My Computer Hates Me!

Yes, it has been a few days since my last post. A combination of tight deadlines, a long weekend of girlfriend goodness and a home computer that decided it didn't like me any more, meant trying to craft posts was becoming a frustrating experience.

Last night, I had hours of fun wiping the smug hard drive and reimaging my computer from scratch. Now it runs like Britney from a courthouse. It's suddenly a pleasure to use again.

But it does mean The Sunday Scribbler was noticeably absent last weekend. Don't fret, my eager little scribeophiles. Next Sunday sees the fantastic Alan Moore in the spotlight as I look at some of the best comic scripts ever produced. Expect freakiness.

Meanwhile, here are a few notes and bits of housekeeping.

Gaiman in Sydney

Neil Gaiman's blog is always great reading. He's currently in Sydney so I'm on the lookout. I'll be shaking hands with the master next Tuesday, May 6th, at  Books Kinokuniya, listening to his talk and hopefully getting him to scribble on a few things. My daughter, Hazel, is a huge Gaiman fan, ever since 'Coraline', and this will be her first time in the master's presence. But with 'Sandman' and 'Miracleman' to his credit as well, I'll be basking in comic goodness.

Kermodian Wittertainment

I know I've plugged this podcast before, but Mark Kermode's movie reviews never fail to make me grin and chuckle in a rather unsettling way on my walks into work on a Monday.

2000AD - The Future is Yesterday

Just goes to show how little faith the publishers had in '2000AD' when it was launched in 1977 as a new science fiction anthology comic. With a title destined to be outdated within 23 years, despite many British comics running for over 50, there is a certain shortsightedness about it all.

I love the comic. I can't admit to reading it as often any more - but I still buy collected editions of classic tales when I find them. I'm now tinkering with the idea of developing some Future Shock scripts for submission and have been researching the submission guidelines for writers. After all, many of today's biggest comic writers started out with Future Shock storylines in '2000AD', including this Sunday's star attraction, Alan Moore.

Watching...

• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - Best. Film. Ever.
• Eastern Promises - that bath-house scene. Ouch!
• Doctor Who Series 4 - my weekends are complete again
• Dexter Series 2 - my girlfriend and I are now thoroughly addicted
• Battlestar Galactica Series 4 - the final series... sob

Listening...

• Portishead - Third
• Moby - Last Night
• UNKLE - War Stories
• Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV

Coming in May, there are the final parts of The Professional Writer and Writing the Value Proposition, as well as more Sunday Scribblers. There will be my lessons from StumbleUpon as I collate advice, information and statistics to show the best ways of using the popular social network. I'm constructing a detailed look at the use of subtext in 'The Assassination of Jesse James...', further articles on superhero origins, comic book cliches, more on marketing techniques and any other bits and pieces that occur to me.

Enjoy.