HOLLYWOOD SCREENWRITERS NETWORK - Career Strategies for Writers

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Career Strategies for Writers

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Frequently Asked Questions
by Donie A. Nelson

FAQ File Drawer Pages 1 - 10

#1	#2	#3	#4	#5
#6	#7	#8	#9	#10

Ref 399. what tips could you give me on selling a screenplay, taking into mind that i have no agent, 17, Malawian and still in college.
kasamb39@buffalostate.com

Response to Reference 399 If you have read my responses to questions #1-398 you will know a lot about selling your screenplay, especially my responses to students. I think I am going to have to write an article about students breaking in, because students have special issues and stumbling blocks (as well as different opportunities) than the majority of writers over 30. However, to be brief: be patient, read, learn, develop your craft, get professional feedback, make contacts locally to develop all kinds of skills, put money in the bank, and start mapping out your own road to Hollywood. If you need a guide down the road, be prepared to pay for assistance.

Good luck, Donie

Ref 400. i have a script currently in its mature stages but keep branchng out into other genres and storylines. i feel that the characters in the story are brilliant but cannot seem to contain them within a single story.
mwai kasamale

Response to Reference 400 Sounds like a form of writer's block. Rachel Ballon's books "The Writer's Source Book: From Writer's Block to Writing Blockbusters" and "Blueprint for Writing: A Writer's Guide to Creativity, Craft & Career" should help solve your problem.

Donie

Ref 401. How do I become a member of the Writers Guild of America and
register my novel and /or manuscript? thank you....Ralph at
WaldoUno@aol.com

Response to Reference 401 You do not need to be a member of the WGA to register your material. Please visit the WGA website at http://wga.org to get the information you need.

Donie

Ref 405. If you could advise
me and a few thousand hopeful (desperate is more the term)
screenwriters, on how to to register with the screenwriters guild and
market our screenplays, that would be great.

thanks

drew bonaventure (remember that name cause I'm going to be famouse
one day.)
drew73@netpci.com

Response to Reference 405 Dear Drew:

See #401 above. I am not an expert on the WGA and how it operates, but I do know that you need more than to be a WGA member to get your scripts sold. In fact, you cannot become a member unless a script has sold to a WGA signator company. Please contact the WGA for specifics.

Donie

Ref 406. I am not Donie Nelson, but I do know that to join the Writer's Guild you must first sell a script. However, you can register a script with them without being a member. The cost is $20. For more information, you can go to their website: www.wga.org
Marie

Response to Reference 406 Thank you, Marie, and to everyone else out there who is willing to share information.

This gives me the opportunity to recommend to writers that no matter where you are, no matter how small your country or your town, that you should find other writers to exchange information with. This doesn't mean you have to spend time reading each other's scripts or exchanging creative ideas, but there are newsletters, books, classes, and consultants who have a lot to offer and not everyone is on the Internet and has access to a forum like this. If you organize (even 2-4 people) and meet once a month and share what you know, you all benefit. The most successful people are those who say, "I don't know" and those who ask questions. For the last 6-7 years I have been eating breakfast once a month with a revolving group of consultants and every month I learn something new. Every day I learn something new from what I've read or who I have talked to. And we all keep sharing the information. Perhaps some day we will all know it all and I will have to find another way to make a living, but until then I will continue to share: without compensation on the Hollywood Network and for fee in personal consultations with clients.

Donie

Ref 407. I have a script, and It's almost ready to sell, but there is one problem.
There are exactly zero agents in the state where I live. (Nebraska). All the out of state agents I have called told me to get an agent closer...any advice?

Response to Reference 407 How about finding a buyer first? Then the agent won't care where you live. Donie

Ref 409. I am a college student at a college without any screenwriting classes.
What steps should I take to get going?
mayj@wlu.com

Response to Reference 409 There have been so many students asking similar questions that I must refer you to previous responses: look at everything I have responded to since #385.

I hope this helps, Donie

Ref 411. Where can I obtain information on a "standard" literary agreement for film and cable writers?

Response to Reference 411 Every writer should have one of these books as reference. Before making your decision, look at the table of contents and the index, how easy is it to find what you are looking for? Then read pages that refer to a specific problem(s) you may have. Do you understand what the author is say? Once the book passes your own personal tests for accessibility, then add it to your reference shelf. A book on dealmaking will reduce your attorney costs--but never replace the attorney. You need to know enough to make decisions. These books are: "Clause by Clause" by Stephen F. Breimer, Esq., "Deal Making in the Film & Television Industry" by Mark Litwak, and "The Writer Got Screwed" by Brooke Wharton.

Donie

Ref 414. Hi Donie,
You seem very knowledgeable and informative and I hope you can help me. I have TV and Film questions.FILM-It was always my understanding that independent production companies don't read material unless submitted by persons known to them. Am I wrong? How can I get producers to read my script. Also, I've completed three screenplays and am currently working for a personal manager who doesn't rep writers. She's made a few calls on my behalf and sent my scripts to a few agents. I too have gotten a couple of managers to respond to my letters and have me send materials for them to read. So far everyone that I've spoken to has basically told me that they see talent, but my scripts need work. Does it behoove me to send them the revised script after I've gone down the dark "rewrite"road? I always take down the responses they have to the script and keep them in a notebook for assistance during rewrites, to see if there is one specific problem everyone sees. But I really think that they do feel that I have talent as they tell me that they'd be happy to read anything else I write in the future and why would they say that to have someone bothering them unless they really saw potential. Do you think I'm right?TV-What's your advice for finding out about pilots and how to contact them for an assistant to the writing staff position. It seems to me that the best way to get onto a show without credits or representation is to get on a show, when it first starts production as a writers assistant and move your way up. Do you agree with this and how would I find out about the new shows? Sorry to be so long and I would appreciate any advice. Thanks.
Monmcd@aol.com

Response to Reference 414 In answer to your problems with your scripts. You should immediately find a script consultant with whom you have a good rapport (you won't hear the message unless you like the messenger) and who shares your vision of the script. Be sure this person is in it for the long haul, i.e. is willing to reread your rewrites until you have a finished product. Please do not burn any more bridges. Listen to what they are saying: "talent, but needs work" Time to do the work.

Finding a job as an assistant on any show is "looking for a job". Check out Hugh Taylor's "Hollywood Job-Hunter's Survival Guide"

My best of luck, Donie

Ref 415. About 2 years ago, I approached someone and offered to work with him to create, co-write and co-produce a television series that I wanted to do. On his insistance, I foolishly signed an agreement/contract to co-create, co-write and co-produce this television program. The person I signed this agreement/contract with bailed out after approximately 1 month stating the he can't waste time on something that will not generate immediate income. I continued to work the project creating character profiles, synopises ect. Recently he saw me working at one of the public computer terminals set up in our local library. After comimg over to see what I was doing, he sarcasticly said "I hope you are successful in selling my television series. You are going to make me a lot of money when I sue you." In the last 2 years, I have witten approximately 150 page of material and registered the idea with the Writers Guild East in New York City. As far as I know, he can produce approximately 1-1/2 pages of 1 and 2 line story ideas. What options do I have of formally dissolving the agreement being that he produced virtually nother over the last 2 years?

Response to Reference 415 You need an attorney...NOW.

Donie

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