Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale
Dec. 29th, 2009 05:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Phew! I just finished RTD's Writer's Tale. I know, I know, it was published over a year ago. But I found it in Smiths about two weeks ago and finally bought it. Took me three whole days to finish it. And I mean without stopping. I am not a slow reader, either. :P
Ah, what the heck, it was brilliant.
It has put paid to some of my ridiculous notions about him having planned Every Single Little Thing right from the word dot, especially with Donna in Series 4. And, you know, he's human. I suppose I should be a bit sad about that, like the mystique's gone, or the Wizard of Oz is just a scared little man, or Dumbledore wasn't perfect (god, I was sad about Dumby!) but it's really just made my respect for him that much higher.
Apart from that, there's a huge amount of insight into the writing process, so it works for me on aspirational as well as fannish levels. It's given me lots to think about.
There are people that hate him because of CoE still. Hell, I say he rocks. Because if there's one thing this book has taught me: writing's bloody hard. And writing something that could have withstood the going over that fandom gave it? Nigh-on impossible.
I can't rewatch CoE yet, because it still has the power to make me miserable just thinking about it. I'd say that means he's done his job. :P
Ah, what the heck, it was brilliant.
It has put paid to some of my ridiculous notions about him having planned Every Single Little Thing right from the word dot, especially with Donna in Series 4. And, you know, he's human. I suppose I should be a bit sad about that, like the mystique's gone, or the Wizard of Oz is just a scared little man, or Dumbledore wasn't perfect (god, I was sad about Dumby!) but it's really just made my respect for him that much higher.
Apart from that, there's a huge amount of insight into the writing process, so it works for me on aspirational as well as fannish levels. It's given me lots to think about.
There are people that hate him because of CoE still. Hell, I say he rocks. Because if there's one thing this book has taught me: writing's bloody hard. And writing something that could have withstood the going over that fandom gave it? Nigh-on impossible.
I can't rewatch CoE yet, because it still has the power to make me miserable just thinking about it. I'd say that means he's done his job. :P
no subject
Date: 2009-12-29 07:10 pm (UTC)I can't rewatch CoE yet, because it still has the power to make me miserable just thinking about it. I'd say that means he's done his job. :P
Totally agree with you. It's not his job to make people happy. Instead he makes us care about his shows. Whatever people might think of RTD or Torchwood, I don't think there's anybody out there who was completely indifferent after watching CoE. And that's why I love him so much.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-29 10:25 pm (UTC)But actually, now I've read it, it's so much better than that. There's whole scripts in the works, you get to see how he lays out stage directions, changes the order of scenes, ruthlessly edits things out, how much of other people's scripts he completely rewrites but doesn't get credit for - it's fascinating.
(I'm not helping save you money, am I? XP Sorry, I'll stop now.)
Instead he makes us care about his shows. Exactly! ♥
no subject
Date: 2009-12-29 07:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-29 10:31 pm (UTC)But really worth the time and effort. It's not an easy read, there's lots of serious contemplation of humanity...actually, who am I kidding? It's 500 pages of him fancying the pants off Russell Tovey & GDL, and isn't that just hilarious. XD
no subject
Date: 2009-12-30 01:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-30 09:48 am (UTC)Next month there's another one coming out, the same book but with loads more pages added to it to cover what's happened since. I am so tempted. I know I will end up buying it, I know I will. I'm so un-restrained. x3 But it's over 300 pages, I can't miss that. How big will this book be now? Epic.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-30 11:58 am (UTC)Oh, the hardships of being a fangirl. :P