#The Terrance Dicks Award For Writers

[diddlydumpodcast]

Paul Cornell receiving his Terrance Dicks Writers Award at the DWAS Capitol 2024 convention.

[doctorwhonews]

Steven Moffat wins Terrance Dicks Award For Writers

http://dlvr.it/SmX4rn

[downthetubes]

Gary Russell wins The Terrance Dicks Award For Writers

Gary Russell wins The Terrance Dicks Award For Writers

Doctor Who author, comics editor and writer and audio and TV producer Gary Russell was announced as the inaugural recipient of The Terrance Dicks Award For Writers last weekend, at a ceremony at the Doctor Who Appreciation Society‘s convention The Capitol Five, in front of a packed house at the Crowne Plaza, London-Gatwick. Gary received the award, a statue of The Master crafted by Gary Glover…

[isagrimorie]

I’m so glad I got the 2021 Doctor Who Yearbook because it has the Jodie Whittaker interview and features on series 12 episodes but most importantly, has an interview with Maxine Alderton!

I knew that Maxine Alderton was a writer for Emmerdale, I think one of Britain’s long running soaps (which is apparently based in Yorkshire?). I didn’t know she actually is a beloved Emmerdale writer and even earned the nickname ‘Queen Maxine’ from Emmerdale fans, and you know what? She earned it.

The first time I read about Maxine Alderton was in Reddit where, of course, they began to sneer at Alderton’s credentials as (an awarded and prolific) Soap writer forgetting that their beloved Terrance Dicks and Russell T Davies trace their writing roots from Soap Operas.

Alderton even pointed out how writing for soaps was a great prep for writing for Doctor Who: “You’re constantly writing in soap, so you’re constantly using that muscle. We’re used to changes, like characters not being available, having to rewrite a scene with someone else, hitting tight deadlines -- we’re very flexible and pretty much bombproof.”

This is also why Maxine was able to write for a real big cast without losing  focus on who the main cast are and the Doctor at the center.

Also, it seemed Alderton was an X-Files fan but was actually she was more, surprisingly (to me) drawn to Torchwood.

Chris Chibnall apparently gave Maxine Alderton a blank canvas to write the episode, I don’t think he even gave Ed Hime and what’s that dude’s name... Praxeus and Kerblam guy that kind of freedom.

Maxine Alderton chose Mary Shelley and Frankenstein because: ‘it was the birth of science fiction. I feel so cmfortable with that era; it’s intense and romantic. I thought that if anything would be my one shot to get into the show, it was the most natural choice.”

I love how Maxine described her younger self as a ‘dramatic English lit student’, she did a whole module on the Romantics and it’s during her research when she hit on Byron’s Darkness and immediately thought ‘She was the Universe‘ has to be the Doctor.

I’m also really glad that Maxine was fond of Claire, I could feel it whenever I watch Haunting of Villa Diodati.

“In preparation for writing her script, Maxine did a complete rewatch of the revived show-- “I wept when the Tenth Doctor left” -- and saw every Cybermen episode, including 2017′s World Enough and Time. “I was trying to connect with the emotional angle because that was going to be Thirteen’s freshest battle with them. What happened to Bill in that episode was particularly difficult to watch with the body horror. The Doctor would be thinking of that.”

I know it’s already been said, even by Jodie herself but having the writer herself mention that was the intent of “I won’t lose anyone else to that!” was because of Bill, was because at that moment Bill Potts was alive in the Doctor’s head.

“I think what really interested me was the burden the Doctor carries,” says Maxine thoughtfully, “of having been alive for so long, to have faced battles and witnessed so much. I wanted to see how that worked alongside the lightness Jodie brings to Thirteen.”

God, I love this. I love the way Maxine talks about the Doctor. I need her to be a major part of series 13 now that Vinay Patel (as far as I remember) is moving on to produce his own show.

And! And, people who said that Mary Shelley wrote the Monster/Creature in Frankenstein as what she hoped Ashad was? It’s what Maxine intended!

[oliverphisher]

George Ivanoff

George Ivanoff is an author. He lives in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.

