Screenwriting : That all important query letter by Charlotte Hardt

Hello Charlotte. The most successful query letters I've seen and the ones that have garnered the best results personally, have the following format: Info about the script - Name - Contest info (if applicable), attachments (if applicable) Logline 1 paragraph synopsis Any pertinent bio info - Other scripts that have placed in contests, been optioned, etc. Also, any previous writing experience. I would also suggest taking a look at Stage 32 member Ashley Scott Meyers' site, Selling Your Screenplay. Ashley has tremendous experience and insight in this area. http://www.sellingyourscreenplay.com/ Finally, I would suggest targeting managers first, not agents. Hope all of this helps! RB

This is very good advice. Thanks.

Pleasure is all mine, Charlotte. It's what this site is all about.

Richard - Thanks for the recommendation to my site. Charlotte - I wrote a specific post on query letters here: http://www.sellingyourscreenplay.com/how-to-sell-your-screenplay/how-to-... I find most writers don't spend enough time on their log lines. A query letter really sinks or swims with the log line, so make sure your log line is as good as it can be. I wrote a post on log lines here: http://www.sellingyourscreenplay.com/how-to-sell-your-screenplay/writing...

Very good, thank you.

I have always felt that tailoring the letter to the recipient will make the better pitch, and by that, the better impression. But I am just starting out with spec and a dream, so there is much to learn.

No problem, Ashley. Thanks for adding some more color to the thread.

One big “no-no” to avoid is bragging about your screenplay. Never express how great or fantastic your work may be. It is the sign of a rank amateur. Keep your query business-like, short and to the point. Less is more. Your log line is your main selling point. If you are emailing your query, the subject line is also extremely important… get creative.

Yes, but what if your screenplay is fantastic and great? Surely honesty is the best policy? As long as you can back up the brags (?) then it's fiiiine. (Chanelling Stan Smith.)

Terrific point, Steven. And one that is too often ignored. There is nothing that will make a manager or producer shut the door quicker than a screenwriter singing his or her own praises. If you've won an award, placed high in a contest, received Recommend coverage from a well known person or entity, by all means, give it a mention...Otherwise, let the writing do the talking.

I feel as a screenwriter, you have your vision of you want the screenplay to be. I think its a matter of others being the agent, producer, or reader seeing that vision that you want them to see whether it sales for not. That is how I go about it.

Hi Charlitte, I am not a screenwriter but I do write children's book and have the first on starting at the end of this year in America published by Alpha Wolf. It may be hard to get a job screenwritng but it is very hard getting a publisher. I am luck to have found onw who likes my work. So if you have any children who love magical stories please tell them about Mary Sumeridge Beginnings. You can check out Poppy the troll who is one of the characters of the first book Bill Smith did a great job on animating him on my web page. http://maryfilmer.com/ Poppy is flying on Willy the seagulls back and pulling a sign with the name of the first book. I am trying to market the book as best as I can as you know there are so many good books coming out every year. I may not be J.K.Rowlings but I do love to write magical stories so if you can help recomend me to any children who love to read please do. Mary Filmer author

I found this somewhere on the web [Sorry. Don't remember the source]: <> I believe a synopsis should faithfully serve the spirit of the screenplay as it was written. It must not only demonstrate the author's storytelling skill, but convey the dynamics of its characters and structure in a cadence very much in keeping with that of the actual script. If executed well, my feeling is the reader will then have a better idea of the author's voice and style, and his/her clarity of vision with regards to the story. It will lay open the structure concisely for others so that they can actually "get it." Most importantly it will excite them about the potential of the script and compel them to request it without divulging the punchline, or "McGuffin" as Hitchcock called it, on which the story hinges. (If applicable, and most often it is.) If you've written your script well, there will be no unfortunate surprises for the reader—only intended thrills and enlightenments that reinforce and embolden every element eluded to in your original synopsis.

Thank you for the observations, Pedro. I have drawn a conclusion that a synopsis that does more explaining than telling is the wrong direction to go. When I write, I am always asking myself, "Can the viewer see the story? We cannot explain feelings, we must show them. Novelists have the luxury of reading the character's mind and hundred's of pages of atmosphere and background. We have less than 100 pages in a spec. But, you know, I like those boundaries.

