Oh man, the burnout is setting in. This schedule I get myself into, of writing an episode a week… It’s grueling at times. My panic disorder has flared up BIG TIME. I had a panic attack on the street today, which never happens. Grocery stores, malls – indoor places, for sure. The street? Not since I was 15. That’s a bad sign. I’m slipping.

I’ve just outlined another episode, which I’ll have written into a first draft by… Wednesday, second draft by Friday or Saturday, then polished on Monday, to be recorded the following Tuesday (along with the episode I wrote last week which will be recorded the day before).

You think you’re confused, you should see the look on my face.

Uhhh. I love radio drama. There are times where I actually prefer it to any other medium. I grew up on it all; books, tv, film and radio drama… I snuck tapes into bed and listened to old Goon Show episodes as I went to sleep on my WALK-MAN.

(A moment of silence… for the WALK-MAN).

I geniunly feel at home in this medium.

But I have to admit that I envy the TV writers. They get more attention (it’s hard to imagine anything getting less press than Canadian Television – Guess what, it’s Radio Drama), they get more money, and they get more time… To work on the same script. Draft after draft of the same script.

Actually, that sounds more like hell than what I’m doing.

At least I’m never bored.

Beisdes, the TV people won’t hire me, because whenever I try to get staffed on a show, they look at my radio drama credits and say, “They still make Radio Drama?”.

I don’t even want to start on what it’s like to explain to people outside this business about what I do. “I write Radio Drama”. “Drama? Like… Serious plays for radio?” “No, drama in the traditional… but it’s still comedy… and… Uhh… Like… You know… Burns and Allen but in space and without an audience… And you know… not quite as funny.”

“Why don’t they just call it Radio Comedy?”

“Because that’s… Like… The Debaters.”

“The who-what now?”

Anyway…

I still hold on to the belief that maybe there’ll be a resurgance in Radio Drama. Hell, if they get this podcasting thing sorted out (ha ha ha) maybe it’ll open up a whole new world.

In the meantime, I’m glad I have side projects… Which I work on… When I… Uhh… Have time…

Which is never.

Damn.

Oh, who am I to complain, at least I’m working, right?

Now, I have to go to bed so I can get up in 4 hours and inject my friends diabetic cat with insulin.

Seriously.

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