Screenwriting : Advice for brand new screenplay writer? by Neva J Howell

The next step for your nephew is to get feedback from a professional screenplay analyst. This is mission critical!!!! I highly recommend The Screenplay Mechanic, do a Google search. A screenwriter will never sell the first draft, his script will go through many transformations and he needs to be open to critiques. Once his script is in tip-top shape, then he will need to include a catchy logline and perhaps a one paragraph synopsis that has a hook that will attract attention into a simply query letter, most times only a logline is needed. He needs to send out query emails to pitch his work to managers and/or production companies. There's a lot of research involved, he will need to send these query letters (or emails) to a Development Executive of production companies that specialize in movies of the same genre as his script or he can query managers. If your nephew is looking for a manager to represent him, he will need at least two or three completed scripts. in addition to the above, I agree with the first comment, your nephew needs to keep writing if screenwriting is his chosen path. He needs to write constantly, find time to write everyday and also read screenplays of produced movies to learn the craft...there is always room for improvement. Hope this helps. Deni

Wow, terrific advice already. I will pass along everything you said Denise and Mathis. Yes, I agree on the money thing. I noticed he had some of that ... attached to the idea of it making money for him. It's hard to get away from that when all of us would like money for our craft and yet, I know it can never be about the money. I think it's probably natural to think your first work is great and that the world will love it immediately. Even if it is truly great, there may still be a rough road ahead in getting it in someone's hands for production. I don't think he has the finances to hire any sort of screenplay analyst though. In fact, I'm certain he doesn't have money for that. In any case, I so appreciate the generous responses so far. Thank you!

That next step is difficult and can make you feel as if you've been dropped in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with no land in sight. [big sigh and deep breath] My experience was to start with the local Film school (University) and try to make a connection there. Usually those in the academic setting are more accessible and eager to help and they might have other connections. Your nephew needs an experienced person to read and help improve the screenplay before it gets "shopped" around. There are qualified readers that don't overcharge. Again, look for retired producers or directors that are volunteering at your local University.

Get coverage and feedback from someone like Brian at Screenplay Readers. If he gets a "pass" rewrite and take into account the comments. If he gets a recommend then think about marketing it though it is a pathway littered with many obstacles.

Alex, thanks. I am assuming Brian at Screenplay Readers charges a fee, which would be appropriate. My nephew has no money for paid analysis and it seems like folks are saying that, without that, there's no point in pitching it... So, should he just sit on it til he finds the money to get it professional read and analyzed? Or is there anyone who thinks he should just start pitching it as if it were ready for prime time?

Neva it would be suicidal for your nephew to pitch his work without professional coverage. If your nephew doesn't have money, plan B would be to join a writer's forum and have his peers critique his work for free. You can try zoetrope.com or talentville.com, with these writing communities he'll be able to network with other writers as well. Keep in mind that in order for him to get his work critiqued, he'll have to critique other screenplays as well, However, I can't stress enough how valuable a professional evaluation by someone in the industry is, so your nephew should start saving money.

It is really worth it to take a course. If he can't afford one, than at least carefully study some Haugse, or Synder or Mckee. If he is young and this is his first screenplay, he would have to be a magical genius to get it right the first time. What he needs to do is learn the craft, to understand that all writing is rewriting. He's very doubtfully ready for an agent, but that's okay. He should keep writing if he loves to write, study movies he loves, and let himself gain a command before he takes the plunge out there.

Deni, thanks for the suggestion of a writer's forum. I didn't know about those. I'll pass that info along to him. Mark, he has studied though I'm not sure of the extent. Due to finances, probably mostly books. I know I bought him one book on writing screenplays. Oh, yes, agree that a course would be terrific! I'll pass along all these excellent comments. Thanks so much.

Neva, Joe is right. Your nephew must have his screenplay formatted correctly and it helps to have a screenwriting program. I have Fade In, Final Draft and Celtx. If it's a money issue, he can download Celtx for free.

Also Neva, your nephew must have a thick skin to harsh criticisms once in a while and also be open to make some changes and yet stand firm on things he feels strongly about, he has to find a balance. If he's not willing to change or listen then, he might as well throw in the towel.

