Lights, Camera, Action

After finishing the Playwriting course at Hull Truck Theatre last year, I was pleased to find they were running a Screenwriting course.

I’ve always loved playing with dialogue. I was writing scripts when I was ten years old, for EastEnders and Grange Hill. It’s a shame that I was steered away from such pleasures, but because I struggled with grammar and spelling, I was often told not to pursue my writing. I was later diagnosed with dyslexia, sadly, too late, and my life had taken a different path, but I often wonder what would have happened if my creativity had been encouraged and not mocked. Anyway, I found my way back to my love of writing, a little late to the party now, but I’m enjoying every moment of it – ok, that’s a lie, I hate editing!

I’ve mainly written novels and was recently commissioned to write a play for Fresh Ink, but I also had a few screenplays simmering away, so I thought this was perfect timing.

I started the course with a rough outline of a few ideas, but nothing more.  It was all new to me; I had no idea how to get into screenwriting or what to do with a script once I had written it. The course answered all my questions; it was tough going, a lot more intense than the last course, but I loved every minute of it.

I decided to focus on ‘A bump in the road’ – a six-part comedy drama. I structured the outline, worked on the characters, fleshed out the subplots and smoothed out all the plot flaws.

I worked on a one-page pitch and a four-page treatment. I find writing these things quite difficult. My dyslexic brain doesn’t do concise writing. I can write a sixty-thousand-word manuscript, no problem, but the synopsis is a killer. (I’m still trying to cut my stage play from 50 mins to 30 mins – it’s the devil’s work!

On leaving the course, I have a newfound confidence in screenwriting. I gained information on the submissions process and which organisations and opportunities to look out for.

I feel genuinely excited about the future. I’m more focused now and have a clear goal to work toward. I’m also beginning to discover my unique voice as a writer.

I have just spent the weekend at the online London Screenwriters Festival, and it was amazing. I learned so much from Sally Wainwright in such a short amount of time, and John Yorke, as always, was exceptional. I’m so excited to be attending the festival in person next year. I’m not ready for this year, but next year I’ll be there, and I can’t wait. (If you’re going, please feel free to connect)

I also came across the Edinburgh TV Festival and would love to submit next year, so I was thrilled to book a place on the First Draft workshop in London at the Soho Theatre on the 25^th March.

It means going to London, alone, now I know that may not sound like a big deal for most, but for little old me (scared of everything and newly diagnosed with autism), it’s a big deal. For one, I have never been on a train by myself; two, I have never ventured to the big city of London alone, and three, I’ve never even been to a conference alone, but this is the year I chose to blast myself out of my comfort zone, so I’m going for it.

Wish me luck – If this is my last post, I’m probably still wandering around London lost – please send help!