So you want to write for TV?

You may not have seen this yet. It’s a new page on the BBC Writersroom site detailing how you can get into writing Continuing Drama. Now, we’re given to understand that Continuing Drama is the way to get into writing for TV as the likelihood of someone with no credits at all being given the opportunity to write original drama is virtually zero.

And just how easy is it to get into Continuing Drama? It seems there are three ways.

1. Write such an amazing spec script that the BBC Writersroom refers you on. Hmmm. Needle and haystack come to mind.
2. Get accepted to the Writers Academy – but you have to have a credit for that one and even though their definition of credit seemed to be quite wide last time, still not an easy route.
3. Get your Agent to submit!

So, no chance then.

In other news, Media Guardian reported a couple of days ago that we are going to be drowning in book adaptations on TV over the next year.

“In these difficult times there’s a little more security in adapting a book than in commissioning an original script,” says Liza Marshall, head of drama at Channel 4“

“We’re trying to build a drama reputation,” says Elaine Pyke, head of drama at Sky1. “We’re a little player and I need to shout very loudly. Popular books are a good, quick way to do that – you make a noise and build a reputation far quicker than if you’d concentrated on original scripts.”

“About three years ago we refocused our drama department to concentrate on literary adaptations,” says Mark Redhead, head of drama at Hat Trick Productions”

So, that’s all new original drama out then.

Oh, well! Back to the short stories.

Pick a word – any word

Just read this interesting post here at Fuel Your Writing. It’s all about using one word to give you inspiration for your writing as a sort of kick start and it ties in nicely with something I was watching on TV the other night. It was a programme on BBC4 where Jane Horrocks was being interviewed about her acting career. You can view it here in the UK until the BBC iPlayer knocks it off the system – not sure how long that is now – may only be a week.

Anyway, Jane Horrocks was talking about doing a long run in a play and trying to make it different for every performance. There was a technique she used, and I can’t remember what she called it, whereby she chooses a word and uses it to inspire her performance for that day. It stops the performances becoming stale and gives her something to focus on.

So, it seems just one word can be very inspiring in a number of situations. I might give it a go – just need to pick a word.

And they all lived happily ever after

I recently saw a comment (sorry, can’t remember where – I read too many of these things, otherwise I’d post a link), that most people want a story to have a happy ending .

My initial reaction was surprise, but when I thought about it more I could see why this might be true. Most of us want to believe that the world can be a better place, that good can outwit evil, that love conquers all. We want to escape from the realities of life where these things don’t always turn out happily.

So, let’s have a vote. Do you prefer a happy ending?

Whether the weather

Another weekend of torrential rain and battering winds in the UK.

For some people winter has a devastating effect on their well-being. They suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SADA estimates that half a million people in the UK suffer from this to some degree. Even those of us who don’t suffer from such an extreme form of depression often feel a little lethargic when the skies are grey outside.

So, does the weather affect our writing?

I think I do find it more difficult to concentrate on actual writing when it’s gloomy outside. I procrastinate with blogging (!), Twitter, Google Reader, etc, etc. I tend to go for the shorter things, such as short stories or short scripts rather than anything I will have to concentrate on for a long time. Let me know.

Also, does the weather affect how we write? Are we more likely to write depressing and darker things when it’s dark outside and happy and cheery things when the sun shines? Looking at what I’ve written over the last few weeks, I would have to say the themes are certainly on the darker side and that was definitely not a conscious thing.

What are your thoughts? Do you find it more difficult to concentrate at this time of the year (or whenever your winter season is)? Do you find it more difficult to write happy scenes when the rain is battering against the window?

Fancy a challenge?

Found out about this through Sofluid’s blog. The Kid in the Front Row blog has a screenwriting challenge. A five page scene with some pretty specific restrictions on characters and location.

There is no entry fee, it’s all for the glory of winning in one of the categories and there are only a couple of weeks to do it in. I’ve written my entry (haven’t submitted it yet though, need to read it again in a few days), so why don’t you have a go too?