Hi Chalotte, I just started writing in September so this all new to me. I do have a Baby Step success story. After sending about 100 inquiry letters to Studios and Agencies I did get one request from a large Hollywood Agency for a copy of my Script CURIOUS BUDDIES. Haven't heard back from them yet, but that's not a bad respose rate according to Ashley Scott Meyers. I give him all the credit for this! Thanks Ashley!

Via e-mail? All that I've read says it is the electronic media now.

Yes, I sent most via e-mail. I got them from the free trial at IMBD. Some of the Agencies and studios have the names listed. The one I got a response from I sent to the Agency President. I got the request for my script from his Assistant. I did send about a dozen personalized letters to some large Studios just for giggles. I received mostly the standard legal mumbo jumbo rejection letters. I saved them all for fun. One was really cool. It had the Studio Logo with a hand written note. I also tried calling a few of the big Studios Not much success though. One of them actually answered. I was so shocked to get a live person that I froze up and rushed the call. The best thing I learned from Ashley is to never give up. Please feel free to let me know if you have any other questions about my quest. I 'm having a blast writing and playing the game. All the Best to you Charlotte, Janet:)

Great info, Janet. Thanks for sharing.

Charlotte, I really do not know what you cando but I don't like the idea of a via e-mail. May be if you just keep pushing the wheel it will happen. When I started out 35 years ago I thought it would never happen but I kept at it and now I have a contract to write a children's series. I have had little lucky like most authors do along the way but I think you get better with the more you do. As I have told the other person net working is a great way to met people. I think maybe you should net work some more. Mary Filmer author

This is the address for the complete article on synopsis I referenced before: www.writersconference.com/resources/documents/art-synopsis.html

I just visited Ashley Scott Meyers' site, Selling Your Screenplay. Wao! So much good info there. Thanks Ashley.

It's a terrific resource, Pedro. Glad you found it useful.

I'd be curious to know what others' response rates are among email queries. Mine is about 2%. Pretty awful, though it costs nothing to send an email. From interviews I've read agents choose clients based on personal knowledge and never ever from an email sent from an unknown.

Even - 2% is not bad from my experience, if I can get to 2% on a query letter I feel like it's working. And I've sent thousands of query letters. If you're getting 2% just keep scaling it up and building a bigger and bigger list and keep sending them out.

I get a 2 - 3% return on my email queries. Some do better than others. I have come to believe more responses happen when I come up with an intriguing subject line that I tag with “- log line.” Of course, a solid log line is also a must. Here is an example: Subject line: Paraplegic ex-navy seal action thriller - log line Log line: THE FLOWER PEOPLE - A former Navy Seal who is now an antisocial, alcoholic, paraplegic stumbles across the wrong web site and now the bad guys are coming to kill him. Contained environment - limited cast

Excellent views, both of you. Yes, Steven, I am trying versions of the subject line as a "little hook" to read the log line. Trying to tighten the e-mail enough to raise their curiosity, yet keep it to the basics they want to know. It's only our virtual handshake with a twinkle to keep them interested and want to know more.

My suggestion - Never use the word query. I have found the greatest success just using the title of the script or the title of the script and the genre (My Great Script - Thriller). Most producers and managers will realize it's a query letter.

Haha.. Maybe avoid Please - Pluzeee - Pleese .. read. in the subject line. Yes, sound interesting and pique curiosity, don't grovel. I am catching on here. Thank you both you keep inspiring the toward direction I need to go.

Hi Charlotte how did you go with getting a agent? Mary Filmer Children's Author. htt://maryfilmer.com/

I am stuck in the no-representation stage still. Personal life has been taking over a bit right now.. No results yet. I sent a note recently to a connection who just got signed on to Benderspink, but how she was able to get notice, that is the part I don't know.

Hi Chariotte, it is hard getting an agent for any of the arts. But keep trying and put your name out there when ever you can. Send off lots of copies of a letter telling them about who you are and what you do as well as a photo of yourself. Try and do some everyday. I would send my books off to any one who would look at them in the beginning. Now I have a publisher but I am still having to do all my own marketing as the publisher leaves this up to the author. So all I can tell you is not to give up my friend. If it is meant to be it will happen. Mary Filmer Children's Author http://maryfilmer.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgz_ZvccD7c

Thank you for the link. Your work is delightful, and my niece is experiencing many of the same things you are in her romance novel word. Promotion never ends. I have decided to enjoy this part.

My pleasure Charlotte, I wish you well in your project and please feel free to contact me if you need any help which I can give. Mary Filmer Children's Author http://maryfilmer.com/