Cold Turkey

Right. Can I write this blog post before my chilli con carne is cooked? I've got 13 minutes.

Go!

After finishing the last draft of "Stuck Between Stations", I decided to take a week off writing. That and the day job were starting to take their toll. But, already I'm jonesing for scene headings and transitions.

Must go stir rice.

This has been compounded by the fact that, last night, I received a nice email from somebody. Well, the fact that he emailed was nice, the contents were not. It appears that this gentleman had inadvertently been sent my BBC Writers Room feedback. And it wasn't good news. He's putting it in the post to me. "Oh, well," I thought. "Another letter for the pile." and I went to bed.

But, this morning, I woke up and discovered I'd taken it really quite badly. I was in a quivering blue funk all through the drive to work. Even though I've got a proper prod co interested, who can take it through other channels to the Beeb, I really thought this bad boy was the one to pique the Writers Room' interest. 

While the prod co are having a read through of the new draft of "Stuck..." (already got some notes back. Could take things in a really interesting direction), my mind has returned to 'Four Horsemen" and, naturally, now I'm full of righteous indignation, the ideas are flooding out for that one, though I've promised myself I won't touch Celtx until next Monday. 

Still, I also said I wouldn't touch the fags again and I've bought a pack of those. No chuffing will-power. Still, my father didn't raise a quitter. 

Chilli and blog. Done.

Must go and save the burning rice. Love to you all. 

Sit-Com. A Different Way of Writing - Part 2

I'm on the 11th draft of "Stuck Between Stations". It's getting harder as each draft goes on.

The problem is, you write the first draft and it's packed with quality jokes. You know they're funny and insightful. As you re-draft, you're writing the same jokes over and over again and the repetition means they stop being funny to you. But, it's ok because you remember that they were funny once.

Now, 11 drafts in, I can't remember the original amusement I had writing them. It's lost in a fog of notes and re-writes. Lovingly crafted gags have fallen by the wayside in the name of pace and plot. That's no bad thing, by the way.

I tend to lose all objectivity at about this point and feel that I have no idea if what I'm changing is an improvement or just something different. I'm not doing anything wrong, just something different that's not right.

Still, hopefully I'll get to the end of this draft within the next few days, read it and realise that I was worrying about nothing. Hopefully.

The Waiting Game Part 2

It's been over four months since I had confirmation from the BBC Writers' Room that they received "Stuck Between Stations". 

This means either:

A) It is amazing and it's currently sat on the Head of BBC Comedy's Desk.

B) It is trapped under a heavy object in the readers' room.

C) It has spontaneously combusted. 

D) They're swamped.

Anybody know the turn around times they're working to at the moment. I emailed the Writers' Room on Wednesday, but I haven't got a reply yet.   

Notes From The Prod Co.

It seems, currently, that there's a lot of writing activity going on in the Blogosphere. Novels or screenplays, laptops or crayons, people look like they're getting their heads down and scribbling. More power to your elbows, kids.

For my part, I got the notes on "Stuck Between Stations" from the prod co. I met on Monday. My limited experience of these things seem to go "I love the script. It's perfect. Now, here's everything that's wrong with it."

And you know what? They're completely right. I went through the list and agreed with everything they said. You learn early on in this game that you're not going to make the best script you can on your own. You need that outside input. You're making this for other people to watch, so you need to know what other people are thinking.

I've sketched out a rough treatment for the new draft. I'm sad that some of my favourite jokes are going to have to fall by the wayside, but you've got to be ruthless, no matter how good that Scooby Doo joke is. Luckily, most of it is going to just be moving furniture around to help the pace and set up future episode plotlines. I'm chomping at the bit to get started and really excited. I'm actually writing something I'm really proud of and, for once, don't think I'll be wincing when I read it back in a few years time.

I couldn't do anything last night because the printer died, but that's okay. I've made a pledge not to write on Tuesdays because that's Battlestar Galactica night and I just feel really bad comparing my writing to that show.

I don't know for sure, but this might be the meaningful thing that I've been trying to write. And I've managed to retain some knob gags.

Let's all keep it up!

So Very Tired And Celebrity Spotting

Been up stupidly early these last two mornings. I keep thinking of jokes at about half past two in the morning and not been able to really get back to sleep until I've got up and written them into the script. Stupid jokes about Van Morrison. Well, they make me laugh...

The meeting yesterday went well. The producer is going to give me some notes for "Stuck Between Stations" (and he got the reference in the title. Always a good start) and I'm going to try a re-write. He also seemed pretty interested in "Four Horsemen" and wants to read that when I've got a half decent draft available. Don't want to say too much as I don't want to jinx things. And he might read this.

It's really pathetic that I still get little frissons of excitement when I see famous people in the street (and I've had lunch with Alun Armstrong, donchaknow?) Saw Rhy Ifans going into Quo Vadis and, later on, saw the Don himself, Richard Curtis. Unfortunately, he had gone before I could get to ask him whether he'd like to start being funny again. But I'm sure he's busy with Comic Relief...

Chapter 147: Upon Which Dave Received Some Good News

All the blogging guides on the web say "use photos in your posts", so here's the view from my laptop. 

I actually managed to make it half way towards work before the snow came down, people started crashing and I thought that I might as well give up and come home. 

Apparently, a work colleague took an hour to complete a journey that would normally take three minutes. All uphill. 

Anyway, The Agent emailed me this morning to tell me that a production company that's ACTUALLY MADE STUFF I'VE WATCHED ON THE TELLY really liked "Stuck Between Stations" and want to meet to discuss that and the other strange things in my head. Brap! As I believe the young people say these days.

Though, obviously, this all depends whether I can make it out of my driveway...