Okay, maybe not everyone knows someone who is in the business or who you met in the business at some point. But maybe some of you do. For me, growing up in LA I've had my share of meeting and knowing people that happen to be in the business. I rarely asked them to read a script as I've been perfecting my scripts. But recently I finally got the nerve to email a huge producer who's produced one of my favorite comedies of all times. He's friends with a friend of mine so read one of my first scripts early on in my writing days because my friend nicely asked him to. I now cringe at what he must have read way back then! LOL But even then he honestly told my friend, "she's talented, I wouldn't just say this, but tell her to keep at it". And, I did.
So recently I thought, I'm ready to show him something. Let me contact him and see what happens. I got his email and sent him a logline. I haven't heard back and who knows if I will. But it just goes to show that you have to reach out to people you know who can do something with your scripts. If it just sits with you, nothing can happen. If I don't hear back, maybe I'll reach out to him again with a different logline. He could either just be busy or not interested. But truthfully, what do I have to lose? I'm not working with him now. If I email him and don't hear back, then I'm still not working with him. But, if I do hear back, and he is interested, I've really gained a lot!
So, take a trip down memory lane and think if you have any contacts that you could email or call up to read your scripts. Even think of friends of friends. If you're ready, really ready, it's time to put those contacts to use. You just never know what could come of it.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
You need more than one script!
I don't know how many times I need to tell new writers this. But for some reason new writers think that they're going to get rich and famous off of one script. Even the writers that you hear come out of nowhere, I guarantee you they've been writing for years and years and have a bible of work ready to sell. But new writers think, ah, I have this one amazing idea, let me write this one only and get famous!
Yeah, doesn't work that way. Even in one of my early screenwriting classes, one of my writer friends actually came first in a really decent screenwriting contest. Production companies and agents contacted her and guess what? They all asked, "What else do you have?" She didn't! She admitted to me that those contacts went away. She blew that opportunity. Don't do that!
Not long ago a newbie writer contacted me about his one script that was ready and he was going to get it out and he was waiting to hear from producers. I told him, "Great! While you're waiting, get started on the next project." He ignored me and recently wrote me how a management company passed on his script, so he's fixing it and making it stronger. Great, always a good thing to do. But again, I told him, "Work on something new. People want to see other projects!" I think he ignored me again. But people, it's not about having one perfect script. It's about growing as a writer, having as many great projects as you can because you never know who will want to read everything you have.
I read recently that when Judd Apatow was discovered everything he had was bought up, all the scripts he'd been writing for years and years. Heck, who wouldn't want that? Would't you rather have a lot of great things bought up than one script that people pass on because that's all you have? I know I would.
And the more projects you have the more doors you can open. Even now I have a script at Nickelodeon, another with a latino executive producer, a feature comedy somewhere huge, another with a Hallmark producer, a spec with an HBO show, getting ready to pitch a reality show, and on and on. My gosh, I have so many different types of projects. I'm not saying you have to get into every type of genre or medium like me. I just do that because I can't stop creating. But every door could lead to another door and another opportunity. You just never know where opportunity is going to knock next. And if you've only got one script to knock with, guess what, you just might miss out.
So finish that first script, start the second, and start getting ideas for 3, 4 and 5. You're a writer gosh darn it. Of course you have more ideas. And if you don't then start reading more newspapers or going to museums to find more. There's plenty of things to write about. Just figure them out. And then, write them.
Yeah, doesn't work that way. Even in one of my early screenwriting classes, one of my writer friends actually came first in a really decent screenwriting contest. Production companies and agents contacted her and guess what? They all asked, "What else do you have?" She didn't! She admitted to me that those contacts went away. She blew that opportunity. Don't do that!
Not long ago a newbie writer contacted me about his one script that was ready and he was going to get it out and he was waiting to hear from producers. I told him, "Great! While you're waiting, get started on the next project." He ignored me and recently wrote me how a management company passed on his script, so he's fixing it and making it stronger. Great, always a good thing to do. But again, I told him, "Work on something new. People want to see other projects!" I think he ignored me again. But people, it's not about having one perfect script. It's about growing as a writer, having as many great projects as you can because you never know who will want to read everything you have.
I read recently that when Judd Apatow was discovered everything he had was bought up, all the scripts he'd been writing for years and years. Heck, who wouldn't want that? Would't you rather have a lot of great things bought up than one script that people pass on because that's all you have? I know I would.
