I get emails quite often that go something like this:
“I’ve written a fantastic, marketable screenplay which is sure to be a huge international success, but I have no idea how to sell it. Will you sell my screenplay for me? I’ll give you half of the proceeds when it’s sold and I’ll even share writing credit with you.”
The short answer is, no. I won’t. I find it ironic that my entire blog is about empowering up-and-coming screenwriters with the tools and knowledge to sell their screenplays themselves but yet people think it’s a better option to just email me and see if I’ll sell it for them. Hmmmm.
Now for the long answer, which will hopefully help people (and stop some of these emails!).
I wrote this post a while ago which goes into more depth about why I typically won’t work with random people who contact me through my blog. Check it out here:
Will you polish or rewrite my screenplay for me?
Selling a screenplay is really hard. It takes a lot of time and energy. I find that I struggle to keep up with the marketing of my own screenplays, so taking on another writer’s screenplay simply isn’t feasible. There aren’t enough hours in the day for me to work on more than my own projects.
Everything I know about selling screenplays I share on this blog. Really. Absolutely everything. I’m not holding anything back. If you read my blog regularly and you go back and read older posts you will know 100% of what I know about selling screenplays. I’m certainly not the most accomplished screenwriter in the world but I have sold a few scripts. And I believe that you too can sell your own screenplay if you work at it. Hopefully my blog can help you in your pursuit. Please let me know if it does.
I’ve written one big post which summarizes my strategy and links to other posts which should get you started. Check it out here:
How to Sell Your Screenplay (in a nutshell)
Also, this is a good post to check out too if you’re struggling to find an audience for your work and wonder what you should do next:
I don’t hold the keys to your success.
And of course I even offer a whole host of screenwriting marketing tools which can help you sell your screenplay. Check them out here:
Good luck!
thanks for the great input, i found it helpful, i appreciate your emails
each and every input i get from your emails i play it by ear.
If it’s not too much trouble, would you breathe for me? I’m having a hard time catching my breath.
Sorry, my blog can’t do that… yet.
How do you write the dialogue between two people when the conversation is in their minds, and not spoken out loud? How do you signify this on paper, where only the audience hears it?
Thank you for your assistance. JoAnn
You can simply write (V.O.) next to their name and that indicates that it’s not spoken but only heard.
It’s nearly impossible to sell a screenplay in Hollywood if you don’t have any connections. And nobody will help you. I’ve tried for nearly 15 years, even though I was previously a published novelist. I shared my experience in a book: MY ADVENTURES IN GOODLUCKLAND you can find it here: http://www.lulu.com/shop/andrea-rich/my-adventures-in-goodluckland/ebook/product-20033012.html
You will at least learn all the stuff that doesn’t work in the screenplay selling process which might save you a lot of time and money.
I get emails like this as well.
Thanks for the post – I’ve been sending people to it and telling them I agree with everything in it!
Thanks! Yeah, I wish I could help all these people because for the most part they’re passionate and have really great ideas. But it’s just not that simple.