Less than an hour ago I received an email from people associated with A Popular Evening Drama confirming that the sample script I’d written at their request was not going to be commissioned. Sigh. There were some positive noises made about the script I wrote, but bottom line is that’s the end of that particular adventure, at least for the foreseeable future.

So, what do I learn from that experience? Well, it confirms the difficulty of getting onto Britain’s top television dramas, which is no great surprise. I learned a lot planning and writing that script, and thoroughly enjoyed the process of doing so. The lessons I’ve learned about writing in a more linear fashion than I’m used to will be of real value in the future: having to stay with a story because that’s the way the show works, rather than cutting away to another plot as I’d often be inclined to do, stretched me in useful ways.

I’m also confident that I did a creditable job at writing some established characters, staying faithful to their personalities as previously portrayed and hopefully playing with them a little to show some of their less familiar aspects. And I can honestly say that I did the best possible job I could on the script, which is the most important thing. Of course, that raises an awkward question: if my best possible job wasn’t good enough, can I actually write to the standard required of shows such as A Popular Evening Drama?

Hmm. Yes, that really is an awkward question. And my gut answer is ‘Of course I can write for those shows, and more importantly write ones better still when I’m writing what I want instead of being constrained by someone else’s characters and format‘. Which then begs the question of how I get the opportunity to get those shows seen by anyone if I don’t first go through the hoops required to script existing programmes.

See how easy it is to get sidetracked into notions that can undermine your confidence? Fortunately I’ve been here before, and am robust enough to take it on the chin, drawing on feedback I’ve got from people who’ve read various scripts and commented favourably on them. Plus, damnit, I’ve been commissioned before and I’ll be commissioned again. Right now, a small and cool production company are asking me to write a feature, and another interesting outfit are waiting for a treatment for a tv drama from me…so all is not lost. And beyond those immediate prospects, there are two people wanting me to write features with them, and some animators asking me to develop a multi-platform concept.

So: the non-appearance of A Popular Evening Drama commission is a setback, but it doesn’t stop me in my tracks. At this point, I seriously doubt anything could: I’ve been in much much worse situations before now and come up smelling of roses, and that notion of rebound is hardwired now. I bounce back.

Plus, if I look at the statistics concerning this situation, I’m reassured. I know how many people were asked at the same time as I was to write sample scripts, and I know how many people are being brought onboard. Sorry to be vague there, but I don’t want to risk compromising confidentiality for anyone involved in the project.

So it goes. I’ve enjoyed and learned from watching A Popular Evening Drama these last few months, and will continue to do so. And, as ever, I’m waiting to hear back regarding another application which could do my career the world of good…or, maybe you’ll be reading another post like this one in a couple of months.