And the more projects you have the more doors you can open. Even now I have a script at Nickelodeon, another with a latino executive producer, a feature comedy somewhere huge, another with a Hallmark producer, a spec with an HBO show, getting ready to pitch a reality show, and on and on. My gosh, I have so many different types of projects. I'm not saying you have to get into every type of genre or medium like me. I just do that because I can't stop creating. But every door could lead to another door and another opportunity. You just never know where opportunity is going to knock next. And if you've only got one script to knock with, guess what, you just might miss out.
So finish that first script, start the second, and start getting ideas for 3, 4 and 5. You're a writer gosh darn it. Of course you have more ideas. And if you don't then start reading more newspapers or going to museums to find more. There's plenty of things to write about. Just figure them out. And then, write them.
Monday, February 17, 2014
What's your focus?
We've heard many times in our life, whether it be from a school teacher, or perhaps a parent, maybe even a coach, "Focus!" Which pretty much means, use your thoughts and place them on one thing. As writers, we need to do the same thing. So I ask you, when you sit down to write, are you focused? Or are you all over the place? Are you allowing other things to get in the way of you writing? In order to succeed you've got to have one focus. We think multi-tasking is a good thing, but studies show that people who multi-task end up not doing anything well.
But being a writer takes a lot of discipline. It's not just sit down and type away. If only it was that easy. It means turning off the TV, not going out with friends on many occasions, and holing yourself up to get those words on the page. You've got to make your writing the most important thing if you want a career.
Then there's also focusing on one style of writing. Is it comedies, dramas, sitcoms? Sure you can expand as you feel like you've learned a style. I sure have. But if you don't get good at one genre, then you'll never have a body of work, which means you most likely won't get hired or sell anything either.
If you feel like you've focused on your writing, have you also focused on getting your scripts to the right people? I admit, that's one of my weaknesses. Yes, I'm admitting this to whomever happens to read this. I'm great at sitting down and writing, but getting it out? Not so good. But what help is writing a great script if no one is reading it but a writing group and a few friends? Are you better at this than me? Do you make a weekly or daily list of who to send your scripts to? Then do you actually follow through?
I just read an article on things that millionaires do for success. And one of the things it said was that every week they created a list of a few really key things they have to achieve that week. Then every morning or night of every day, they created a to-do list to help them reach those goals. And then each Friday, they do it again so that by Monday, they do it again! I really like that and think it will help me focus.
See, if we don't have a focus, we really have nothing. We're all over the map. And no career can reach success if we're not focused. So ask yourself if you're focused and if you're not then be honest with yourself and ask what can you do to get you there. I'm sure you can do it. It just takes well, focus.
But being a writer takes a lot of discipline. It's not just sit down and type away. If only it was that easy. It means turning off the TV, not going out with friends on many occasions, and holing yourself up to get those words on the page. You've got to make your writing the most important thing if you want a career.
Then there's also focusing on one style of writing. Is it comedies, dramas, sitcoms? Sure you can expand as you feel like you've learned a style. I sure have. But if you don't get good at one genre, then you'll never have a body of work, which means you most likely won't get hired or sell anything either.
If you feel like you've focused on your writing, have you also focused on getting your scripts to the right people? I admit, that's one of my weaknesses. Yes, I'm admitting this to whomever happens to read this. I'm great at sitting down and writing, but getting it out? Not so good. But what help is writing a great script if no one is reading it but a writing group and a few friends? Are you better at this than me? Do you make a weekly or daily list of who to send your scripts to? Then do you actually follow through?
I just read an article on things that millionaires do for success. And one of the things it said was that every week they created a list of a few really key things they have to achieve that week. Then every morning or night of every day, they created a to-do list to help them reach those goals. And then each Friday, they do it again so that by Monday, they do it again! I really like that and think it will help me focus.
See, if we don't have a focus, we really have nothing. We're all over the map. And no career can reach success if we're not focused. So ask yourself if you're focused and if you're not then be honest with yourself and ask what can you do to get you there. I'm sure you can do it. It just takes well, focus.
Monday, February 10, 2014
LOA is no LOL matter
Maybe some of you know what LOA is, but for those who don't, let me explain. It stands for Law of Attraction. Those who swear by it, which I am one, say that whatever we think, brings more of that to us. So if we're in a great mood, good things come to us. Bad mood and complaining about everything we see, then more things to complain about come into our life. The book The Secret talks about it, which you've most likely heard or read about by now.
