Thread by @mrbiffo

Hello Twitter. Please excuse the nature of this thread, but needs must. I don’t quite know what to try next, but I want to know I've tried everything.

So here's the thing: the Covid years have been brutal, and I need work. 1/

I’ve two decades’ worth of experience as a screenwriter, mostly in kids’ TV. I’ve been nominated for BAFTAs, won an RTS Award, co-created four CBBC shows, and written for countless others. 4 O’Clock Club, Almost Never, My Parents Are Aliens... I've done drama, sitcom, soaps... 2/

On top of that, in my other career, I’ve decades of experience as a video game journalist (and written the script to at least one game), as well as credits in numerous non-gaming magazines. For those of a certain age, Digitiser remains sort of legendary. 3/

Heck, I can even edit videos and podcasts, animate, do graphic design. I enjoy putting in the time to learn new skills. I’ve crowdfunded, produced and directed three YouTube series. I’ve staged ambitious, sold-out, live shows. I love to create things, whatever they may be. 4/

I know I’m a good writer. I know I’m fun and easy to work with. I've a reputation for being professional, fast, reliable, and a safe pair of hands. You'd think I'd be drowning in offers of work! I've spoken to writer friends who assumed as much. 5/

Yet despite all that… since Covid hit in March 2020, and I lost tens of thousands of pounds worth of work, I’ve continued to struggled to find a job. Certain things that were expected to come off didn’t, even as the industry opened back up... It has been a perfect storm. 6/

I chose a freelance life, and it has always come with certain expected peaks and troughs. I’ve never experienced anything like this, though. Now I’ve reached a point where I’m just struggling, and – frankly – it’s scary. Hence the roll-of-the-dice nature of this thread. 7/

I've gone from having been in constant employment in TV for almost 20 years to almost nothing post-Covid. In the last year I’ve written one episode of one CBBC show, where previously I was writing as many as ten, across two series simultaneously – as the head of writing teams. 8/

I’ve spent much of my forced downtime working on spec projects, but as anybody in TV will tell you… development moves at a glacial, unpredictable, pace. It’s often unpaid, yet I still need to keep a roof over the head of my lovely family while I wait and hope and chase. 9/

Aside from the need to work, I *want* to work. I love writing so much. When it’s flowing, it feels like I’m flying. I want to carry on making a living doing the thing I love, that I’ve invested so much of my life into. 10/

I'm still writing sample scripts. I'm still coming up with ideas that excite me. I'm still pushing myself. I'm a better writer than I've ever been, but I'm not getting the chance to prove it. I don’t even need to be lead writer. I’m happy to be part of any writing team. 11/

Big or small, writing is writing, be it TV, articles, or video game scripts. I'll consider it all. I just need (paid) work to get through this difficult time. So! If you need an excellent, experienced, really nice, affordable, writer: here I am! 12/

If you, or anyone you know, may be able to help, or could get this thread out there, I (and my agent) can be reached here or at paulrosewriter.com

From both myself and my family, thanks for reading, sharing, helping. This wasn't easy to write. Now for a deep bath. 13/

Adding a 14th tweet, not because I am superstitious... but because I daren't even risk it at this point. 14/