Work Ethic

The majority of my time as a playwright is spent in pain and frustration. Trying to force an idea into shape is painful; trying to get what is a good idea into such a shape that it runs for the right length, that it evokes a narrative and enables and actor to act is much like trying to put wire from your eye ball.

Then when the play is finished, you find yourself having to turn into a marketing executive: trying to find the play’s unique selling point, pitching it to theatres and groups and attempting to convince someone to ‘take the risk’ of putting on a play by an unknown. Take it a step further and you find yourself banging your head against the brick wall that is agents and professional theatre. You ask yourself why you even bother as the frustration takes its hold and you are wading through treacle.

To keep going, you need to have a strong work ethic and a passion for what you do. So many people think that they are capable of writing a play or a novel; but ask them how many they have finished and they soon turn quiet.

If you have written a book or a play and have completed it, give yourself a slap on the back and help yourself to a decent drink: You have achieved something that the majority will never accomplish.

Yet maintaining that work ethic is in itself painful. Trying to write when the muse is not in residence is like studying for an exam in a subject you detest. You may well put words on the screen (or on the page if your J K Rowling) but the quality may be awful.

Yesterday I realised that I am dangerously close to finishing my new play. I elected to devote the night to editing and proof-reading what I had. There was this doubt in my mind that the quality wasn’t there – and there is no way that I am about to publish something that is sub-standard.

I thought that I would only be capable of looking over about 20 pages… But once I was 5 pages in, I realised that I was feeling something I hadn’t felt in quite some time. The hairs were up on the back of my neck, I wanted to read more, I felt something strong about what I was reading… I was enjoying myself!

This was not a task that was being processed because it had to be for me to call myself a playwright. This was a joy, because I am a playwright and what I had in front of me was good enough (stuff that, it’s more than good enough – it’s great) to be staged before a paying audience.

The excitement I felt at midnight as I finished editing/proofing the 80 pages I had was palpable. I wanted to fire up Celtx and finish writing the damned thing. After all, I only have 20 pages to go…

Then reality stuck its unwelcome nose in. I have a day job. I had to get in the office the following morning. It was time to press the off switch and retire for the night.

So I did.

But this morning the anticipation of getting behind the PC and get down to writing those last 20 pages is driving me to distraction. I feel the end is near.

I have no doubt that my new play will be available to download or order for dispatch within a fortnight! I’ve even posted a note on my Facebook group to the same extent.

So I can’t wait for tonight, so that I can press the keys again and complete this task. There is one small problem: I have a panto rehearsal tonight…

Still, that’s not until 7:30 and should finish at 10:00. So that gives me two and a half hours after work, and if I work until midnight tonight, I could cram in another 2 hours after rehearsal…

I’ll post again soon with how I get on, and give you more details on the play itself.