He has written over 100 books for children and teenagers, including fiction and non-fiction. He has written school readers, library reference books, chapter books, novelettes, novels and even a short story collection. He has books on both the Victorian Premier’s and the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge booklists.

George’s latest series of books is OTHER WORDS. With this series George has ventured into the realms of science fiction and fantasy, two of his favourite genres, in order to tell stories about ordinary kids facing extraordinary circumstances. There are 4 books so far.

The Treasure of Dead Man’s Cove (You Choose) By George Ivanoff

George’s has written 13 books in his interactive You Choose series. You Choose: The Treasure of Dead Man’s Cove won the 2015 YABBA in the “Fiction for Younger Readers” category; and You Choose: Alien Invasion From Beyond the Stars got an Honour Award in the KOALAs in 2016 and 2017.

His teen science fiction novel, Gamers’ Quest (2009), won a Chronos Award for speculative fiction. The sequel, Gamers’ Challenge (2011), was shortlisted for the same award. And the final book in the Gamers trilogy, Gamers’ Rebellion (2013), also won a Chronos Award.

George has also written a series of adventure books for kids — RFDS Adventures. The four books in this series were published in 2016.

George also writes short stories and articles for adults as well as kids. Of all these, he is most proud to have had the opportunity to write a Doctor Who story for the Short Trips: Defining Patterns anthology (Big Finish, UK, 2008).

Occasionally, George has been known to moonlight as an actor. He has had small roles in numerous productions including the television series Neighbours and the feature films Frozen Butterflies and William Kelly’s War. He recently guest starred in an episode of the audio series Night Terrace.

George eats too much chocolate, drinks too much coffee and watches too much Doctor Who. He will sometimes indulge in a nice bottle of wine or a single malt Scotch.

He has one wife, two children, two cats and several chickens. And he is very content!

What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life? 

The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet By Eleanor Cameron

The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron  —  This is the book that turned me into a reader.

Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth By Terrance Dicks

Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth by Terrance Dicks — I have lost count of the number of times I have read this book. Dicks is one of my writing heroes and one of the reasons I wanted to become a writer.

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files) By Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

Illuminae, by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff — This book takes such a different and innovative approach to narrative. It made me want to be a better writer and take more creative risks.

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?

That $99 bottle of Japanese whiskey had a pretty good impact.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? 

It taught me to never give up and to never take success for granted.

Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?

“Always try to be nice but never fail to be kind. ”

It’s from an episode of Doctor Who – “Twice Upon a Time”, written by Steven Moffat.

What is one of the best investments in a writing resource you’ve ever made? 

Pen and paper.

What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love? 

I collect sonic screwdriver toys. (It’s a Doctor Who thing, for those of you who are wondering.)

In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life? 

I’ve realised that what other people think of me really isn’t all that important.

What advice would you give to a smart, driven aspiring author? What advice should they ignore? 

Read as much as you can. Write as much as you can. And never give up.

Ignore advice insisting that you write every day. Write whenever you get the chance, be that every day, every second-day, or once a week. The important thing is to write.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession often? 

That you need to work on raising your social media profile before approaching publishers with your writing. I think it’s far more important to work on your writing.

In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)? 

I’ve become better at saying no to people wanting me to read and comment on their work. I’m really not very good at assessing a piece of writing. I can tell you if I liked it or not, but I’m not great at explaining why or how it could be made better. I guess that’s why I’m an author and not an editor.

What marketing tactics should authors avoid?

Avoid constantly filling your social media with self-promotion. It’s a great way to lose followers.

When you feel overwhelmed or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? 

I go jogging. It clears my head and makes me feel better. Great for writer’s block.

Any other tips?

Write what you want to write, rather than what you think other people want you to write.

________

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source https://www.thecommunitywriter.com/blog/george-ivanoff

[flauntpage]

More Buyouts and Layoffs For Philadelphia Sports Media

Philadelphia’s largest newsroom continues to get smaller.

Sources tell Crossing Broad that the most recent round of buyouts and layoffs will see Mike Kern and Dick Jerardi leave the Philadelphia Media Network before the end of the year. Kern is reportedly taking a buyout. It’s not clear if Jerardi is doing the same or simply retiring.

