I was initially quite intimidated at the prospect of attending the TV Drama Writers’ Festival. I felt under-experienced, under-qualified and overwhelmed by the amount of talent in one room...
It turned out to be an absolute treat. I ran into a number of writers I knew, many more I didn't, and lots that I never thought I would get to meet. It was great to connect with writers, as it sometimes feels like a lonely path. It was fun exchanging achievements and ideas. It was maybe a little more fun sharing gripes and complaints about our own poor time management, our anxieties and musing over ways that more experienced writers must be in total control of self-doubt, deadlines and multitasking... Only to discover, in the "fear of rejection" talk, that even the most brilliant and accomplished writers are also battling with some of these things... It was comforting... (and terrifying... I had been holding on to the idea that I would one day figure out a better system than "Oh, shit! That's due tomorrow???!" to organise my life, and maybe one day I would write that thing that makes me feel like, "Oh, this is it. I'm totally killing it as a writer. I got this").
Hearing from Dennis Kelly, Sharon Horgan, Peter Bowker, Danny Brocklehurst, Kay Mellor, Tim Prager, Frank Spotnitz, Sarah Phelps and a host of other amazing talents, including producers and BBC execs, was genuinely inspiring. Not just in the good feels type of way, but in the "maybe I have a story to tell, maybe I can be a "showrunner", set up a production company, one day inspire and mentor writers like me" type of way.
I also laughed, hard, from by gut... who knew writers were so funny? I was belly laughed into learning (some things new, and some things I needed reminding of)... I learnt how to articulate that thing I hate and don't want to do - make all women just "sassy", and nothing else (thanks, Sharon). I was reminded that men and women have equal ability to be ****holes, and we should see that on the screen (thanks, Dennis). I totally connected to the idea that the big things are not in the plot, but in the "biblical things", like love, and loyalty and betrayal, and forgiveness, but to not let the plot suffer, because the audience will be disappointed (thanks, Peter M). I learnt that I will definitely get fired at some point (thanks? Sarah, Peter B and Tim)... but that it wouldn't mean that I wasn't great (thank you).
I think some of the most important things I took from the day was that a) I am not alone, b) a reminder that telling stories is fun and a privilege (though sometimes I want to put my laptop in a preheated oven) c) there are established creators (e.g. Kay Mellor), execs, departments (e.g. BBC Writersroom), and a lecture room full writers - at all levels - who are championing and looking for me, you, whoever to tell great stories and d) there's a space for me, for my view of this, and whichever world I can dream of.
So, go to events like these, if you can. Take plenty of water, a cardigan for the overly air-conditioned room, a Chinese folding fan for the room that's too warm, an open mind and some "if I could ask my favourite writer anything in the world" questions (because I froze!).
Between now and then, let's just all keep telling stories.
Theresa is on BBC Writersroom's Drama Room scheme… For more on this and what it entails, take a look at Gavin Cutter’s blog.
