Playing the long game

Watched an advance copy of my first TV drama commission last night. I'm still waaaay too close to my script to offer anything resembling an objective opinion about it, but I couldn't be happier with everybody else's efforts. Fascinating to see what translated from page to screen, and what got cut for time. The episode's due for broadcast on BBC1 next month [exact transmission details to follow].

Spent yesterday at Pacific Quay, the BBC's Scotland headquarters. No, I didn't get a place on the Scotland Writes workshop which was held there yesterday. Nor was I a contestant on Eggheads, A Question of Genius or The Weakest Link - all of which were at various stages of production at Pacific Quay yesterday. [It's a quiz show cavalcade at PQ right now, stressed contestants everywhere.]

Instead I was part of a day-long brainstorming session for a forthcoming BBC project. Can't tell you more than that - not until contracts are signed, etc - but it's an exciting project that offers some exciting storytelling possibilities. Yesterday's gathering was the second time writers have been involved with the process, the first was [to my surprise] way back in May last year.

Both these opportunities underline the fact writing is like playing the long game. My Doctors ep will go out almost two years to the day since I submitted my trial script to the show. [Hopefully it won't be another two years until I get another broadcast.] Yesterday's brainstorming session took place eight months after the first. These things take time to bear fruit.

For every success, there's probably nine other projects that didn't pan out. Being professional means being willing to fail, to fall flat on your face and get back again. There's no such thing as overnight success, merely overnight recognition after years of hard work. That's why writing is playing the long game and patience is a virtue. Onwards!