Thinking About Writing

Settle in to hear some tales of what it's like being on the writing staff for a long running TV sitcom as part of the writer's room. Robin talks about his time on BBC comedy My Family, including the nature of a writer's room and a show runner, the day to day process, the unwritten etiquette of how to pitch and contribute, and why these environments can be so important and we need mo...

It's time for some simple and complex thinking about the qualities of simplicity and complexity. These are qualities which many would consider desirable in a script, but some might think are negative. We'll consider how a mix of the two can create great scripts, and applying them to concepts, stories and characters can ensure depth and dimensions, but also clarity and comprehension. And...

This episode, Robin talks about the process of conceptualising, writing and gearing up to perform a new one person play, 'The "How Are You?" Game'. (You may have heard him promote it on this show!) He discusses the origin of the idea from personal experiences, the challenges and doubts which cropped up as he wrote, and the steps a writer may take to progress a script from the p...

A slightly more traditional episode this week as we think about writing devices. What are the increasingly common tools writers use to subvert traditional, linear story telling? What can they contribute to a script? And how do we writers ensure they are being applied effectively? Also a rather frenzied appraisal of mockumentaries! If you want to get in touch with questions, comments, or enquiries...

In this second part of Robin's recollections of his life as a writer he talks about his time writing for BBC sitcoms 'Two Pints of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps' and 'My Family'. This includes learning on the job, moving from a junior team member to a lead writer, as well his solo endeavours. He also describes the psychological toll of trying to make it and worrying that yo...

So series four is a bit of personal one, and with that in mind, Robin recounts his life as a writer. Looking back on what first got him hooked on writing, early forays into theatre and finding his style, before a talent search he almost didn't enter provides his big break.  This first part looks at the origin of creative ambitions, the power of encouragement and finding an audience, as well a...

The podcast is back! And this time the titles aren't all going to start with "Thinking About..."! On this episode, Robin offers some insights and observations from his work as a freelance script reader. This should be interesting if you've ever submitted a script to an opportunity or a competition and wondered how decisions are made. We think about some of the qualities which c...

The final episode of How to Write a Script is here, and fittingly it's looking at finishing your script. We have a think about endings, titles, page counts and proof reading. All this plus contemplating what to do with said finished script, before a nice summary of everything we've talked about across this series. You can follow the podcast on social media: x.com/writing_pod instagram.co...

It's the penultimate episode of the season, and this time we're thinking about how to get the writing done. Methods to stay motivated and make everything feel more manageable by setting targets and taking on the script in sections. We then consider how to rewrite, including how to look at your own work and analyse what could be improved, allocating priorities to any drafts you undertake....

This episode we go over some of the aspirations of what a script can accomplish in its first pages in the hopes of making a reader or audience excited about the project and want to see more. Instigating incidents, using time efficiently, teasers and just showing off your flare, we have a think about all of them. You can follow the podcast on social media: x.com/writing_pod instagram.com/writing_po...

In the fifth examination of how to write a script, we take a look at dialogue and  voice. What makes for effective dialogue? How might a writer express their voice and style? And why did Robin go to karaoke the day before recording this episode and knacker up his vocal chords? Find out all this and other things right here! You can follow the podcast on social media: x.com/writing_pod instagram.com...

We're taking a little mid-season break, but in the mean time you can listen to Robin having a ponder about Amazon Prime series Mr & Mrs Smith, why it's good, and what it says about current TV and streaming in terms of utilising familiar IP and how a show is promoted. If you'd like to hear more like this or want to show your appreciation for the podcast through the medium of cash...

Hello script fans! In part four of the How to Write a Script odyssey we have a quick think about research and the instruments we might use to do some writing, before delving into the anatomy of a script. We'll ponder elements such as scene headings, action lines, parentheses and transitions so as to understand what the heck they are, what the heck they do and how we can use them effectively a...

Like an unstoppable freight train, we move on to plotting, thinking over establishment, escalation and resolution, things to bear in mind when formulating beat sheets and scene by scenes, and how a plot can evolve, or emerge from different directions. And of course we apply this to our launderette based show. All this while Robin can't breathe properly through his nose due to dreaded lurgy. I...

Now that we've got a decent sense of the concept we want to write, it's time to start filling in the details, starting out with the important act of character creation, since most scripts without characters in them tend to be on the less interesting side. We go over the roles a character may play in the story, where to take character inspiration from and how to develop their psychology,...

A new season begins, dedicated to how to write a script. And it's all about beginning the journey of deciding what it is you want to write. We'll think about the medium you might want to write it, the core of your concept, how that can expand into a premise, ensuring there's enough substance to maintain your script, and most importantly, why an idea excites you. All of this plus the...

The podcast for writer types is coming back, and for season three we're breaking down how to write a script. Over eight episodes host Robin will explore  things to think about and techniques to apply as you see a writing project through from beginning to end and beyond. We'll then apply these ideas to the creation of a new concept, and offer up some writing exercises you might want to tr...

The season two finale is here, and we're finishing off by thinking about the struggles writers can face when a big old writer's block lands in their path. We'll be going over four potential causes of the condition and suggesting some ways for overcoming them, so you can keep on writing. Thanks so much for listening this season, and if you've any thoughts or feelings you'd...

This week we're joined by radio producer/director/editor/writer (So many slashes!) Penny Leicester to talk about the joys and opportunities in writing for audio. We discuss the imaginative options in audio, the power of using sound effectively and what a radio script may look like. Check out Penny's recommendation of The Voice In My Ear by Claudine Toutoungi here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/p...

This week we're thinking about what makes something funny, and what could be more amusing than some theories from classic comedy icon, social psychologist, Erving Goffman? We'll be talking about interpretations and formations of funny moments as well as rummaging in a big old tombola full of terminology. Chuckles ahoy! You can follow the podcast on social media: x.com/writing_pod instagr...

Following on from last week's episode about forging a career as a writer, we get some insight on the Writers' Guild of Great Britain and everything they do for working writers, with special guest and deputy co-chair of the Guild, William Gallagher. We also talk about ensuring writing competitions are fair and legit, copyright, how to deal with inappropriate treatment, plus a cheeky topic...

This week we get a bit more practical with our thoughts as we consider ways that people might turn their writing into a career. We cover topics like building up solid sample scripts, how to get noticed, creating and maintaining contacts and the big doozy of money. Plus a good old existential discussion of how much it all matters at the end of the day. You can follow the podcast on social media: x....

This week we're joined by Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder, the co-founder of Box of Tricks Theatre, a new writing focused theatre company based in the north of England. We learn about the many initiatives they run, as well as generally discussing why theatre is such an exciting medium and how to get involved in it. Find out more about Box of Tricks here: https://boxoftrickstheatre.co.uk/ Follow them on...

Comedy, drama, comedy drama, we're thinking about all of them this episode. What defines different genres? How much does it matter? And how many times will we refer to Fleabag. Find out by listening in! You can follow the podcast on social media: x.com/writing_pod instagram.com/writing_pod tiktok.com/@writing_pod Or search for Thinking About Writing on Facebook. Find out more about Robin and...

This week we're joined by Empress of the sketch, Gemma Arrowsmith, as we think about the mechanics and qualities which can make for hilarious and effective sketches, how to be economic with your writing and extolling the virtues of creating comedy for radio. You can find out more on Gemma's website http://gemmaarrowsmith.com/ Listen to her sketch show here https://www.bbc.co.uk/programme...