When scouting around for a new project, the one part I enjoy above all else is the research, as it means I can indulge in a huge amount of reading just for the sheer fun of it. Here’s a selection of reading matter, all of which is directly related to writing projects (both for now and for the immediate future):
The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind: Julian Jaynes (a relatively old book, but one that’s incredibly handy if you need a quick refresher on schizophrenia – and let’s face it, who doesn’t?)
My Bass and Other Animals - Guy Pratt
Strange Fascination – David Bowie, The Definitive Story – David Buckley
Bit of a Blur – Alex James
Blink – Malcolm Gladwell
The Corporation – Joel Bakan
In Praise of Slow – Carl Honoré
Celebrity and Power – P. David Marshall
Darker than the Deepest Sea: In Search of Nick Drake – Trevor Dann
Agent Zigzag – Ben Macintyre
Songs They Never Play on the Radio: Nico, The Last Bohemian – James Young
Gibraltar 1779-83: The Great Siege – René Chartrand
All of which suggests that I’m attempting to write a script about a schizophrenic bass playing celebrity, who brings down a major corporation utilising nothing but the power of a catchy bassline. I’m still trying to work a mention of Gibraltar in there somewhere, but it’s more difficult than you think...
Intrinsic Motivation
2 days ago
7 comments:
Research is generally not something I think of as fun. Although yesterday, when preparing to embark on a Doctor Who short story starring the Fourth Doctor and Leela, I realised what my research needed to be: watching some classic Doctor Who starring the Fourth Doctor and Leela. It was painless, I have to say.
Hang on a minute - that's not research, that's cheating (although I can see your point)! Every film I watch these days also tends to fall under the heading of 'research' as well (someone told me to watch Chinatown again the other day - not a problem!). My problem is that the research tends to get in the way of the writing, especially when it involves putting your feet up and watching a DVD...
I have never researched any of my specs I don't think - unless you count looking up the odd detail here and there, like what would happen if you get stabbed in the neck, etc. Films and research are not two things I see going together. It's not affected me: authentity (or lack of it) has never been raised in any of my coverage that I can think of.
I'm doing something at the moment that is so far out of my comfort zone that I have to research it(and it's not a spec). That said, the next spec I have my eye on is set in an industry where a certain amount of research is going to be pretty important. Horses for courses, my dear!
hello chip
sorry to cross threads/blogs here but you might wanna contact Bill Davies...
his dad is Andrew... the tv playwright/scriptwriter
speaking of bass players taking over the world he once included us in an episode of A Very Peculiar Practice...
and now I'll go back to my own little perch on the other side....
Worst research - health and safety regulations for slurry tanks. I think I'll write something about chocolate next time.
Wow - thanks Stephen - I might hassle Bill a little later and see what comes of it!
Rach - the grimmest research I've ever had to do was on Nazi racial hygiene! Knowing what I do about it, I think I'd prefer slurry tanks!
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