now with the same pitying derision.)

It's strange, how you get better so quickly but never get good enough. Or perhaps strange isn't the word - maybe it's the opposite...

Scripts

2006-01-28T14:26:00.000Z

Was up until 2am a few nights ago drafting ideas for a film script that popped into my head while I was trying to sleep. Since then I've written the first few scenes and know exactly where it's going, how it gets there and what happens at the end, so it should be a fairly easy task to put it all down on paper.

I used to write film scripts when I was younger, and even got one accepted by a (very) small film production company a few years back (although it never amounted to anything). However, the few tentative contacts I used to have are long gone, so I'm left wondering what to do with this script when I've finished with it. How do I sell it, and to whom? What should I expect? It's like a whole new arena to which I haven't even got the map yet.

EDIT: The script is called WINGS, by the way.

In other news...

2006-01-17T16:32:00.000Z

...I have given up smoking. Hurrah!

New Short

2006-01-17T15:55:00.000Z

I've spent most of today writing a new short story, Etiquette for a Vampire. I'm not all that confident that it'll be good enough (or funny enough) to sell, but it was good exercise for the writing muscles, and hey, you never know!

I haven't been keeping to my goal of one short a week - it's more like one a month - but my novel/script writing is going well, so it's a worthwhile compromise.

Rejection

2006-01-11T10:26:00.000Z

My short story Storm was rejected by Albedo One at 64 days. Ah well. Onwards.

New Year

2006-01-09T08:12:00.000Z

Well I'm now thoroughly back into writing after the tumultuous upheaval that is Christmas and New Year. I've broken the 30k barrier on Glass, which is always the tricky part, and am plugging away regularly (averaging about 1,100 words per day, about four days a week). I'd like to get that up to 1,500 a day, five days a week (or ideally six), but I am well practised in setting myself targets I can't possibly hit and then being very diappointed in myself, so I'm happy with this for now.

This year will see a lot of changes, I hope - I plan to stretch myself in lots of new ways including scriptwriting (which I used to do at college, but haven't tried again since) and comedy (which I've never really done - how do I know if I'm funny?). There are two projects lined up for the latter - a co-written novel, which already has 27k under its belt, called Shadows & Ashes; and an as-yet untitled sit-com, which may or may not amount to anything.

So far, everything's looking on target. But it's only week two of the new year, so fingers crossed...

Useful Tools

2005-12-08T12:03:00.000Z

I've started using these - BackPack and Writeboard. They are basically online storage dumps for your words, musings and other ideas. They're really quite basic in and of themselves, but after a little time spent fiddling about they've turned out very useful. I no longer have to worry about losing all my data if there's a fire or whatever in the office - now I can just worry about losing all the passwords...

I've added the links to the sidebar on the right.

I say... be complete

2005-12-02T21:14:00.000Z

25,000 / 90,000
(27.8%)

Working hard on Glass. It's a hard slog, with a long way still to go, but I'll get there. Trying half-heartedly to give up smoking seems in turn to help and to not help - "I can have a cigarette when I'm done with this chapter... grrrrr, screw this, I'm having a smoke!" - although most of the time it doesn't matter either way. The words are what matters.

To misquote Fight Club - I say... be complete.

Fever Dream II

2005-11-28T14:16:00.000Z

I've finally completed Fever Dream. It has a shiny and bright new ending, and I'm very pleased. The only problem now is to find a market for it!

Thanks Tom for your comment on the last post - much appreciated!

Fever Dream

2005-11-27T20:27:00.000Z

Well, Fever Dream *was* complete... and then I deleted the ending. I knew it wasn't right when I was writing it, and it's still not right (did I think it would change magically overnight all by itself? Don't be silly, Claire).

Where does the story end? I don't know. I've been hoping to find out but still no luck. My deadline for this piece is in a couple of weeks, and that's for the polished, shiny, final-draft version, not a gross incomplete thing like a mangy, half-blind puppy with only three legs.

For Christ's sake, it's only a short story. Just over 4,000 words (well, it was). What's so hard about that, eh?

Hmm.

I think I'll just go and get on with it - something's bound to work out... I hope...

Accomplishment

2005-11-24T16:01:00.000Z

Just finished the Matrix article, and am very pleased with it. I'll post the link when it's up on the website.

A Day of Words

2005-11-24T12:30:00.000Z

I wanted to amend what I said in my last post about being lazy. In truth it's more the case that I'm unfocussed right now - I keep flitting between things, with four novels on the go (that's right, there are two more I haven't mentioned - Omega and Red Dreaming), plus trying to keep to the short-story-a-week goal. I have so many ideas in my head that I want to get out but I can't seem to sit and do just one, so I end up writing a bit of this, a bit of that, and pretty soon I'm lost.

I used to be able to work through something from start to finish pretty easily - but I guess, in hindsight, I didn't really know what I was doing, and now I do it's a lot more complicated than I first thought. But damn it, why do I have to make it worse!

Today is a day of words. I have all day to myself to sit and write - my goal is a short story and an article for Matrix, although I've just done 700 words for Red Dreaming instead! Ho hum. At least I'm not being lazy.

Short Fiction

2005-11-22T16:55:00.000Z

Just finished a new piece of short fiction, titled Fever Dream. I'm very pleased with it, but it needs a polish before I send it out. I'm trying to write one short story a week for the next few months - I need the practice and also it'll be good to have stuff out there!

Glass is on the back-burner at the moment, due to my being stuck. And lazy too, I guess. Incarnate is... well... yeah, I'm lazy. *cracks whip*

Today my short Chasing the Ghost got rejected by Tales of the Unanticipated, at 33 days.

Welcome

2005-11-20T11:45:00.000Z

Hello, welcome, etc.

So what's this blog all about? Well, unlike my LiveJournal blog, which is just a load of uninteresting bollocks about my life, I'll be using Blogger to post news about my writing - short stories, novels, journalism. You'll find none of that, "Today I went to the corner shop" crap here.

There probably won't be much about my work to begin with, what with being unpublished an' all, but stick with me, we'll get there!

Works currently in the mix: The BSFA's Matrix Magazine, of which I am co-editor; Glass, a cyberpunk novel, half of which is drafted; Incarnate, a contemporary fantasy (written under the pseudonym Samantha Corvin), which has gone through many drafts and is currently in another one; plus several short stories floating around.

This blog with eventually be embedded in a website, but for now it can run free and wild on the plains of the internet!

But enough about all this. I have work to do.