First Gig

The last few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind - as if finishing my MA and working in Edinburgh's mental festival season wasn't enough, two other big things have happened. On August 16th I secured both an agent and my first TV script commission! I kept both things quiet for a bit as documents etc. needed signed but I also needed time to get my head around what had happened. They've (just about) sunk in now...

I've been asked to write an episode of the brilliant CBBC spy drama M.I. High! I was a fan of the show already so am delighted. I'm being represented by Lucy Fawcett at Sheil Land Associates. If you want to offer me a job she's your port of call ;)

Both occurrences are huge milestones for me on the road to making a living out of writing for TV - and things I've long dreamt of. I've always known I could write but to have someone employ me and someone working to secure me further gigs is a big boost. It's now up to me to put in the effort and make the most of these opportunities. I've in no way 'made it' - this is the start of a steep learning curve and a lot of hard (but fun!) grafting. A big thanks to everyone who's helped me get this far and wished me well.

A few folks have asked me how it all came about:

I got a call out of the blue. Unknown to me, my spec Starfall had been passed to M.I. High's producer. That script was a finalist in the 2010 Red Planet Prize which was co-run by Kudos (the indie who make M.I. High) and they were looking for new writers to join their team. While Starfall was aimed at older teens, the producer and script editor felt my style fitted with their plans. I had to send them two other examples of my work and then pop down to London for a chat before being offered the job. As a new writer without any broadcast credits I then had to have my appointment approved by the execs at Kudos and CBBC, so I had a tense few weeks waiting until it was all agreed on the 16th (which is my God-Daughter's birthday so the day was filled with much cuteness as well as excitement).

My agent came about through an introduction from a screenwriter friend. We emailed for a few months and got on well. She really enjoyed a number of scripts I'd sent her and we had a face to face meeting in June. As I was still undertaking my MA, she suggested waiting until I had completed my studies before she took me on as a client but offered to represent me straight away if any jobs opened up before then - which is what happened. Having got the news of M.I. High I got in touch and we firmed up our arrangement.

So here I am. I've had the first few meetings for M.I. High and begun work on that. I'll still have to juggle my writing with my day-job but I'm used to doing that so there shouldn't be a problem. It's easy to work long hours if you're enjoying yourself - which I absolutely am!

After the End

... and breathe!

Yesterday saw me hand in my final assignment for my screenwriting MA. Two years of juggling study with a full time job are over - I'm pretty exhausted. I expected yesterday to come with a wave of elation but it didn't really hit home until about midnight - I made it! If I never write another essay in my life I'll shed no tears!

Tomorrow work starts on my next project but today is a day for taking stock. Sleep deprivation aside, the MA was a fantastic experience - a good mix of script writing assignments, academic theory and industry workshops. My writing has improved from doing the course but so has my stamina and ability to deliver multiple projects on time - which are vital skills for anyone wanting to be a screenwriter. My understanding of the film and TV industry has come on leaps and bounds and the course has given me the confidence to get myself out into the world and start trying to find work (there have been a few developments in this area but more about them in a future blog).

I've added my major project - which is the most significant component of the MA - to my CV page. It's called The Youth Movement and it' s a 2x75 minute TV drama - of which I wrote part one and did a treatment for part two. It is a dystopian thriller set in a future UK devastated by global warming. It's the most ambitious piece I've written so far, in length but also in scale and theme. It's a project I want to continue to develop and refine once I get feedback from my tutors but I am pleased with how it currently stands. I gave it my all and I think that shows.

August 2011 seemed a very long way off back in September '09 when I started out on the course. I've grown a lot since then and want to keep that up - learning and getting better as I begin to work out in the real world. Here goes...

In Conversation

I've under two weeks until my final MA project is due. August 2011 seemed ridiculously far off when I started back in September 2009 but now its bearing down upon me. Time flies when you're having fun (and too busy to eat or sleep).

Work on it is going OK – I got my third draft done last week but still have to write up a treatment and do a polish on the script. It's been a tough old process and I don't think I could have worked any harder than I have – I've really given it my all. It's difficult when this close to something to be objective but I like it at least.

Something I've learnt from this process is the power of conversation in helping a writer work through their story. On this project I've really enjoyed chatting with friends and mentors about various drafts and working though their issues with the script. I've discovered I respond really well to conversations – that they instantly spark great solutions where I'd previously been stuck. Even in disagreeing with someones critique, new ideas seem to take shape easier for me than when I'm just sat at home on my own.

As part of these conversations I've been embracing the art of listening to suggestions. Good scripting is as much about editing and assembling ideas as it is about generating material. The funniest line in my new script was suggested by a friend. My ego doesn't like this fact but I'm OK with it – it was my choice to include it and the script is better as a result. Writing is about making creative choices and the more we have available to us the better.

Next week will see me have the final few conversations before my hand in – am looking forward to what ideas get thrown up which get this script to the stage when I can let it go (and get some rest!).