Firstly thanks to the guys for running the competition. It gives many of us someting to aim for. I, like so many others did not get on to the Longlist, congratulations and well done to those who did. I wish you all success and you have all acheived something great no matter what happens in the next stage.
From a personal point of view I have been at work over the weekend and my wife telephoned me to tell me I had not made the list. I was also increadibly dissapointed. I work in a job where I have lots of time to think which is usually great for ideas but not so good if you are on a downer. Over the course of the last 36 hours I have thought about stopping writing, stopping writing comedy, cocentrating on Radio scripts, a novel I am part way through and a screenplay I have been working on for several months, I have thought about bacon sandwiches (which to tell the you the truth is a constant for me) and not for the first time I have thought that writing comedy and for theatre and writing a fifteen play is either impossible or not for me. This morning I have reached a decision.
I love writing. I would like to have some success (even a newsjack credit would mean so much) but if I don't get it this week or this year or next year that is not whats important. I have been both praised and ripped to shreads on critique on this forum, I have been rejected by BBC Writers room several times, entered The sitcom mission twice, entered The Bruntwood Prize and been turned down by production companies (when they could be bothered to reply) on numerous occasions but although I can become disheartned and lose confidence there is always a moment when something enters my head and I go, Yes,that's a great idea. What can I do with that? and no matter how I feel I can always pick it up and run with it, so few people can do that and that is an acheivement in it'self, so to all those who did not make the list and are feeling down and deflated, just for finishing something, no matter what it was you are brilliant.
Pick yourself up and start again and who knows what will come next?
Davey.