Quote: Ennie @ March 17 2011, 12:31 PM GMTI'm another (definitely non-guru) shortlisted entrant.
I was at university for ages but not on a creative writing course. I'm an online editor by trade. I've always written constantly but never thought that there was any point in even trying to submit anything. I was always far too embarrassed to even admit to myself that I wanted to write comedy. It felt arrogant. And was surely something that confident people do.
I then got to know someone who started to get stuff on telly, and an agent. He nicked some of my ideas. And fair enough, cos I wasn't going to do anything with them was I? He wasn't even that funny - he just kept trying.
So I thought...sod this. Perhaps it is worth having a go. Yes, I'm not ashamed to say it: I went to a workshop. There! It was nerve-wracking. I was delighted when people laughed at bits I didn't think were any good, and confused and irritated when nobody laughed at all at the bits I thought were my script's saving grace. Best thing of all though was the advice and encouragement. Proper, constructive, helpful advice. It really made me think that there WAS a point in trying, so I entered last year and got through to the finals and also this year. And that's it really.
That's great both insightful and inspirational, well done.