This may be of interest to WWers. Shows a short clip of the planned TV show, including Carole Blake critiquing the start of a novel:

http://wannabeawritertvshow.com/

Tks , looks quite good , not sure if it's a pilot or what but read the comments and seems like there is plenty on submissions grr!!

It has the potential to be interesting, though I'm not sure how much of an audience it will get. The X-Factor for writers, it ain't!

Hmmm. Interesting. Carole Blake seemed rather horrified at how beginner-y that writer was. She's probably not used to telling people the basic stuff, hence "I'm not sure that you do". I could certainly see why CB said that, although it was a bit harsh, because the writer's tone when she said "I see what you mean" was clearly "I understand what you're saying but I'm not convinced".

I think it would have been kinder to get her some advice from an author first, when they could cover all the obvious stuff, and let her face an agent later on.

Deb

Like a lamb to the slaughter

Like a lamb to the slaughter

It was a bit, wasn't it? And if you look at the site, you can read her three chapters and vote on whether or not she should be published.

Currently the vote is 13 to 5 in favour....and I don't want to be unkind, but unless the 'mystery guest' has a bucket-full of magic dust, I think publication is going to be a little out of reach for a while.

13 to 5 in favour? Oh dear. I say that based on what came up in the film about her experience and "methods". I'm assuming it's not great. Who would be great with such little experience, without at least having taught themselves the basics?

The mystery guest was given away by the credits at the end, so my betting is Katie Fforde. Do you think she has magic dust to not just change chapter one into a brilliance which makes Carole Blake smile, but also enable the author to go forward with every other chapter sparkling too? Sadly, I think it might need a bit more effort than that, as we all know.

As you say, Jackie - if it was that easy we'd all be published in months.

If each of us had a non-time-limited expert sitting next to us we would learn much more quickly, so I guess this depends on how much time and input they are willing to give this woman. Might as well write it for her...

She reminds me of me about ten years ago, before I knew there were critique services and peer networks online. I'm glad no-one invited me then to take part in a TV show thinking it would make me a writer (although I'd probably have been too shy).

Hell! Brilliant idea for a programme - scary for the writer, but what an opportunity if you have done the work and got what it takes!
Thanks for posting Sharley.

Sharley - will you post this link on Word Cloud, please - excellent preparation for York's FoW!

I'll have a go, but I have never got the hang of what to do there! If it ends up in a strange place, please rescue it!

I found it where I expected it to be ... I think - not completely au fait with the site myself.

Oh goodness me! I will watch the rest through my fingers behind the soffa- but I will watch!