So why am I talking about it in a screenwriting blog? Because I believe in it and I swear it's why I have had the successes I have had up until now. And it's why I will continue to have more and more successes. It's why I've had doors open for me that friends in the business are like, how in the world did you get to THAT person?! LOA. But I don't want to be an LOA hog. I want to share! So that's why I feel like I need to write about it. Because guess what? LOA states that if we share our joy, then more things to be joyful come into our lives!
The thing is, you can deny it and say nah, none of this happens. You're a hippie dippie fool believing in fairy land. And that's fine. You have your opinion. But if you don't see your career flourishing the way you want, then what do you have to lose? Or maybe you have success and you think, "I don't believe in LOA and look how great my career has been!" But it's possible you have been thinking in LOA principles without even knowing what they are.
But what if for a moment, you accept and believe in LOA when it comes to your writing. I mean, if anyone needs to, it's us writers. We're hard on ourselves and constantly doubt if we'll succeed, wondering when and if the world will ever love our talent. Does that seem like it will bring success if we keep thinking like that? Not in the LOA world. But what if by changing your thoughts, accepting only the positive about yourself, you actually saw your career flourish? I mean, what have you got to lose? I'm not saying to be blind and foolish if all you're hearing are negative things about your writing. But if you have the desire to be a successful writer, then you should be! LOA proponents even say if we have the desire, then the universe is just waiting to bring that to us. All we need to do is get out of our way by believing it. That the more we doubt and fight our success, and the more we complain about not being where we want to be in our career, the more we keep the universe from bringing our success to us.
Look, even science agrees in LOA, because there are numerous studies that say we are energy and that like attracts like. Just as good thoughts bring good, bad thoughts bring bad. So it's not just the hippies that are on to this. The scientists agree! So shouldn't screenwriters?! Why not see what happens if you consider it? Try for a week and see what happens. See what comes into your world. You have nothing to lose, really. Exept maybe a stalled career. And isn't that what you wanted any way?
So why am I talking about it in a screenwriting blog? Because I believe in it and I swear it's why I have had the successes I have had up until now. And it's why I will continue to have more and more successes. It's why I've had doors open for me that friends in the business are like, how in the world did you get to THAT person?! LOA. But I don't want to be an LOA hog. I want to share! So that's why I feel like I need to write about it. Because guess what? LOA states that if we share our joy, then more things to be joyful come into our lives!
The thing is, you can deny it and say nah, none of this happens. You're a hippie dippie fool believing in fairy land. And that's fine. You have your opinion. But if you don't see your career flourishing the way you want, then what do you have to lose? Or maybe you have success and you think, "I don't believe in LOA and look how great my career has been!" But it's possible you have been thinking in LOA principles without even knowing what they are.
But what if for a moment, you accept and believe in LOA when it comes to your writing. I mean, if anyone needs to, it's us writers. We're hard on ourselves and constantly doubt if we'll succeed, wondering when and if the world will ever love our talent. Does that seem like it will bring success if we keep thinking like that? Not in the LOA world. But what if by changing your thoughts, accepting only the positive about yourself, you actually saw your career flourish? I mean, what have you got to lose? I'm not saying to be blind and foolish if all you're hearing are negative things about your writing. But if you have the desire to be a successful writer, then you should be! LOA proponents even say if we have the desire, then the universe is just waiting to bring that to us. All we need to do is get out of our way by believing it. That the more we doubt and fight our success, and the more we complain about not being where we want to be in our career, the more we keep the universe from bringing our success to us.
Look, even science agrees in LOA, because there are numerous studies that say we are energy and that like attracts like. Just as good thoughts bring good, bad thoughts bring bad. So it's not just the hippies that are on to this. The scientists agree! So shouldn't screenwriters?! Why not see what happens if you consider it? Try for a week and see what happens. See what comes into your world. You have nothing to lose, really. Exept maybe a stalled career. And isn't that what you wanted any way?
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
It's all celery's fault
So this morning I was making my usual veggie and fruit smoothie. Yes, I live in LA it's what we do. So as I'm chopping up this and that, I go to take out my organic celery from the package and it won't come out. So instead of figuring out why, I decide to keep pulling the exact same way. Which as you know, means it won't come out again! So I finally take a moment to go, well, I'm doing the same thing over and over, so I'm going to get the same results, over and over, let's change it up and see what happens. Lo and behold, I try something new and it comes out easily. I stopped fighting it.
