Try creating the file, but don't burn. Then go back and burn from previous content.
Give the program time to recognize your disc before setting off the burn. Make sure you see your burner in the settings, and also make sure that you see the numbers (2X, 4X, 8X, ect) in the burn speed. If you see the words low, med, high, or auto, the disc has not been recognized yet.
Burning directly to disc has caused me some pain, but the two part process done slowly seems to work OK for me.