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Post by acousticwolf on May 8, 2016 8:00:35 GMT
Two years ago we heard the awful news that Paul Spragg had died. While most of us had never met Paul, many of us had been touched by his helpful, jovial and optimistic nature either through email or via the old forum. Our whole community was shocked by his passing and two years on, it is still hard to believe. BF have today announced a Short Trips writers competition in memory of Paul. I think this is a great way to remember him and to keep his values alive. Our thoughts and wishes are with Paul's family, his friends and his colleagues and hope they take some comfort in knowing how much Paul's memory still means to us. Full details here: www.bigfinish.com/news/v/the-paul-spragg-memorial-short-trip-competitionFrom BF's page: On May 8th 2014, Big Finish lost the much-loved Paul Spragg, producer's assistant by role, but a vital contributor across the company as a whole and to the people working within it.
To mark the anniversary of his death, we at Big Finish are establishing an annual Doctor Who short story competition, aimed at writers new to Big Finish, hoping to encourage them in the same way that Paul often did through his considerate caretaking of the Enquiries emails, letters and forum and Facebook posts.
Entrants to the competition are invited to submit a single page synopsis, and a single page of text from their story, with a deadline for entries of midnight on June 30th, 2016. All entries which conform to the rules of entry (see here) will be read by Short Trips producer, Ian Atkins, with the winner having their story commissioned, recorded by Doctor Who actor and Big Finish Executive Producer Nicholas Briggs, and presented on the Big Finish website as a free Doctor Who – Short Trips download from the end of 2016.Cheers Tony
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Post by bohnny on May 8, 2016 9:20:22 GMT
What a super idea!
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2016 10:50:03 GMT
A great idea! There is a lot of talent out there and the Short Trips range is a perfect introduction to Big Finish for them and their creative imaginings... it's a great way of keeping the memory of Paul Spragg alive too. Well done BF.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2016 11:39:19 GMT
What a jolly good idea all round.
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Post by Bazoolium on May 8, 2016 14:14:22 GMT
Has it really been two years. This is a great idea to remember Paul.
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aztec
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Post by aztec on May 8, 2016 20:51:15 GMT
I started listening to BF after Mr Spragg had already passed away, but I'm well aware of how loved and respected he was by everyone at BF and their customers, this is a wonderful way to remember and honor his legacy.
I doubt I have a creative bone in my body so I'll be giving this a miss, I'd rather listen to and enjoy the stories rather than deal with the stress of writing them!, this certainly sounds like a fun opportunity though and I'm sure some of the people here have a few ideas...
I wonder if the submissions are to be limited to TV continuity? If not, this would be a chance to explore underused companions, Fitz, Samson and Gemma or everyone's favourite shape-shifting penguin etc.
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Post by Audio Watchdog on May 8, 2016 20:59:07 GMT
A great tribute to the Spraggster. Get to writing folks!
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2016 21:06:30 GMT
Hang on. Can we enter multiple story ideas or just the one?
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Post by muckypup on May 8, 2016 21:32:45 GMT
I still miss Paul, it doesn't seem fair that I am here and he is not, he always had a kind word and wished me well, when I was so very poorly 4 years ago!
Great to remember him
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Post by mark687 on May 9, 2016 10:24:32 GMT
Updated rules of Entry
The Paul Spragg Memorial Short Trip Competition: Rules of Entry
This competition is currently OPEN, and will close at midnight (UK time) on 30th June 2016.
1. All entries must be submitted electronically, either as Word-compatible documents or PDF pages, sent to competitions@bigfinish.com
2. The synopsis must be a single page, approx 500 words
3. A second page (again, approx 500 words), showing an opening excerpt from the story, should also be a single page. This is to give a flavour of the writer's ability and intentions, and can change if the story is commissioned
4. Both pages should be marked with the writer's name and a contact email address
5. The story may be set within any Classic period of Doctor Who, defined as running from the 1st Doctor up to the 8th Doctor before Night of the Doctor
6. No established monsters can be used
7. The story should not have been published anywhere before
8. The winner will be informed in late July, and will be officially contracted to the work of a 5,000 word Short Trip story. As with all Big Finish writers, they will be expected to agree and meet all conditions, especially regards delivery on time. It is expected a first-draft delivery would be due early Autumn 2016
9. The BBC have to approve our usage of a winning story. Should there be unforeseen issues with the work, the writer will be invited to submit a new idea
10. No correspondence will be entered into
11. [Update following emails] Entry is eligible only to those who have never written for Big Finish before
12. [Update following emails] Any competitor can enter as many times as they like.
And according to this weeks Podcast the winning entry will be read by Nick Briggs
Regards
mark687
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Post by doctorkernow on May 9, 2016 21:41:51 GMT
Hello again. I cannot believe it is two years either. My thoughts are with Paul's family and friends at what must be a difficult time. I used to like his contributions to the old forum.
