Sitcom Writing Course, Manchester Page 3

Quote: bushbaby @ April 2 2013, 12:58 PM BST

Also companies, the beeb particulary, were adamant that absolutely they didn't want anything that was about winning the lottery........ erm

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And they probably meant it at the time. But an absence of better options perhaps forced their arm.

I remember, as a kid, shopping for Masters of the Universe figures. I wanted He-Man or Skeletor but the shops had sold out. So I had to settle for Ram Man - a lesser character.

Sometimes you can't get exactly what you want and have to take the next best thing.

Yes I agree but they're not always 'polite' it can be a brutal 'rejection. The Syndicate due soon and about a lottery win was written by Kay Mellor.

Quote: bushbaby @ April 2 2013, 7:09 PM BST

Yes I agree but they're not always 'polite' it can be a brutal 'rejection. The Syndicate due soon and about a lottery win was written by Kay Mellor.

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At least you seem to have good contacts with production companies - most people can't even get read.
Use those contacts and try to come up with what they're looking for.

I' m 72 now and passed it so I just sit watching crime all day on TV. I've thrown all my writing away. I got totally disilussioned

Bushbaby get back to your writing!
Age is irrelevant if it does anything it adds something,experience is not weariness.
Write everyday, even if its a just a line, you can't just give up, because giving up can become a mental downward trend.

Perhaps a sitcom about a 72 year old who watches that much crime on TV that she decides to become a Miss Marple type, you could play the part yourself.
I would love to see you undercover in a Brixton Nightclub as you try to crack a Yardie gangs evil plans while asking the barman for a cup of tea and a scone only to end up drinking Red Stripe and smoking a spliff as you and your shopping trolley get deeper and deeper undercover!

sounds a brill storyline

Quote: bushbaby @ March 30 2013, 11:53 PM GMT

The problem is, new unknown writers don't stand much of a chance of getting their work accepted.

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Weeeellll....they do obviously because even successful writers were unknown once and had to be given a break. But it's hard to get your stuff made across the board, even for highly experienced writers. I watched a talk with Clement & La Frenais the other day and they've had shitloads of rejections, as have all writers.
I think above all else the dread of rejection is what keeps people from realising their goal. Most often a budding writer will complete maybe one or two scripts, get them read, then give up after being rejected. The truth is that most successful writers took years of trying before they got good enough for their stuff to be taken seriously. And it does take years, just like a carpenter's apprentice might take years to do a really great dovetail joint. A wanky analogy but quite true I think.
Obviously there are exceptions where somebody comes along and gets their first script made because they're exceptionally talented. But I think it's more often that they're exceptionally lucky and their project ticks all the current boxes. And that's another part of it - being in the right place at the right time. But what a lot of writers fail to realise is that YOU have to put yourself in the right place at the right time. It won't come to you.
So basically, don't give up!

A good thing about being a writer is that there's no age limit - many great writers wrote their best stuff when old. It's not like being a footballer, you know...

Quote: beaky @ April 3 2013, 3:16 PM BST

A good thing about being a writer is that there's no age limit

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Thank f**k for that.
Though ideally before I die.

Quote: beaky @ April 3 2013, 3:16 PM BST

A good thing about being a writer is that there's no age limit-

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Really? How many 106 year old writers do you know?

I knock around with a large group of 106-year old writers. We smash up restaurants and beat up innocent young skateboarders.

Quote: Mr Snodworthy @ April 3 2013, 1:32 PM BST

So basically, don't give up!

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The one thing all the big comedy writers have in common is that they didn't give up before they made it.

Of course a lot of bad writers didn't give up either, but I'm sure this forum doesn't have any of them...

Quote: beaky @ April 3 2013, 6:48 PM BST

I knock around with a large group of 106-year old writers. .

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Nice to meet some young people...

Of course the thing with learning to write sitcom is there are three stages.
1. Innocence - when you simply don't know how it's done. At this stage you definitely will benefit from reading books and going to courses because they will put you with like minded others and not assume you already know the business, so formatting, scenes and beats are important. Also character and the trap of sitcom, which in a lot of ways is more important then the comedy itself. (They can always 'fix' that)

2. Skills. WHereupon you learn the various skills you need, send things out and get them rejected only you can't yet figure out why. This is because sitcom writing demands a complex skill set that is more easily covered by a pair or team of writers. gags, plotting, ideas, character, scenes - all are different abilities. It can take years to perfect these are most sitcom writers who got lucky would certainly say that they were still learning a decade into being produced. (maybe not Ricky G)

3. Experience. NOw you KNOW how to do it and it's just a matter of time before someone picks up one of your ideas. This is where the endless fight between optimism and pessimism comes in. You make contacts and learn the business. You really discover how hard it is to get 'pregnant' with a piece. Often, if you are a writer for the BBC, if you persevere for long enough they tend to give it to you by default. This is depressed but you have earned your stripes. And even once you are on telly there is no guarantee you will get on again. You simply have to stay resilient, confident about your talent and refrrain from killing your co-workers on your miserable day job. Good luck and keep at it.