I mentioned this competition on another forum (dedicated to playwrights) and received a response that intrigued/worried me a little.

They were worried that “real writers” might not make the shortlist because of someone entering for a laugh…

To me there is no such thing as a real writer – just people that have been in the game a little longer than others – and have learnt something on the way (hence this forum – giving people the opportunity to learn from others that have completed scripts). Plus, this competition could very give someone the motivation to sit down behind a word processor and write something that they haven’t had the courage to do before – and that has to be a good thing…

But it got me thinking… How many of you have written a play/screenplay/sitcom before? Not to assess the competition out there, but purely to find out where we are all coming from – and to see who ‘allegedly’ knows what they are talking about.

Me…? I’ve been writing stage plays for the last 5 years (even had a couple produced by AmDram companies)… What about you?

Jay

Jay,

I started writing about 1990 ish and although I have never had anything published I get great joy from seeing my finished works in the finished folder on my PC. This competition has given me the desire to do something about my ambition rather than just "dreaming" about it.
Where else are you going to get personal tuition through to completion. The idea I submitted was completely new and has only taken about 10 days to put together.
I'd love to do a sitcom based on ideas I've had, but breaking into the business is like breaking into a bank (not that I've tried the latter) but "it ain't as easy as it looks"
Your comments and observations are invited.

I don't know if I'm the one to be passing on comments or observations - after all, I haven't had a professional productions (obviously, as I wouldn't be able to enter the comp!)

I've toyed with the idea of writing sitcoms, but I have always revered to the comfort of stage plays - I've been an AmDram actor for more years than I care to admit - and it's a format I know from experience.

That said, a friend and I have been playing with a screenplay for a while now... but we haven't got too far, as neither of us have been in a movie (even an Am one).

You're right about the business though... Unless you're established, you're very unlikley to get anyone to read your work seriously... and worse, when they do, you're most likley to be rejected as you pose a 'significant financial risk' as an unknown playwright...

That's why I think this comp is such a boon!

Jay

Hi JP

To assuage your curiosity (I hope this 'poll' gets answered by others); I also have been an AmDram luvvie for years; I write thousands of words a week professionally as a marketing consultant; I have had poetry and 'women's interest' stories published nationally; I wrote and performed my first 20 min stand-up routine three months ago; and for my submission to TPTT, I adapted a sitcom / movie script I'd written for a UK movie productiion company (which went kaputt before anything could be taken forward).

And I agree - comps like this could be a boon, if they turn up the next Charlotte 'Humble Boy' Jones (to cite a topical example!

PS - Message for you on your www mail!

ADMAN 1961

New Mail! Damn, I'll have to wait until I get home to read that one

Jay

Well, I have no experience apart from something I tossed off at Uni. All this AmDramming is intimidating me.

I agree with the comment regarding the benefits of this comp. to us unpublished writers. I have been dabbling with all sorts of writing for some time. Several critiques of my prose work suggest that my style is better suited to script work.

With that in mind I have taken quite an interest in the BBC's Writers Room, which I've found very helpful to my learning curve. Although I have tried, and had rejected, TV and Movie scripts in the past, this is the first stage play I have attempted.

As already mentioned, hacking it (pun) as a writer is probably one of the most difficult "careers" to succeed in. Nobody wants you without a proven track record and nobody's prepared to give you a start - typical Catch 22!

Perhaps this is the break hopefully, if not me, someone else is waiting for. If not, well what the hell, I enjoy doing what I'm doing.

Hi everyone,


Wouldn't it be good if Channel 4 or some of the other channels (What am I saying --- there are no other Channels --- creep creep) put on a similar competition every year. Who would have thought that Big Brother would have gone for 6 series. The way forward would be the ARTS series Where budding writers and Artist from all walks of life could showcase their material
Any other views