Daily News scoreboard editor Bob Vetrone Jr. also confirmed his departure on Twitter:

I will not be dressing up tonight but in 2018 I will be dressing as a former @PhillyDailyNews employee; Taking a buyout & moving on …

— Bob Vetrone Jr. (@BoopStats) October 31, 2017

ICYMI – I will be taking a buyout from the @PhillyDailyNews as of Jan. 1, 2018 … Some sketchy blueprints for my future … Stay tuned …

— Bob Vetrone Jr. (@BoopStats) November 1, 2017

Jerardi spent years 33 years churning out high-quality stories, mostly on college basketball and horse racing. He was known for his decades of Big 5 basketball coverage and was recently honored at the Coaches vs. Cancer lunch:

Highlight of Coaches vs Cancer lunch: The coaches honored this man. http://pic.twitter.com/zsTcbuWmhE

— Mike Jensen (@jensenoffcampus) November 8, 2017

I know this definitively … Here's the complete list of people who covered the Big Five better than Dick Jerardi over past 30 years:

— Mike Jensen (@jensenoffcampus) November 8, 2017

Jerardi has recently worked a couple of side gigs, doing Penn State basketball radio broadcasts and co-hosting a weekly horse racing show.

Kern started back in 1980 and specialized in college sports and golf, coverage that won him awards from the Golf Writers Association of America and International Network of Golf. He’s a former president of the Philadelphia Sports Writers and appeared frequently on Daily News Live, before NBC Sports Philadelphia changed their afternoon programming to more generic fare.

The departure of Kern and Jerardi will leave the company with two college sports writers in Marc Narducci and Joe Juliano. Mike Jensen also covers college sports as a columnist and feature writer, so it’s unclear if his role will change.

A lot of great college sports coverage is eclipsed by our professional teams.

Consider the coverage distribution here. PMN has four full-time Eagles writers in Zach Berman, Jeff McLane, Les Bowen, and Paul Domowitch. There are four full-time columnists in Marcus Hayes, Bob Ford, Mike Sielski, and David Murphy. Six of those eight travel to Birds games, and I’m pretty sure all eight of them go to home games. They’ll occasionally pop up at Sixers games, which are covered by Keith Pompey, Sarah Todd, and sometimes Narducci. There are three Phillies writers and two Flyers writers, while Ed Barkowitz, John Smallwood, and Jonathan Tannenwald do a bit of everything.

PMN is looking to downsize by 30 to 35 employees while also hiring ten digitally-focused journalists:

“Inquirer and Daily News print advertising has declined faster than it can be replaced with newer sources of revenue such as digital advertising, which the company says requires it to cut costs.

But PMN is also encouraged by some early investments. The company last month began charging readers who click on more than 10 stories for further access to Philly.com, and those online subscriptions are “off to a good start,” (publisher Terrance C.Z.) Egger said.

Employees who lack digital skills or are uncomfortable with the newsroom changes can “self-select” their departure, he added. Egger credited top newsroom executives for crafting a buyout offer that was considerate to employees.”

Also, as part of the restructuring at NBCSP, longtime managing editor Andy Schwartz was let go. Schwartz was credited with building the site’s written coverage from the ground up.

At PhillyVoice, Phillies writer Ryan Lawrence will be out of a job come 2018– he was laid off along with two non-sports staffers. Rich Hofmann Jr. left in September to join The Athletic and Kyle Neubeck replaced him as the site’s Sixers writer.

Longtime Phillies writer Kevin Cooney was let go by Gatehouse Media, which bought the newspapers and digital properties previously owned by Calkins Media. Tom Moore has also moved to a more generic role at the publications which include the Bucks County Courier Times, The Intelligencer, and the Burlington County Times.

More Buyouts and Layoffs For Philadelphia Sports Media published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

[downthetubes]

Doctor Who Appreciation Society launches The Terrance Dicks Award For Writers

Doctor Who Appreciation Society launches The Terrance Dicks Award For Writers

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society has announced The Terrance Dicks Award For Writers, in memory of the much-loved, and highly influential, writer who passed away in 2019. The Terrance Dicks Award For Writers, designed by Gary Glover of Mooncrest Models The award will recognise those whose writing across screen, audio, book and magazine have contributed to, and enhanced, the worlds of Doctor…

[oliverphisher]

George Ivanoff

George Ivanoff is an author. He lives in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.

