Yak Shaving

I spent a good part of Wednesday afternoon at work trying to solve a technical problem several levels removed from the problem I really wanted to solve. Apparently this is known as yak shaving.

Wiktionary has a formal definition here.

The term seems to derive from an episode of Ren and Stimpy.

I want to write a show that spawns terms that enter everyday usage. Whichever Simpsons writer first came up with "D'oh!" is now an integral part of English-speaking culture. Ditto for Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews for coining "feck", which I'm told didn't exist as a swear word pre-Father Ted.

Today a sitcom, tomorrow the world. Who could ask for more power than that?

Could do Better, See Me

Between wedding planning and the new job I've done absolutely bugger-all writing in the past two months. Hell, it's been weeks since I've even managed to blog about my bugger-all writing.

Who knew that wedding planning, even for a small ceremony, could suck so much of my time, energy and money? Anyone who's married, I suppose. I fantasise on a daily basis about just saying screw it all and eloping.

Oh, and I've also taken up BMX. I haven't done any races yet, but I've bought all the equipment and been to the local track several times. I even had my first kiss with the pavement today, trying to ride down a flight of stairs on my way home from training. You may point and laugh; it's no more than I deserve.

Anyway, getting back on topic, there are two scripts I want to kick into shape: my steampunk feature, which is still languishing at draft 1.25, and the spec Radio 4 Afternoon Play I wrote in June, which based on feedback is going to become a sitcom pilot.

Right, I've got an idea. I'll force myself to write by making a public pledge and inviting mockery and ridicule if I fail. Hear ye! I swear before the blogosphere, I will write this weekend, and if I do not, may all my fellow bloggers jeer me until I cry like a little girl.

If that doesn't work, I don't know what will.