Posts Tagged ‘selling a screenplay’

There are a number of reasons why a literary agent many not be willing to read your script. Maybe they aren’t looking for a new screenplay at the moment, or maybe from your query letter they just don’t think your screenplay pitch has what it takes? Rejection is a normal part of Hollywood and chances are you’re going to get rejected a lot more than not. The only way you have a chance of getting an agent to read your script is for your query letter to sell them on reading it.

Many new writers fall prey to some common mistakes when typing up their query letter. Here are some tips to writing the perfect query letter and how to avoid the common mistakes that will no doubt cause a literary agent to reject your script.

1. First of all, your query letter should hook a literary agent.

The purpose is to give the literary agent just enough information to keep them engaged and want to know what happens next, but not tell too much. If you hook them and engage them in your story and the story is really good, they will want more.

2. Keep in mind that you’re not only pitching your story, but yourself.

There are so many writers sending these agents their scripts that you must set yourself apart from them. Prove why the literary agent should read your script over the hundreds of others they receive.

3. Address your letter to a specific agent’s name.

Never address a letter to “whom it may concern.” If you don’t take the time to find out the literary agent’s name, then they will assume you don’t know what you are doing and they will not take the time to even read your letter.

The perfect query letter still doesn’t guarantee that the agent will request your script, but you will dramatically increase your chances. There are professionals who will help you make the perfect query letter. Sometimes hiring a marketing professional is the best way for a writer new to Hollywood to get the attention of a literary agent, so you can focus on writing the screenplay itself and you can also make sure your marketing is done properly and that your script is presented professionally.

Selling a screenplay may seem like a daunting task to you if you’re like most screenwriters. In fact, applying yourself in this part is harder for most screenwriters than even writing the 110 pages of the screenplay itself. The process of selling a screenplay can be a difficult road to get started on, and even once you get your foot in the door, it’s still not all fun and games because you have to follow up and also have patience.

The most important part of trying to sell a screenplay is to learn how to pitch it. Hollywood executives are bombarded by scripts and ideas on a daily basis. If you’re one of the few who are fortunate enough to get their attention, you will only have it for a sentence or two. If they’re not hooked by then, they will simply let the rest of what you say go in one ear and out the other. Simply put, they don’t have time to listen to everyone who thinks they have a good story to tell. So practice your pitch and make sure the first couple of sentences are memorable.

A query letter is another necessity to selling a screenplay, although it does require a bit of effort to write. These letters are a great way of reaching producers and agents while they’re in the comfort of their office. Again, it’s important to hook them right from the start.

Does selling a screenplay still seem like too monumental a task? There are agencies, such as Smart Girls Productions, who help up-and-coming screenwriters with all of the daunting tasks associated with selling a screenplay. Many screenwriters prefer to let someone with experience in this area of screenwriting handle this challenging task. Selling a screenplay — at least getting your screenplay read — really doesn’t have to be so complicated, it’s simply a matter of pitching, hooking the reader, and having the courage to handle rejection. And then you have to stay at it for as long as it takes.

As always, with one warning. Before you take any action toward selling your screenplay, it is critical that you make your script is ready to be marketed and sold to Hollywood. Otherwise, you could blow the chance you worked so hard to get!

Welcome to Hollywood!