So it got me to thinking, how much of our writing is like the stuck celery? How many times have you tried to write something a certain way with no results? For instance, if I'm stuck on a scene, if I don't force it and go to sleep with that concern on my mind, I always wake up with the perfect solution. Have you tried this? It always works for me. My guess is that somewhere in the recesses of our mind lies the answer. But we can't uncover them by telling our brain to figure it out on the spot! No person can perform well like this, why would our brain?
And what about when it comes to trying a certain genre or a certain medium. I'm mostly a comedy writer. But recently I've had horror writing opportunities. Instead of telling myself or these producers, yeah, I don't do that, I went okay, why not? And partnered up with other writers whose genre it was. This also happened with animation opportunities. A producer at some networking event, not a screenwriting networking event, approached me and asked, do you write animation? I hadn't but, why not? So I said yes. We haven't worked together yet. But that got me to come up with ideas, which got me to meet with an animation artist on a project, which got me one of my managers who specializes in animation! If I had stayed only in comedy, I would have missed out all of those opportunites!
So sometimes I think we have to shake things up. We have to zig, when we've been zagging. We just never know what great opportunity lies in another area that we haven't even tried. And we have to stop trying so hard. The more we just let go, just let things happen without a fight, the more it will just happen.
So it got me to thinking, how much of our writing is like the stuck celery? How many times have you tried to write something a certain way with no results? For instance, if I'm stuck on a scene, if I don't force it and go to sleep with that concern on my mind, I always wake up with the perfect solution. Have you tried this? It always works for me. My guess is that somewhere in the recesses of our mind lies the answer. But we can't uncover them by telling our brain to figure it out on the spot! No person can perform well like this, why would our brain?
And what about when it comes to trying a certain genre or a certain medium. I'm mostly a comedy writer. But recently I've had horror writing opportunities. Instead of telling myself or these producers, yeah, I don't do that, I went okay, why not? And partnered up with other writers whose genre it was. This also happened with animation opportunities. A producer at some networking event, not a screenwriting networking event, approached me and asked, do you write animation? I hadn't but, why not? So I said yes. We haven't worked together yet. But that got me to come up with ideas, which got me to meet with an animation artist on a project, which got me one of my managers who specializes in animation! If I had stayed only in comedy, I would have missed out all of those opportunites!
So sometimes I think we have to shake things up. We have to zig, when we've been zagging. We just never know what great opportunity lies in another area that we haven't even tried. And we have to stop trying so hard. The more we just let go, just let things happen without a fight, the more it will just happen.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Time to take stock of your last year
I usually like to reflect on my previous year to help inspire me for the upcoming year. I mean we writers, we can be hard on ourselves if we haven't reached where we want to be in our careers. But what I've learned is it's not about where we aren't, it's about what have we achieved so far. Once we pay attention to that it helps us realize hey, I've done something! I am moving forward! And that gives us momentum to move forward some more. So if you're a new writer and all you can say is you've written one script then congratulate yourself for getting that done. If you've finally joined your first writing group, then hurrah for you. No matter what you can say about your success, how little or how big, applaud yourself!
I mean even the biggest actors that we see on the big or little screen get frustrated with where their careers are or are not. So don't do that to yourself. Keep applauding, keep plodding and just keep moving forward. So here's my 2013, the best year for me yet! In fact, I think 2014 is going to be a good year.
1. I got two not just one management companies to rep me. Yay! Something that I had been trying for my entire writing career. So someone besides myself is actually getting my work in front of people that want to read it. Yay!
2. I have several project ideas with a Hallmark Producer. Again, yay! If it means work of mine could actually get produced, this is a great thing in my career!
3. I have one manager that is setting up some animation pitches for me. Pitches of producers I haven't met yet. Which means, meeting more people in the industry. Always a good thing! And I love pitching, so that will be fun and exciting.
4. My other manager had me write a spec for an HBO show and liked it so much they didn't change a word. Wow!
5. That manager is getting it to the show producers for possible hire. Wow! Really? Me? It's more exciting than I can possibly get across in a blog. Let's just say, I'm giddy!
6. That manager is also reading a project of mine to possibly pitch for TV. Again, someone is reading my stuff and it could get in front of someone who can do something about it? Exciting!
7. My project I'm working on with the big Producer I'm working with is still moving forward. I got notes and am waiting to talk to his office for some clarification. But we're still moving forward and that's exciting.
