ME: Hi, thanks for contacting me. How can I help you?
AUTHOR: I am inquiring about having a script written for a book. Are you able to do a sample from my book, so I can see the quality of your work? Are there scripts you have written which have been made into films that I can check out? What is your rate of compensation? What sort of connections do you have or suggestions to get a script noticed by potential film producers?
ME: Happy to answer your questions. Can I ask first - how many copies have you sold?
AUTHOR: ...... (ghosted)
Think I was wrong to ask? Or did I save myself from a time-waster?
I'm comfortable with how I handled it but thought this could be an interesting one to debate.
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Hey if you prefer to write from authors who have sold then that's your prerogative.
It's the same as me looking for a new mechanic, Dentist, plumber, broker. Work for hire gig.
I think you were wrong. The author was considering hiring you and not the other way around. If the author was asking you to write it on spec then I would have offered a different response to your post.
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Update: the author finally got back to me. He's barely sold any copies at all and hasn't been able to find an agent. TBC.
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I see he's gotten back to you, but I think you handled it perfectly. I have people reach out to me all the time asking me these questions and expecting quick answers or free work.
I always tell them I'm happy to answer their questions, so why don't we schedule a call?
I then ask them what their budget is. I ghostwrite lots of books for people, and more often than not, I get people reaching out who think they're going to pay me $500 for a 60,000 word manuscript.
Nope.
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Phil Parker So a stranger with 0 book sales, 0 representation wants you to adapt his book and use your connections to make his movie? How about money?
PASS.
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You just saved yourself some precious time.
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I've been in similar situations. You are absolutely right.
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Had this guy come to me via a well-connected producer/agent/manager I would have suggested we have a phone call first, mainly out of respect for the person who connected us. In this case, though, I called the play on the field. Like Joleene and others, I get a lot of people approaching me. You develop a bit of a filter that helps you separate the wheat from the chaff. Sadly, it's been mainly chaff for the last two months, but hopefully, that means the good stuff is around the corner! :)
Awesome you're getting a lot of people approaching - is it for screenwriting or copywriting?
This is going to be cruel. I would have asked for money up front and did the work. This person sounds like someone that believes their book would be a great movie, if only it was a script, that would make it happen.
If it was a great story a producer would be hammering on the door begging for the film rights. This person also wanted to leverage your connections, more money.
Great books have rights sold before they appear in stores. This was not a great book.
We all know the next thing out of the authors mouth, “ I’ll give you 10%, now work for free”
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YEARS ago I started writing a screenplay for someone who wanted their story told. it was actually interesting. I talked to him about it over the phone and talked to him about what scenes would go in. Wrote a prelim outline and wrote a few pages for him to look at. I didn't ask for money cause I wasn't experienced enough. He went overseas on a holiday and disappeared. Dick. A friend approached me to write a graphic novel for him. He'd do the business end and I'd do the writing and we'd form our own company or whatever. He had the money and background. Friendship broke up after ten years. Another Dick. I now have no funding for it. I need at least 12 grand. I do not want to do a kickstarter, but it's the only way to make a years worth of work matter. I'd never do any writing again without money up front.
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Phil. I have to ask. If this guy came to you via a well-connected producer/agent/manager, why wouldn’t you agree to do the adaptation if the producer/agent/manager would agree to be the producer and make you a co-producer. It is none of my business, but I am an opportunist at heart and I probably would have at least given that a try. However, I really like adapting novels I really don’t give a rat's rectum about the money.