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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    Discussion of...    Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...  ›  Frustrated Moderators: Administrator
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SAC
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 1:53pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


… but some dreams do

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130 query letters, 4 request for the script, no responses, waiting for that email to come, working a shitty job and feeling pretty useless and the winter blahs. Just ranting and emotionally exhausted.


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Grandma Bear
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 2:02pm Report to Moderator
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Ugh. That sounds very discouraging, but I think that's pretty common for this business. Keep going. That's the only way.


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khamanna
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 2:06pm Report to Moderator
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What Pia said.

And,I’m so discouraged that don’t do query letters. I just gave up. So, you’re well ahead of me and the likes and I’m glad for you. In fact it’s sort of an encouragement.
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SAC
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 2:52pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


… but some dreams do

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Quoted from khamanna
What Pia said.

And,I’m so discouraged that don’t do query letters. I just gave up. So, you’re well ahead of me and the likes and I’m glad for you. In fact it’s sort of an encouragement.


I used to take the responses as encouragement too. Now it’s just amazing they even respond. They’re so hesitant to listen to what u have to say unless you’re repped.


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DustinBowcot
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 5:23pm Report to Moderator
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It's a pointless exercise. If you have a great script, then pay a reputable company for coverage. Get a pass, then send it out, maybe even use it to try and get an agent and then get them to send it out.

It's something I keep meaning to do, but I haven't written a feature in a long time. Since getting paid to write, I find it hard now to write a spec. It causes physical pain.
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SAC
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 6:15pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


… but some dreams do

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Good advice, though. I’m sure I can pull down their ala carte menu and for an extra fee get exactly the reader I want who’s into the genre.  I dunno. Just ranting. Tired I guess. Not that my problems really add up to a catastrophe.


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ghost and_ghostie gal
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 10:35pm Report to Moderator
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YOUR movement must & will continue forward, just as George Washington crossed the Delaware river in the dead of night against all odds of victory. Stay the course Steven & folks, keep the faith... Andrea


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SAC
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 11:38pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


… but some dreams do

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YOUR movement must & will continue forward, just as George Washington crossed the Delaware river in the dead of night against all odds of victory. Stay the course Steven & folks, keep the faith... Andrea


Yeah yeah. I know. Just wondering if the script itself is good enough. It is really hard to judge these Hallmark type scripts because I literally cannot compare it to anything because you cannot find a Hallmark frickin Christmas script ANYWHERE!

However, on a positive note … I spoke to the woman who bought my Christmas script last year, and she's been tying to sell this new one to a contact of hers over at Lifetime. No word on that yet, but... She's agreed to call all of the people who responded to me regarding my new script, acting as my representation... For a fee, of course, if she actually sells the damn thing.


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LC
Posted: February 13th, 2020, 12:07am Report to Moderator
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See, you've got a contact there already!

Steve, there's no doubt your script is good enough. I feel your frustration re Hallmark scripts - you'd think they were gold. We can get our hands on Oscar winning scripts... They want to get over themselves. Once you're a part of the secret club I hope you'll share.

Sounds like your day job is getting you down. I know the feeling...


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Matthew Taylor
Posted: February 13th, 2020, 6:51am Report to Moderator
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"A watched pot never boils"

Write another one, and then another one - Get your script out there as much as you can, coverage/listings/queries/social media/comps that show placements to the industries, heck I have even seen people make fake trailers for their script to gain some buzz.

But after doing these things, forget them - focus on the next great script - and when you get that call, you will have more scripts in your locker to show them.

Rejected by 12 publishers before being picked up - Harry Potter
Delivered in a dump truck of 5,000 rejected scripts - Dirty Dancing
Rejected by 27 publishers, ready to burn his manuscript until a friend read it - And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, Dr Seuss
"The worst thing ever written. It makes no sense. Someone's dead and then they're alive. It's too long, violent and unfilmable." - Columbia TriStar Executive - Pulp Fiction
Rejected 44 times, with Disney saying that a film alluding to mother-son incest was not right for them - Back to the future

Keep the faith!!


Feature

42.2

Two steps to writing a good screenplay:
1) Write a bad one
2) Fix it

Revision History (2 edits; 1 reasons shown)
Matthew Taylor  -  February 13th, 2020, 7:09am
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Demento
Posted: February 13th, 2020, 10:57am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from SAC
130 query letters, 4 request for the script, no responses, waiting for that email to come, working a shitty job and feeling pretty useless and the winter blahs. Just ranting and emotionally exhausted.


How about 890 query letters, 12 requests. Two months go by and no responses follow.

Welcome to the game my friend.
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Zack
Posted: February 13th, 2020, 10:59am Report to Moderator
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Shit, I don't even know what a query letter is!  
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eldave1
Posted: February 13th, 2020, 12:12pm Report to Moderator
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I feel your pain.

I've pretty much stopped the effort. My fault really. I didn't Google How to write a screenplay until I was 55. Like many peeps here, had a desire to write when I was young, but a marriage at 20, two kids by 25 didn't really provide a lane for trying to make a living at it. BUT - I don't bemoan that. I love writing as a hobby, get a kick out of competitions and enjoy reading scripts. So while I don't have a career as a writer, I have a great hobby.

My personal opinion (note this is only based on 8 years of writing, doing the query grind we all do, etc.) is that the most likely way to make money as a writer is not to start the journey writing specs and hoping for that great discovery. I think you need to take writing assignments, writing related jobs (interns, script reviewers, etc.).  Be around the type of people where you will here - you know, I know this guy at BLAH BLAH that's looking for a spec script dealing with BLAH BLAH.  

In other words, yes - have those great specs ready for when the opportunity rises, just don't expect those great specs to provide the opportunity.  And look for writing assignments if you want to be paid as a writer.

Just my opinion.


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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SAC
Posted: February 13th, 2020, 1:54pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


… but some dreams do

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Thanks all for the feedback. Good to know I’m not alone. I guess this is all a culmination of a lot of things going on right now, with this script writing business being a particular sticking point. I guess I’m just frustrated all around.


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Demento
Posted: February 13th, 2020, 3:34pm Report to Moderator
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Also when you query, try to think internationally. There are a lot of Scandinavian production companies. I think according to the Bollywood union, the minimum pay for a script for a low budget movie is something like 25-30K. So, if you're looking to get paid, that's an option.

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