What a wonderful way to remember him. Now his name will be remembered in a positive, creative way every year. This competition encourages all those who used to complain about Big Finish stories to have a go themselves! Come and have a go if you think you can do better!
Now we can all see how difficult it can be to tell a story effectively. The word count is another hurdle. Ask my daughters, who both entered BBC radio 2's 500 words competition. Writing well is more difficult than people think.
Having said that, to have a go at creating a Who story that will be heard by other fans is a terrific opportunity. These chances only come round with the same frequency as Leicester winning the Premiership. Does anyone remember the DWM short story competition during the eighties? My teenage effort had the strange title The Temple of Mysterium; an opus featuring the 5th Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan. Such fun!
Will this forum be like a wild west town with tumbleweed blowing down the street as a gaggle of would be Big Finish authors sit tapping out short story ideas until the end of June?
Multiple entries?! Are they serious? They are going to be swamped. 500 words this year had 123,400 entries and they had teachers and librarians to help. Still, it is a marvellous idea.
Paul Spragg, today we remember with gratitude all your hard work and contributions that helped to make our favourite audio drama company a success.
Bonne chance mes amis.
Now then, let me see, got it! "The TARDIS landed with a wheezing, groaning sound..."
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2016 0:07:11 GMT
I'd love to write a Doctor Who ST story; it would include Daleks though... and not have the Doctor in it... and the Daleks would have to emerge victorious against the villains... and I can't write... so this competition is not for me! But a Short Trips writing competition is an idea that I welcome, plus we are all happy that Paul's name will live on through this competition too. So good luck to those that do cope with the rules of entry, I look forward to hearing the end results whenever they get released.
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Post by TinDogPodcast on May 10, 2016 8:19:11 GMT
Hang on. Can we enter multiple story ideas or just the one? Yes. Multiple is allowed
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Post by whiskeybrewer on May 10, 2016 12:48:56 GMT
This is a perfect way to remember him
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Post by ollychops on May 10, 2016 20:27:11 GMT
This is a wonderful way to remember Paul.
A part of me wants to enter this, because writing something for DW/BF would be a dream come true. However, I'm not the most confident writer, and it's thinking up a decent enough plot for it that would give me trouble...
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Post by TinDogPodcast on May 11, 2016 5:52:49 GMT
Ok.
I keep hearing... no ideas...
That's silly... what you are really doing is having ideas them saying... no that's not good enough.
My daughter has... story cubes.
They act as inspiration.
I will roll a few sets. Put the results here and see if it inspires any story's
Is that an idea?
Or do as 1970s producers did and just re tell some one else's story
(DUCKS BEHIND SOFA TO AVOID BEING HIT...)
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Tony Jones
Chancellery Guard
Professor Chronotis
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Post by Tony Jones on May 11, 2016 6:32:18 GMT
Most stories are retelling others at core
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Post by Whovitt on May 11, 2016 6:35:06 GMT
Ok. I keep hearing... no ideas... That's silly... what you are really doing is having ideas them saying... no that's not good enough. My daughter has... story cubes. They act as inspiration. I will roll a few sets. Put the results here and see if it inspires any story's Is that an idea? Or do as 1970s producers did and just re tell some one else's story (DUCKS BEHIND SOFA TO AVOID BEING HIT...) That's not a bad idea! The way I've always written stories is I come up with a small (usually terrible) idea and just run with it. I write the first page or so of the idea, then go back over and change the bits I don't like. As each 'draft' is written, you add more length and thus advance the plot further. Using this method, most of my ideas have developed into something much better than the original concept, usually by the third or fourth rewrite of the same material. Obviously this technique won't work for everyone, but I thought I'd offer it as advice none the less
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Post by seeley on May 11, 2016 6:58:50 GMT
Most stories are retelling others at core "Originality does not consist in saying what no one has ever said before, but in saying exactly what you think yourself." – James Stephens
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Tony Jones
Chancellery Guard
Professor Chronotis
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Post by Tony Jones on May 11, 2016 7:04:58 GMT
Ok. I keep hearing... no ideas... That's silly... what you are really doing is having ideas them saying... no that's not good enough. My daughter has... story cubes. They act as inspiration. I will roll a few sets. Put the results here and see if it inspires any story's Is that an idea? Or do as 1970s producers did and just re tell some one else's story (DUCKS BEHIND SOFA TO AVOID BEING HIT...) That's not a bad idea! The way I've always written stories is I come up with a small (usually terrible) idea and just run with it. I write the first page or so of the idea, then go back over and change the bits I don't like. As each 'draft' is written, you add more length and thus advance the plot further. Using this method, most of my ideas have developed into something much better than the original concept, usually by the third or fourth rewrite of the same material. Obviously this technique won't work for everyone, but I thought I'd offer it as advice none the less This is where the outline changes things. That has to be solid. Colin Baker cites it as why he has yet to write a BF apart from the Short Trip he did a while ago
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