I got a very positive response to a query letter from a manager and then emailed the screenplay to him about 4-5 weeks ago. I realize it is a tired cliche for an amateur writer to be impatient but is it poor form to send a follow up email just to very subtly ask if they need anything else from me or am I being an impatient 6 year old?
Screenwriting : Do I keep waiting? by Travis Sharp
Do I keep waiting?
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That's really what I meant to say, more of a checking in type of email. Is that me being annoying or just rightfully following up?
Beth Bruckner (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0115675/) told me recently that after a month it's acceptable to inquire about the status of your script via a polite email. (She also said if it's going to be a yes, it usually doesn't take longer than a month, and that many folk don't get back at all on a script read, i.e., rejection by silence.) Or, uh, what Dan says ...
Thanks Eric, I'm not getting my hopes up.
Travis - It depends on your take on the guy. That's why I always suggest a personal meeting rather than this e-mail stuff. A simple eye lock tells you much. A manager is looking for someone he can make a buck from and if he thinks you're hot, he's gonna be all over you in a flash - take from that what you will. I think a follow up from you is appropriate.
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Great advice/ thanks to all. I got two more read requests this weekend so I'm jolly overall...(expect drunk and angry rejection post coming in the next 2-3 months)
Hey, souds great! Keep up the great work Travis!
Personally, I'd just wait it out for a full 90 days. But I doubt he'd mind you sending him an e-mail. :)
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I worded the email well, I only said things about his mom that I knew to be true.
Travis, has hell froze over yet?
At this point, I honestly have no idea who all I've pitched to, sent mss, etc. :D
I follow up after two weeks, just to make sure they HAVE it - I've had success with that to the extent that sometimes they've fricking LOST it or forgotten about it, and really did want to read it. Then I've sent it again - THEN I didn't follow up : ) He can just ignore your e-mail too! No big transgression.
Doug- I see the White House and I think perhaps hell has frozen.
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Personally, I'd just keep working and submitting to other agents. If you're super-lucky, you'll have your mss in the hands of several agents at the same time, then one of them will decide to sign you, and they'll all get into a bidding war, then you can make them strip to their skivvies and fight it out in a deathmatch, and have Toby Keith play, and...
Pretty sure that's how it works,
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Can their be pillow fights and unicorns too?
The exec emailed me back an apology for the delay and said he'd get to it soon. He's good people!
^ "their", seriously? And I call myself a writer.
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You can have pillow fights with unicorns over their but not over hear.
Where did you get coverage? How did you determine it was ready before you sent it?
I had coverage notes from Screencraft and from a little place called stage32.