Postcard From The Edge

22 March 2006

A nifty little postcard dropped through my letter box today from the BBC Writersroom. My script From This Day Forth had arrived and the card informed me that I should hear from them within four months. I began to wonder what process scripts go through at the BBC Writersroom, so I decided to investigate.

I found this handy little flow chart on their website detailing what the stages your script is likely to go through. I hope you find it helpful.

3 days to go now and I'm so excited. The clue in the last blog was 'Hei, Hei'. It's Norwegian if you didn't know. I promise I WILL reveal all on Friday.

Hei, Hei, Mr. Postman

17 March 2006

As I sit here nibbling at a slice of cheese on toast ten letters have been written, ten treatments have been printed, ten envelopes addressed, all they need now are the stamps then they can be posted. Last month I sent out Sins of The Father and this month it's the turn of my calling card script From This Day Forth. After a couple of rewrites I'm finally pleased with this script so I hope it'll attract some strong interest. A copy of From This Day Forth is still with Celtic Films after they requested the script back in December.

I'm going to enter some of my scripts into as many competitions as I can. Reading other people's stories of how they got into the business I have realised that the more successful writers all won competitions and then went on to get work, using that script as their calling card. Can't help but try.

8 days to go now and for once I've given you a clue in this blog's title... and no, I'm not becoming a postman.

Blogtastic

16 March 2006

I have another blog. 'Why?' you might ask, 'isn't the one the lovely people at Moov2 did for you enough?' Yes it is but I don't want to fill up their server with the crap that floats around in my brain everyday. So I've come to a decision. The blog on this site will be purely for my work, what I'm writing, where I'm sending it and what response I receive. The other blog, located at Doms World, will concentrate on the theory of writing and any issues arising from it. There, that's settled then.

Only 9 days to go now. I promise I'll tell you soon... maybe.

How To Handle Rejection

14 March 2006

The familier thud of paper hitting the carpet and the rattle of the letter box as it swings shut; two sounds guaranteed to get a new writer rushing to the front door. My letter box went this morning. Another rejection letter this time from Scala Productions. I didn't bat an eyelid. I have a folder full of rejection letters, some good, some bad, but all adding fuel to my desire to be successful. The way I look at it is this; if a production company rejects your script it's not you they're rejecting. It's nothing personal they were just not interested in what you sent them this time. It doesn't mean they'll reject the next one... although they probably will.

11 days to go... maybe I'll tell you soon.

New Writers

10 March 2006

It looks like the BBC are taking their hunt for new writers seriously,

Just to remind you it's now 15 days to go. And no, I'm still not telling you.... yet.

A Writer's Life For Me

09 March 2006

I've started another rewrite on Where Angels Fear to Tread. After reading Writing for Television by William Smethurst I have realised that it's too static in places and too long for the medium. Hopefully if I'm satisfied with the rewrite I'll start sending it out next month. I think I'll start with the BBC Writersroom first. I'm also working on the treatment of Remember Me - working title which is coming on very well. It has now got to the stage where I can no longer put off doing research. Mr. Valentine, my feature comedy drama, is being put on the backburner for a while. It needs a major rewrite and I'd rather devote my time to projects that will give me a better chance of making some money.

On another front there are now only 17 days to go. 17 days to what you might ask? Ah, for the answer you'll have to wait and see.

Post It Note

08 March 2006

All I wanted was one envelope to post a script to the BBC in, just one envelope.

Two hours I wasted wandering around Bournemouth looking for just the right ones. Two bloody hours. You know the envelopes, the gusseted expansion ones you can send large documents in. You would think that a large high street chain like W H Smith's would have them? They had a whole shelf devoted to colour pens but only a tiny section for envelopes.

What about the Post Office? The Royal Mail loses a lot of letters in this area but the Post Office seem to lose the envelopes before you get the chance to post them. No luck there then.

Staples must have them then? 'We used to do them... I think,' was the answer I got from a dopey looking shop assistant who was eager to get to his lunch break. I took the catalogue, I'd had enough of dealing with people.

When I got home I found that Staples did indeed do the envelopes I wanted but you can only get them 250 at a time. Balls, I only bloody wanted one. I ordered them online anyway. Well that's another £30 out of my already very red looking bank balance and it looks like I'm going to have to start sending out a LOT MORE scripts very soon.