The Creative Well: Part 3. The Fall

The Creative Well: Part 3. The Fall

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In my third and final part of The Creative Well, I’m sharing my love and enthusiasm for The Fall. BBC 2 Thursdays.

I came to this drama late, having read positive comments about it on Facebook. It’s a police thriller, starring Gillian Anderson as DSI Stella Gibson, and the man who is to play Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades film, Jamie Dornan, as the serial killer, Paul Spector.

As viewers, we are shown the murderer from the first scene. We are treated to watching DSI Gibson and her team unravel the clues that hopefully will lead to an arrest. We are yet to see if she catches her man.

It is an absorbing drama, excellently acted and superbly written. Gillian Anderson has very little dialogue, yet I’m certain I know what’s going through her mind, such is her skill.

I’m drawn in by the intensity. I’m totally focused on the visuals, and listen to every single word spoken. There is no stuffing – no padding – everything in the script is there to move the story forward, create suspense or explain motives. I’m watching every action and reaction, as each expression and every tiny movement has meaning. I find myself wondering how the writer, Allan Cubbitt, describes this within the script.

It’s a master class in how to write, act and portray great characters and plotlines, and I find it hugely inspiring.

Which TV shows or films have topped up your creative well?

Laura x

The Creative Well: Part 2. Paloma.

The Creative Well: Part 2. Paloma.

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I am a huge Paloma Faith fan and there have been many times I’ve turned to her music for inspiration. On occasion, lyrics have triggered thoughts that led to me solving plot problems in my novels, and I’ll quite often play particular songs from her albums to set the mood and tone of the scene I’m writing.

Paloma is one of the artists I would travel miles to see and hear perform live.

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Our trip to Bath at the end of November was built around a Paloma gig at the wonderful art deco Bath Forum. As soon as my friend and I arrived and parked the car, we went in search of the Forum, only to discover the car park was right next door. The crew was unloading the lorry with the instruments and set and there was a part of me that wondered if we’d see Paloma enter the building.

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The Forum
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The gig was outstanding – beautifully crafted, with endless energy and excellent musicianship from Paloma and the band, delivered with humour, passion and emotion, all of which drew me in. I admire Paloma’s creativity and her ability to connect. For me, she achieves in the music world all that I strive to achieve in the writing world.

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Once again, a plot problem I’ve been struggling with was resolved by listening to Paloma, only this time it wasn’t through the lyrics of a song, but in her funny and chatty link to Ready For The Good Life. I’m trying to work out why this happens. Is it because we both write about romance and relationships?

How have your plot problems been resolved?

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We didn’t see Paloma enter the building, but I live in hope that I will one day meet her to thank her for helping keep my creative well topped up.

Did I mention I’m a huge Paloma faith fan?

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In my final part of the mini series, I’ll be taking a look at a recent TV drama that has my mind buzzing.

Take care.

Laura x