I am venturing into trying to write for theatre and television. It isn't easy! Does anyone out there feel that when they try to write something a nagging voice keeps twittering in their head saying, "It's not good enough!" Little gremlin!
I have ideas which I think are good but it is either way out surreal comedy of doom dread Black Swan stuff.
Finish something.
Have done. I think I may have seen my mistake. I leave them, come back to them and think "Shyte!" Oh what the hell, I'm wonderful, a near genius. I am denying the world my wonderfulness.
Quote: Tim Azure @ 2nd March 2014, 7:10 PM GMTSurreal comedy is difficult to sell-Newsjack for instance doesn't like it, and even 2525 which said as part of the brief "make it Little Britain-like" didn't like it either.
From what I've seen it may be possible that the new format Newsjack is a little more open to surrealism, since they say "Please think outside the box - delve deep for stories you find fun/interesting".
Of course, it may be that they still want a box to exist somewhere, and even being more open doesn't mean it'll be an easy sell.
You look very sensible from your photo, Willie - are you sure your stuff is too "way out"?
Yes I feel like that about almost everything I write, and it's a matter of personality, I think. I know people like myself who initially hate everything they do and others who are really confident and optimistic. I don't think either attitude particularly affects the quality of the work, but you're less likely to finish something if you're constantly berating yourself. Perfectionism tends to lead to procrastination. I'll admit this particular problem - entirely psychological - has really held me back from following up on opportunities (because I was unable to accept that other people really did like what I was doing) and that's something I've lived to regret. So if you know you think like that, I'd say it's pretty important to find a way to stop yourself. That's what I'm doing, anyway.
The way I've learned to look at it is nothing is ever good on a first draft. Prepare to think it's shit and keep plugging at it. Once it is good enough for someone else's standards, that's when you send something off. Listen to what other people say (if they know what they're talking about...) instead of what you think, because the chances are you're being too hard on yourself and you'll never actually meet your standards.
And the pessimism presumably drops away after a while...
(The other possibility is that you're actually shit and being completely rational in your self criticism, obviously, but we all live with that possibility!)
I get a little rash around my testicles. How do you know when you have it?
If you enjoy your writing you're never failing.
If you've found someone who enjoys your writing and nags you for your next blog, or circulates your humourous email then you're succeeding.
Be it the air punch when you get something on the BBC or a sketch show, or a round of genuine laughter at a standup gig all is success.
The best written and conceived sitcom is probably sitting in some intray in a prodco office somewhere.
Quote: PC Willie Shakeskweer @ 2nd March 2014, 6:21 PM GMTHave done. I think I may have seen my mistake. I leave them, come back to them and think "Shyte!" Oh what the hell, I'm wonderful, a near genius. I am denying the world my wonderfulness.
It's like that with any creative work. One day it looks great, the next it looks crap.
Get somebody else#s opinion.
Quote: Chappers @ 3rd March 2014, 10:04 PM GMTOne day it looks great, the next it looks crap.
That's been my experience also. Except on the first day it looked crap too...
I find I usually like what I'm writing as I'm writing it, read it back once, still like it, read it back again, still warm to it, read it back five times, forget why it's funny, leave it come back to it, am amazed by how funny it is. Read it back five times, no longer doubt myself, even though, I've, y'know, forgotten again.
And then I stop writing and try and convince producers that its good by showing it to them and hoping they get 'it'. Turns out, they don't. We have different "it"s. 
For one thing, at some point someone else in the industry will think you have it. If they don't, you don't.
I think looking at "it" as an innate quality is wrong. My own personal experience is I have improved as a writer by learning. Then eventually you can see how far you have come/how much you have improved, which spurs you on to learn more and improve more
When the movie development producer of a major British productions company (one of their films was just nominated for a 'Best Film' Oscar) tells you that your first ever feature script is the BEST screenplay he's read in 6 months (and he reads 5+ per week).
That's when you know you have "it".
And it happened to me recently.
Of course... this being showbusiness, he may have just being kind/lying. And, even if he's right, probably it will never get made. But that's OK.
In short, 'you know when you have it' when you know that your stuff is good and you have something original to say and you continue to write whatever the breaks. You may not be successful, but you have what it takes to be a writer.
Come now, T.W., this is no time for false modesty.