He has written over 100 books for children and teenagers, including fiction and non-fiction. He has written school readers, library reference books, chapter books, novelettes, novels and even a short story collection. He has books on both the Victorian Premier’s and the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge booklists.

George’s latest series of books is OTHER WORDS. With this series George has ventured into the realms of science fiction and fantasy, two of his favourite genres, in order to tell stories about ordinary kids facing extraordinary circumstances. There are 4 books so far.

George’s has written 13 books in his interactive You Choose series. You Choose: The Treasure of Dead Man’s Cove won the 2015 YABBA in the “Fiction for Younger Readers” category; and You Choose: Alien Invasion From Beyond the Stars got an Honour Award in the KOALAs in 2016 and 2017.

His teen science fiction novel, Gamers’ Quest (2009), won a Chronos Award for speculative fiction. The sequel, Gamers’ Challenge (2011), was shortlisted for the same award. And the final book in the Gamers trilogy, Gamers’ Rebellion (2013), also won a Chronos Award.

George has also written a series of adventure books for kids — RFDS Adventures. The four books in this series were published in 2016.

George also writes short stories and articles for adults as well as kids. Of all these, he is most proud to have had the opportunity to write a Doctor Who story for the Short Trips: Defining Patterns anthology (Big Finish, UK, 2008).

Occasionally, George has been known to moonlight as an actor. He has had small roles in numerous productions including the television series Neighbours and the feature films Frozen Butterflies and William Kelly’s War. He recently guest starred in an episode of the audio series Night Terrace.

George eats too much chocolate, drinks too much coffee and watches too much Doctor Who. He will sometimes indulge in a nice bottle of wine or a single malt Scotch.

He has one wife, two children, two cats and several chickens. And he is very content!

What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life? 

The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron  —  This is the book that turned me into a reader.

Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth by Terrance Dicks — I have lost count of the number of times I have read this book. Dicks is one of my writing heroes and one of the reasons I wanted to become a writer.

Illuminae, by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff — This book takes such a different and innovative approach to narrative. It made me want to be a better writer and take more creative risks.

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?

That $99 bottle of Japanese whiskey had a pretty good impact.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? 

It taught me to never give up and to never take success for granted.

Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?

“Always try to be nice but never fail to be kind. ”

It’s from an episode of Doctor Who – “Twice Upon a Time”, written by Steven Moffat.

What is one of the best investments in a writing resource you’ve ever made? 

Pen and paper.

What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love? 

I collect sonic screwdriver toys. (It’s a Doctor Who thing, for those of you who are wondering.)

In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life? 

I’ve realised that what other people think of me really isn’t all that important.

What advice would you give to a smart, driven aspiring author? What advice should they ignore? 

Read as much as you can. Write as much as you can. And never give up.

Ignore advice insisting that you write every day. Write whenever you get the chance, be that every day, every second-day, or once a week. The important thing is to write.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession often? 

That you need to work on raising your social media profile before approaching publishers with your writing. I think it’s far more important to work on your writing.

In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)? 

I’ve become better at saying no to people wanting me to read and comment on their work. I’m really not very good at assessing a piece of writing. I can tell you if I liked it or not, but I’m not great at explaining why or how it could be made better. I guess that’s why I’m an author and not an editor.

What marketing tactics should authors avoid?

Avoid constantly filling your social media with self-promotion. It’s a great way to lose followers.

When you feel overwhelmed or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? 

I go jogging. It clears my head and makes me feel better. Great for writer’s block.

Any other tips?

Write what you want to write, rather than what you think other people want you to write.

________

Enjoyed this Q&A? Want to discuss in more depth? Join Community Writers. You'll get access to 100+ exclusive writing tips. Q&As with successful authors, an exclusive ebook on building an audience and much more. Sign-up for free as a community writer here