Deni, I also gave him a Final Draft program a while back. I think that's what he used to write the script. I forgot about Celtx though; might be a great option for him because the Final Draft I gave him has to be five years old by now.

Thanks to everyone who gave of their time and expertise. My nephew has taken it all to heart and is deep in contemplation on the best way to go from here. Thanks again!!!!!

First writing, then shopping... Go to the Wordplay website for over fifty articles on screenwriting by the team of professional screenwriters behind SHREK and the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN movies (who are friends of mine, hey: they have more articles by industry professionals on the site, including one by me). http://www.wordplayer.com/ I have a free screenwriting article every day on my website, about 400 total articles, so it's like a bunch of (free) screenwriting books. http://www.scriptsecrets.net/ Read screenplays. There are piles of them online, and during awards season the studios put all of the scripts they want nominated online for free. You can find things like this by Googling. Shopping: a spec script is usually a job application for assignment work, and the average WGA writer wrote 9 spec scripts before making a dime... so the real answer is for him to keep writing. There is a learning curve, and you learn by doing. Managers are easier to find than agents; but either one is not looking for one script, they are looking for writers. People who write many screenplays,can make deadlines, and can write on assignment. It takes some legwork, but you can find manager emails and equery the ones who best fit your work. Costs nothing. Takes a lot of queries to get a read, and then it's up to the script to open the doors for you.

Neva, first screenplays are 99% of the time not good enough to be made into a movie, so unless his in the top 1%, he should simply send the script out to contests, put them on forums like triggerstreet and get cracking on scripts 2 through 10. After 10 scripts under his belt he can concern himself with shopping them.

That's high praise Alle. Thank you. I feel he has talent and an original voice. I'd love to know the tv show you speak of because I don't recall anything remotely like his script on tv... I'd say almost certainly it wasn't based on anything on tv although there is hardly any entirely new premise under the sun. Thank you for the offer to speak with my nephew on this. I have passed that message along. Thanks again, everyone, for your valuable input and wisdom. Much appreciated.

If he's never taken any screenwriting courses or at least tutoring, it's going to be wrong. I remember my first screenplay, only two years ago. I thought it was the greatest thing ever written. And when I finally got people who knew what they were talking about to look at it, all I got was grammar this, format that. The bottom line is that when it comes to screenplays, format/grammar>content. And a screenplay is a very different animal from say an essay or a novel in that you can't have your friend or cousin take a look at it, as most people have no idea how to evaluate a screenplay, much less write one. I know that I sound like a grizzled vet, and that's as far from the truth as possible. I'm a year and a half into my screenwriting career, a term j use incredibly loosely, seeing as I've yet to sell or even properly pitch one. This being said, in terms of selling and marketing, grammar and formatting is key. However, grammar and formatting can be taught. Creativity is something that you have or you don't.

He has the creativity so I was glad to see that in the script. Believe me, I was very nervous to be the first person who read it and gave him any feedback, ha. I was so relieved that I could see a unique quality to his writing. Beyond that, I'm not qualified to judge grammar/formatting and feel that's important but certainly doesn't matter if the writing stinks. I think, at this point, it's been made really clear that the consensus is he will not sell this first script. Got that. Thanks everyone. I've passed along all the wisdom I've gleaned here.

I absolutely agree. But while I have yet to professionally pitch a script, from everything that I've heard, more often than not, the moment they see that the formatting is off, they toss it away. Keep in mind, most of the people reading these, at least the major studios have a stack of these things a mile high, and some are. Just looking for a reason to disregard as many as possible. And you're absolutely right, if the story and content stinks, then who cares about formatting. The good news is that there are so many screenwriting softwares out there that it does the work for you. I use Celtx, which can be downloaded online for free. I can't imagine writing a script without it.

Yes, Aaron, I gave him a copy of Final Draft so it's formatted according to that software, I believe. I've heard of celtx and even have an account there but haven't dug into it yet since writing is only something I mostly do for original web series and not for full-length scripts. I guess I'm sort of a glass half full person. Yeah, there are odds against anyone in any area of the creative arts ... and it really doesn't matter if you are passioned about it. Most of us have to do what we do because the creativity demands it so ... let chips fall where may.