8. My screenwriting blog got attention thanks to Script Magazine and Jeanne Veillette Bowerman. Thank you Jeanne!
9. I just finished a rewrite of my latest comedy feature.
10. I'm almost done with another comedy feature.
11. My indie is still in development. Getting produced this year? Fingers crossed!
So as you can see, it's not about where you're not. I feel like I'm finally in the game. It's taken me a long time. It's taken me a lot of steps forward to lead to other steps forward. So no matter where you are in your writing career, as Dory from Nemo says, just keep swimming! You just may find you've arrived somewhere even better than you ever imagined!
I mean even the biggest actors that we see on the big or little screen get frustrated with where their careers are or are not. So don't do that to yourself. Keep applauding, keep plodding and just keep moving forward. So here's my 2013, the best year for me yet! In fact, I think 2014 is going to be a good year.
1. I got two not just one management companies to rep me. Yay! Something that I had been trying for my entire writing career. So someone besides myself is actually getting my work in front of people that want to read it. Yay!
2. I have several project ideas with a Hallmark Producer. Again, yay! If it means work of mine could actually get produced, this is a great thing in my career!
3. I have one manager that is setting up some animation pitches for me. Pitches of producers I haven't met yet. Which means, meeting more people in the industry. Always a good thing! And I love pitching, so that will be fun and exciting.
4. My other manager had me write a spec for an HBO show and liked it so much they didn't change a word. Wow!
5. That manager is getting it to the show producers for possible hire. Wow! Really? Me? It's more exciting than I can possibly get across in a blog. Let's just say, I'm giddy!
6. That manager is also reading a project of mine to possibly pitch for TV. Again, someone is reading my stuff and it could get in front of someone who can do something about it? Exciting!
7. My project I'm working on with the big Producer I'm working with is still moving forward. I got notes and am waiting to talk to his office for some clarification. But we're still moving forward and that's exciting.
8. My screenwriting blog got attention thanks to Script Magazine and Jeanne Veillette Bowerman. Thank you Jeanne!
9. I just finished a rewrite of my latest comedy feature.
10. I'm almost done with another comedy feature.
11. My indie is still in development. Getting produced this year? Fingers crossed!
So as you can see, it's not about where you're not. I feel like I'm finally in the game. It's taken me a long time. It's taken me a lot of steps forward to lead to other steps forward. So no matter where you are in your writing career, as Dory from Nemo says, just keep swimming! You just may find you've arrived somewhere even better than you ever imagined!
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Rewrites are like cleaning the house
Do you ever find yourself with a messy house and so when it's time to finally clean it, it feels like a huge undertaking? I know for me, I have a 10-year-old and a husband, so in a week, there can be many little piles of clothes, shoes, books, mail, and who knows what else, in so many different places. When I decide to get us back on track I can go from room to room not feeling like I have accomplished much of anything. But what I find works for me is I have to stick to one room, clean that room up, then when it's organized, move on to the next room. If don't focus on the whole house, I can actually get it done without getting overwhelmed. If I think of the whole house, I just want to give up.
Rewriting a script when it's a huge rewrite can be just like that. I just this minute finished a huge rewrite of my latest comedy. The notes I got from some talented writer friends were definitely going to change this script in a big way. But I agreed with these notes and knew it needed a big overhaul. So bit by bit, day by day, I'd chisel away, rewriting a scene at a time. I didn't worry how long it would take me. I didn't focus on the huge task that was in front of me. I just kept moving forward. It wasn't easy, but viola! I finished! Any script can be rewritten. No matter how many notes, how many changes. It can be done. It's a script! So next time you have a big rewrite, think of it like cleaning the house. You know it's going to get done. Just focus on what's in front of you at that moment and that task at hand. Before you know it, you'll have a work of art.
Rewriting a script when it's a huge rewrite can be just like that. I just this minute finished a huge rewrite of my latest comedy. The notes I got from some talented writer friends were definitely going to change this script in a big way. But I agreed with these notes and knew it needed a big overhaul. So bit by bit, day by day, I'd chisel away, rewriting a scene at a time. I didn't worry how long it would take me. I didn't focus on the huge task that was in front of me. I just kept moving forward. It wasn't easy, but viola! I finished! Any script can be rewritten. No matter how many notes, how many changes. It can be done. It's a script! So next time you have a big rewrite, think of it like cleaning the house. You know it's going to get done. Just focus on what's in front of you at that moment and that task at hand. Before you know it, you'll have a work of art.
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