But... and there is always a but... I was left feeling I could have done much, much more. So for 2020, I've decided to take chances, big chances... one in particular which I would have previously considered too risky to attempt.
For far too much of my life, I've played it safe and have taken very few risks. I've always chosen the easy option, the path of least resistance. Whether that's because I've been scared, cautious, too polite or because I didn't want to abuse other people's friendship, generosity, and kindness... I don't know.
There is a certain amount of luck with writing - being in the right place at the right time with the right project - and I've always been fascinated with finding new ways of improving my luck, convinced there is more to success than simple randomness. On Boxing Day I watched the Royal Institution Christmas Lecture: How To Get Lucky and learned that being successful is simple mathematics.I've always known that the more opportunities you make for yourself the better chance there is of something paying off. I also know it's no good working on one project all year and then sending it out to one person at a time. But what I hadn't considered was that your chances significantly increase by being bolder with your decisions and the chances you take, that by being clever and understanding what works and what doesn't you can improve your chances of success, even when making very bold decisions.
Because of this, I've decided to send the project I've just finished to not only my agent and the handful of personal contacts at production companies as I would normally do, but I'm also going to email the script to two well-known writers I get on well with. Both of these writers have already expressed an interest in working with me so it wouldn't hurt to see if they would be interested in co-writing this idea together.
Normally I would never do this as I consider it pushy, cheeky and very rude, especially if the writer is more established than I am. I remember one year at LSWF where a female guest speaker spent most of the afternoon trying to avoid an overeager writer with no credits who insisted they work together, and as he put it 'use her contacts' to get an idea of his made. I remember how annoyed and angry she was at the writer's bare-faced cheek and disrespect and how she told everyone she met she would never work with him under any circumstances. I certainly don't want to be remembered as one of those people.
However, the How To Get Lucky lecture changed my mind about approaching well known established writers and made me realise that some risks are worth taking. It's how you go about it that matters. While being bold you still have to remain polite, pushing the boundaries of your existence while always being respectful of others and as long as I'm polite and respectful, it's a risk worth taking.
If I can get another writer interested in the idea, one with better connections than me, I will increase this projects' chances of getting made significantly. But that writer has to be someone I already have a relationship with, someone whose work fits with the project and not someone I've randomly chosen because they have a successful TV career and I don't. I have two writers in mind - one who fits this genre I've written in perfectly and another whose writing is very similar to mine. Let's see how how it goes. Nothing ventured, nothing gained after all.
So here's my vision for 2020 in all it's glory...
- Help move one of my features forward into production.
- Finish at least two new projects by year-end.
- Land myself an episode of a continuing drama.
- Get one of my own TV projects commissioned by year-end.
I hope 2020 is your year too. Be bold! Take chances! Make your own opportunities. But always remember to do so politely and with respect for others.
Happy writing!
