Well I certainly wouldn't beat yourself up for not entering. For me it was a bit of a galvanising thing. I had been talking with a friend of mine about collaborating on a sitcom project for ages and this kind of made us get off our arses and actually write the script - so if we get no further it's already done us some good.
And we had a couple of good lunches too. 
Just to clarify a few points directed at me:
Can you see if you are funny instantly - yes, of course you can.
Can you improve and make funny more funny - yes.
Can you improve on not funny in the first place - dubious.
Does a prod co. saying no mean you are not funny - no.
Does a group of members on here saying "nice, but try this and that and change this and re-do that" mean you are funny - no.
Do i believe what i write is comparable to my fav shows - yes.
Do i believe it will end up as a show comparable to those shows - no ..... it will end up better.
I do love your glyph Griff
Quote: M Lewis @ April 18 2008, 3:44 PM BSTDo i believe it will end up as a show comparable to those shows - no ..... it will end up better.
I admire your spunk, young man. Send us a link when your show goes out.
Quote: Griff @ April 18 2008, 3:47 PM BSTDo you hear that, self-doubters of the world ? Wondering whether your new joke/script/sketch/sitcom is funny ? YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL INSTANTLY.
Whats so hard about that concept? Will it be perfect first time...no, can it be improved...of course - but will it be easy to establish if there is an underlying current of "funny" absolutely.
Self doubters who are still affected by that condition after a week of using the critique forum are either not funny or funny but lacking the confidence to make it anyway.
Quote: M Lewis @ April 18 2008, 4:13 PM BSTSelf doubters who are still affected by that condition after a week of using the critique forum are either not funny or funny but lacking the confidence to make it anyway.
We'll see about that, tough guy. Race you to TV!
Quote: David Bussell @ April 18 2008, 4:15 PM BSTWe'll see about that, tough guy. Race you to TV!
Hardly the words of someone lacking self belief...thus proving my point.
Quote: Griff @ April 18 2008, 4:18 PM BSTI enjoy reading through the Critique forum, and I must say, I occasionally see some real gems in there.
Thank you, you're very kind.
Quote: Griff @ April 18 2008, 4:21 PM BSTI wasn't talking about your rubbish, Bussell. (struggles to put a winking emoticon on, but it doesn't seem to work.)
This is calamitous news. My weekend is shot to buggery.
Quote: Griff @ April 18 2008, 3:47 PM BSTCan you see if you are funny instantly - yes, of course you can.
Do you hear that, self-doubters of the world ? Wondering whether your new joke/script/sketch/sitcom is funny ? YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL INSTANTLY.
Well why do you need someone else to tell it's funny?
Sometimes, when bored, I try and to hum a melody in my head. I can't come up with one. I just can't write a melody like Ian Broudie or someone, or a riff like Johnny Marr. I don't need to record it and put it on a music forum to ask, I can tell. I'm not a songwriter. It's obvious. If I hum a melody, and can tell it's bland straight away.
Quote: M Lewis @ April 18 2008, 4:17 PM BSTHardly the words of someone lacking self belief...thus proving my point.
Yeah, if pressed, people on here should truly believe they'll make it.
Do you think Richard Branson went 'Oh, well, I'd think I MIGHT be able to make, like, 2 thousand pounds. Maybe . . .'.
Quote: Griff @ April 18 2008, 4:18 PM BSTThe point is, what's funny to you, the writer, is not necessarily what's funny to everyone else. So a little bit of feedback is often helpful. It's the same reason that stand-up comics like to try their work out in small venues before taking it on tour. You can't tell just by sitting and looking at your lines whether people will laugh at them or not.
Anyway, the question is, why are you bashing other people and telling them they're "not funny" or "not going to make it" or whatever ? What's it to you whether people use the Critique forum or not ? I don't, as I'm lucky enough to have a couple of trusted writer friends to swap work with - but I enjoy reading through the Critique forum, and I must say, I occasionally see some real gems in there.
In response to your first paragraph - of course it wont be funny to all, but it is fairly simple to establish if its funny AT ALL....and a comedian in a club is a million miles from the critique forum. Hence my original point, that a forum should exist for those who just want to show off their work and where responses could be a little more realistic.
Your second part is classic Internet. Who have i "bashed"? My God, if anyone on here is so soft skinned at to regard themselves under attack from anything i have said then they wont last long in the real world.
And you ask "whats it to me"....it interests me, and who are you to dictate that it shouldn't?
Quote: Seefacts @ April 18 2008, 4:28 PM BSTDo you think Richard Branson went 'Oh, well, I'd think I MIGHT be able to make, like, 2 thousand pounds. Maybe . . .'.
Obviously not.....but (as a business owner) i can assure you there are a zillion business forums out there with people who DO think like that....and will thus never succeed.
With such high profile examples of people going from nothing to superstar i am AMAZED that there are people in this game who don't believe they will be the next big thing.
This place should be like a kids football team with everyone wanting to be Beckham or Rooney.
That was CLASSIC internet.
As the dust settles:
I must say that confidence - like excessive body hair - although not inherently bad, is usually best kept to yourself.
That’s my two cents worth, I’m Kent Brockman.
Yay! Quotes are working again!
"Which part of the "real world" is your comedy performed/produced in, by the way ?"
It's done for comercial success.