iTunes CD Burning Dilemma

I really like to make MP3 cds with my iTunes. It's quick, convenient and i love listning to them. Recently, I tried to burn one, but the drive was not cooperating. Ejecting the blank cd before it could burn, not acknowledging the cd's prescence in the drive, etc. What is wrong with it? Do I need equal hard drive space to burn a MP3 CD? If so, that is what the problem is.