Small Successes

Thanks to all my lovely reviewers over at American Zoetrope, my script is in the Top 3, as published today. Yes, "Dance with Me" marks my first top 3 entry in that category, although "Dance Away" was a Top 3 in the Short Scripts section a long, long time ago.

Trouble is that I have no idea how to capitalise on successes like this. When I recently sent a script in response to a request from a well-known BBC producer interested in films, I mentioned the script I'm working on in my letter. He rang back when he got my letter to say although he wasn't interested in the script I sent him, he would like to talk about the other one I mentioned. That was several weeks ago and I haven't rung back.

I'm always missing opportunities through wilful neglect. A few years ago I was invited to submit a treatment and sample episode for an early evening animation series to the BBC. They were looking for three writers to groom up. It's not necessarily my thing, and I wasn't chosen, but on the strength of my submission I was told that I should ring the Head of Animation at the Beeb to discuss other ideas. I never rang. It was only when I told someone about this and saw the look on her face that I realised the enormity of my omission.

My writing history is littered with instances like this where I have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. I struggle to analyse why I do this, but I really must stop. One thing I'm aware of is that I'm not good on the phone. I've never been one who chats endlessly on the phone - it's a half-medium, sterile, and I just don't like it. I love email because you can frame words carefully, and I like one-to-one meetings because communication is about a great deal more than words; I'm a good reader of body language and I get on with people very well face to face.

So there we are. Ever the nearly woman. Any ideas on how to progress things are always welcome!