Hi Everyone! Taylor had a great comment on the blog about someone receiving 4,000+ rejections before getting their projects optioned. Blog: https://www.stage32.com/blog/Share-your-Fails-Rejections-and-Fears-Durin...
I wanted to echo that here for authors with the "100 No's Challenge". I had made it my goal to get 100 rejections in one year, now those rejections could be from publishers, literary agents, magazines, writing contests, you name it I was collecting and celebrating rejections because I knew if I was trying to get 100 no's that I quite possibly would get one YES, and I did! The 100 No Challenge is what landed me my first agent, and not only did I get a step closer in my career but I took several chances and put myself out there more than I would have if I wasn't trying to get 100 no's.
Anyone up for the 100 No challenge? =)
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In studies there is a phenomenon known was the Parento Effect. It means that 80 percent will not work, and 20 percent will.
If you were to pitch your work to 100 agencies 80 of them will turn you down. 20 of them would be interested. A lower number would contact you. And an even lower number will buy your script.
Love that there's a name for it! And I much prefer 80/20 to 100/1 odds! =D
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That's a nice way of looking at rejections. I want to start a new project soon, maybe starting with this mindset will help me tough through it when things get rough.
Meg Stone, sorry to hear about your mum not wanting to read your stuff! I think you could go ahead and count that!
Good luck and happy writing on your new project, Cezar Turek!
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I. FREAKIN. LOVE. THIS! I may have to wait until the end of the year once I have material to shop around, though. When does the 100 No Challenge typically start? Or do you just do it whenever? It feels like a great New Year's Resolution, no?
Tessa, I like your Fun and Games, but that's just what it is.
While sending those 100 queries out, did you do your homework? (If not, don't wory. Less than 1% of the writers on this site did/does.) Check out the profiles of these companies on the Internet. Not only their IMDb status and their production company/producer website. Everything! →Did you make those possible contact - at least - an 80% match to your screenwriting project!! Otherwise, it is simply a percentage game depending on luck!!
Yes, "luck!!" Because even when there is a clear match, having a producer and/or director with any impact interested in your project is for the most part luck. Maybe "luck"you çreated by hard work, but still luck.
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Yes, Karen! =D It'd be a great New Years Resolution! I believe the year I did it, I started in the summer and kept it rolling through the new year, but by the following summer I had so many opportunities come about that I wouldn't have normally applied for.
Rutger, yes-homework is necessary for both screenwriters and novelists. The experience I was referring to was querying my second book as an author but I expanded the "no's" to count as magazine article submissions, writing contests (many of them free), etc. As a result I got my first paid magazine gig (I was writing for online and print before but not as regular and not paid) and I landed my first book agent. In my experience querying books is much more research involved (and more stressful) than pitching scripts.
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Thanks for the info about 'querying books compared to pitching scripts", Tessa. I did not know that! You also did a good job not only being represented by an agent but also being part of that agency as an executive (if I can call it like that); being the link between books (novels) and screenplays. Kudos!!