Kiwi Comedy with Kathryn Burnett

2022-01-04

In this episode, I chat to Kathryn Burnett - an award-winning screenwriter and playwright, whose name can be found on many successful TV series in New Zealand. We talk about the development journey of her new comedy play, The Campervan, the iconic kiwi sit-com writing room that provided her first TV credit (plus enough stories to dine out on for a lifetime!), as well as her latest work on TV comedies, My Life is Murder and Under the Vines.

Words of Wisdom

Kathryn Burnett on writing to a deadline... "The pressure of a deadline I find a very good spur. If it's commissioned work, obviously that's one thing. If it's something that is speculative - so I'm just writing it for myself, or I'm just chipping away at my own project, I have to find a different type of deadline. Sometimes that's a competition or something I can just enter. Generally, I always advise people to do that - find a deadline of some sort. Otherwise, time can just roll by".

Conversation Highlights & Links

[03:00] Kathryn's new play, The Campervan[08:30] Writing routines, time-blocking, and setting deadlines[17:35] Finding community, online and in-person[23:45] Balancing time in the classroom with writing[28:36] Finding the funny and discovering the talent within[31:34] Hands-on learning through self-producing[33:53] Melody Rules (RNZ podcast: The Worst Sitcom Ever Made)[38:20] Writing on My Life is Murder[39:50] - Final Scene

Connect with Kathryn

Visit Kathryn's websiteConnect on Instagram @KathrynIsAWriterConnect on Twitter @KBurnettDotComDiscover Kathryn's writing workshops

Connect with Paul

Buy the book, The Writer's ToolkitVisit Paul's websiteConnect on Instagram @PaulKalburgiConnect on Twitter @PaulKalburgi

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No. of episodes

27

Latest episode

2025-05-07

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Hosted by Paul Kalburgi, The Writer's Toolkit Podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the journey of writing for screen and stage. Paul takes you inside the writing rooms of his favourite writers to explore their processes and projects, while sharing inspiring stories from writers who have forged their own paths. The podcast also highlights proactive strategies and innovative ideas for sharing your work with audiences. Subscribe for insightful conversations and practical advice that will inspire you to write and take charge of your creative destiny.

Paul Kalburgi is a playwright and screenwriter, and the author of The Writer's Toolkit, published by Nick Hern Books, London. Visit paulkalburgi.com for information about his projects and writing workshops.

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This podcast is fuelled by coffee. If you'd like to support the show, send some writing juice via the link below...

Buy me a coffee or Make a donation