Skip to main content
Footer-logo Scripted-horizontal-dark
Solutions Down-arrow-black
Book-closed
Content Intelligence
Custom analytics to map your content vs. industry and competitive trends and ensure your brand’s message meets the market.
Stars-02
Content Strategy
Daily ideas, recommendations and strategies to optimize performance across every marketing channel.
Life-buoy-01
Content Production
Create content at scale for every marketing channel in your brand’s unique voice.
Play-circle
Marketing Execution
Distribute the right content to the right customer no matter what platforms you use.
Industries Down-arrow-black
Agriculture
Art & Design
Automotive
Building Materials
Cannabis
Career
Construction
Counseling
Customer Service
Dental
Education
Energy & Environment
Engineering
Fashion & Beauty
Family Practice
Food & Beverage
Gaming
Health & Wellness
Healthcare
Higher Education
Home & Garden
Human Resources
Injury Law
Interior Design
IT & Security
Insurance
Legal
Manufacturing
Media & Entertainment
Medical Law
Nutrition
Parenting
Payments
Personal Finance
Real Estate
Relationships
Retail & Ecommerce
Religion & Spirituality
Restaurant and Bar
SaaS
Sales
Senior Services
Software
Sports & Fitness
Technology
Transportation & Logistics
Travel
Customers Down-arrow-black
Building-03
Enterprises
On-brand content that performs across all inbound, outbound and PR channels.
Share-07
Agencies
Workflow solutions that support content strategies and cost-effective creation for every client.
Tv-03
Media Publishers
Scalable content production that complements your existing editorial content.
File-06
Content Marketers
Insights, strategies and content to support your SEO, ABM, and social media marketing campaigns.
Volume-max
Brand Marketers
Subject Matter Experts that ensure your brand’s story is told with integrity and performance in mind.
Bar-chart-square-plus
Sales Teams
Everything you need to support 1:1 personalized outbound campaigns and get deals closed, quickly.
Resources Down-arrow-black
Book-open-01
Blog
Scripted has supported Content Marketers with insights for over a decade. Find everything you need here.
Lightbulb-05
Knowledge Base
Further resources on using Scripted and industry best practices as they evolve.
Speaker-02
Case Studies
Learn how Scripted customers have leveraged our platform to drive successful content marketing campaigns.
Briefcase-01
Writing Samples
See Scripted’s Subject Matter Expert writers and editors in action.
Backpack
Free Tools
Tons of AI-powered tools to make your job easier.
Pricing
Sign In GET STARTED
Menu button
x Close Menu Solutions Down-arrow-black
Book-closed
Content Intelligence
Custom analytics to map your content vs. industry and competitive trends and ensure your brand’s message meets the market.
Stars-02
Content Strategy
Daily ideas, recommendations and strategies to optimize performance across every marketing channel.
Life-buoy-01
Content Production
Create content at scale for every marketing channel in your brand’s unique voice.
Play-circle
Marketing Execution
Distribute the right content to the right customer no matter what platforms you use.
Industries Down-arrow-black
Agriculture
Art & Design
Automotive
Building Materials
Cannabis
Career
Construction
Counseling
Customer Service
Dental
Education
Energy & Environment
Engineering
Fashion & Beauty
Family Practice
Food & Beverage
Gaming
Health & Wellness
Healthcare
Higher Education
Home & Garden
Human Resources
Injury Law
Interior Design
IT & Security
Insurance
Legal
Manufacturing
Media & Entertainment
Medical Law
Nutrition
Parenting
Payments
Personal Finance
Real Estate
Relationships
Retail & Ecommerce
Religion & Spirituality
Restaurant and Bar
SaaS
Sales
Senior Services
Software
Sports & Fitness
Technology
Transportation & Logistics
Travel
Customers Down-arrow-black
Building-03
Enterprises
On-brand content that performs across all inbound, outbound and PR channels.
Share-07
Agencies
Workflow solutions that support content strategies and cost-effective creation for every client.
Tv-03
Media Publishers
Scalable content production that complements your existing editorial content.
File-06
Content Marketers
Insights, strategies and content to support your SEO, ABM, and social media marketing campaigns.
Volume-max
Brand Marketers
Subject Matter Experts that ensure your brand’s story is told with integrity and performance in mind.
Bar-chart-square-plus
Sales Teams
Everything you need to support 1:1 personalized outbound campaigns and get deals closed, quickly.
Resources Down-arrow-black
Book-open-01
Blog
Scripted has supported Content Marketers with insights for over a decade. Find everything you need here.
Lightbulb-05
Knowledge Base
Further resources on using Scripted and industry best practices as they evolve.
Speaker-02
Case Studies
Learn how Scripted customers have leveraged our platform to drive successful content marketing campaigns.
Briefcase-01
Writing Samples
See Scripted’s Subject Matter Expert writers and editors in action.
Backpack
Free Tools
Tons of AI-powered tools to make your job easier.
Plans Sign In Get Started
  1. Blog Home
  2. Scripted Writers
  3. A Sad Story

A Sad Story

This is a sad story. The closest I ever came to having a proper career in writing was almost ten years ago now. Now, excuse me if I'm a bit lax about the details but I might have the opportunity to work with some of the people involved again sometime and I'd rather not screw it up twice.

I won a comedy writing competition and part of the prize was being allowed to submit sketches for a new show. You had no guarantees of having your work accepted and I was delighted to be one of the lucky ones; two characters I created were to be regulars in the series. One of them everyone loved, no problems there, but the other the producer wanted re-writes on. No worries; I like being given re-writes to do, makes me feel professional (don't know why). But then there were more rewrites taking the character in a very different direction, a direction that I did not think was funny. I talked to the producer, he was adamant, I did the rewrites. But apparently I didn't take it far enough, they wanted to 'push the boundaries'; more rewrites. By now I felt the sketch had gone beyond unfunny into just uncomfortable, and it had my name on it, and I only got paid if it was used in the broadcast show, which meant the audience had to laugh at the recording, which I was sure they wouldn't. I phoned the producer, I made it clear that I would do the rewrites but under protest because this wasn't funny anymore. Of course the producer stuck to his guns and I did the rewrites. The sketches died at the recording and were cut from the finished show.

So I was right, but because the sketches were cut I didn't get paid for all that work. The producer was wrong, but he was on salary. And the question I ask myself is; why did I do it? The producer was always going to get his own way, why did I make trouble? The sketches never had a chance but if I'd shut up and done what I was told then I'd have been remembered as a guy who got the job done instead of a troublemaker.

The show itself was pretty awful and there was no second series for me to work on but I'll always wonder, for the rest of my life probably, if that producer would have got back to me if I had kept my temper. He still works, producing other shows, could I have been a writer on one of those shows? He might never have got back to me, but I could have called him to pitch ideas if I hadn't burnt that bridge.

I have a short temper, always have had, but these days I try to keep a lid on it around people who can affect my career. It may be too little too late.




Published by Scripted Writers on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Sign Up For Your 30 Day Free Trial Today!

You agree to Scripted’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Login
Member & Writer Services
Membership Plans Become A Writer Help Center Customer Login Writer Login
Resources
Hire Writers Scripted Blog Glossary Competitors Blog Ideas Products
Legal
Privacy Terms of Use Writer Services Agreement GDPR Trust
Follow Us





Scripted-horizontal-light
©2011-2025
Hubspot chat