Measuring Success, or The Lack Of It.

I've been wondering lately how one measures the success of a particular writing project.

As a writer, I would like to see my work on a book shelf, television or cinema screen, but in acknowledging that I am a writer, which is a creative occupation, I am also implying that I am not a business person, or an accountant or a legal expert. Which I'm not.

But, particularily, I would suggest, for television and film, a project cannot get to broadcast or to movie theatres without the work of many other disciplines.

As a writer, does one judge a project to be a success once it has been sold to a production company, because that is essentially the end of the purely creative process, or is it only a success if it is eventially made and broadcast?

I struggle with the latter definition as it ceases to be a primarily creative work and is reliant upon the casting, the production budget, the whims of the commisioners, who else is doing what else at the same time, ie all things that are beyond the control of the writer.

Essentially, should I continue to beat myself up about the lack of success until the credits are rolling at the end of the first series? But then, what if there's no second series?

What if it's critically acclaimed but no one watches it?

What if 7 million regularily tune in but it gets panned on a BSG forum and you are too embarassed to tell anyone what it is that you wrote that is funding your Aston Martin?

Or will I never be happy with the situation so should quit now and become an organic chicken farmer?

Does anyone have a benchmark for success?

Ditto what Griff said.

And whatever you do, don't beat yourself up. You can't be funny if you are not enjoying it.

Quote: steve by any other name @ June 28 2008, 1:14 PM BST

in acknowledging that I am a writer, which is a creative occupation, I am also implying that I am not a business person

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Why not? I'm business man first, writer second - I'd take that Aston and print the name of the sitcom down the side!

a creative business man will always have an edge over someone who writes but cant negotiate/pitch/present etc, etc

There seems a ready willingness among writers to assume they're at the mercy of some evil corporate system that they cant penetrate.

I always remember Gervais saying he was a bit blase in his pitch with the BBC because he didn't need the gig and already had another job...ultimate "take away" close.....and the actions of someone with a mind for good business as well as....err, thinly veiled racism.

But dont you agree? Writers need to be strong in the processes or they get push around (even if only in their own heads)

Write because you enjoy it, write becuase you want to entertain people, even if they're only your friends. The degree of luck, or compromise before you get truly succesful will always be huge.

The best sitcom in the UK, is probably mouldering in a desk drawer somewhere. Maybe even in the critique forum some where....

If you can write effective skits about James Bond, in flippers, then Russ Abbott may have lots of work for you. Doesn't make you a good writer.

And if you keep writing, keep enjoying yourself, keep going after opportunities that you like.

Then maybe by surprise you'll find one of pitches, or comp entries will play out.

But I think many people who succeed spend years, writing for their mates skit show, or their stnadup, or News Revue, or their own web page, or sticking crap up on forums.

Make success the pleasant surprise at the end of a lot enjoyable writing.

I bought a bottle of Johny Walker Blue Label a few months ago, I'm waiting for an excuse to have a glass of it.

Marc P - go for Laguvalin or a Talisker when you get time - they're kick ass whiskies.

As to Steve's question - I think this is more about the problem of marrying desire, ambition, and acheivement within a person, rather than what qualifies as exterior writing success.

There will be some great writers with many broadcast credits who will write and write and never feel that they made the grade they set. Something will always steal the edge. The ratings, the viewer numbers, the lack of second series. Always something to take that moment away. For them, there is no objective standard.

Some great writers may have the same success or maybe never even make it that far yet they'll still feel they succeeded. For them, there's no need for an objective standard.

So for me, it's about goals and personality types. Personally, I think I'll never be happy. I'll always want more and better. I fall into the first of the two groups. But I know which group sleeps easiest and has less ulcers. Lucky sods.

'Marc P - go for Laguvalin or a Talisker when you get time - they're kick ass whiskies.'

I've had them, never neat mind, always with a drop of the stuff WC Fields hated. And very nice too. Like liquid peat in a glass. Well... nicer than that.

But Blue Label, which I have never tried, is 170 pounds a bottle so it's going to stay unopened until there's a good reason.

Well that's the theory for the minute.

Quote: Marc P @ June 28 2008, 4:44 PM BST

I've had them, never neat mind, always with a drop of the stuff WC Fields hated.

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You philistine.

You'll have to let me know if it was worth the 170 notes. Am envious.

Can't see how it will be. But worth it to make an occassion I guess.

Quote: Griff @ June 28 2008, 3:33 PM BST

And call me naive, but I can't see anything wrong with Ricky Gervais's business acumen, seeing as he's probably the richest comedian in the country.

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That was exactly my point. He's a perfect example of someone that has used the business skills of networking, deal making, pitching, etc to turn a TV show seen by a few million into a monster career.

I've never really got into whisky. Maybe when I get older. For now I'm sticking to wine.

Measuring success? I expect it comes in stages. The more successful you become the higher you raise the bar.

You can be critically acclaimed with a low audience and still be successful. Look at Peep Show, it has small audiences, but strong DVD sales (or so I'm told).

Quote: Winterlight @ June 28 2008, 8:12 PM BST

I've never really got into whisky. Maybe when I get older. For now I'm sticking to wine.

Measuring success? I expect it comes in stages. The more successful you become the higher you raise the bar.

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Good point.

Last year, to me, success (short term) would have been to get in with a production company. That happened. Then I raised the bar to getting a credit. It's happened (well, it goes out in August) After that, who knows?

As Griff points out - writing something you're happy with is a success, and I take it as a massive success when I've written something I'm proud of.

Though Griff also said don't beat yourself up about not getting stuff broadcast IF it gets read by a prod co. To me, personally, that's a failure. Because the minute I achieve something like getting a meeting then that's that done and dusted and I look to the next level - i.e. getting it commissioned.

Long term though, success for me will be getting work on the telly, having things go down well with audiences and winning awards. And obviously making a career out it. If you're in this for a career you've got to aim for the top.

I've set myself goals so I will judge success if I complete those said goals.

If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same...

Then you should have gone to Specsavers?