READY TO RUMBLE

So you want to be a writer?

Consider this...professional boxing may be a better choice. You get into the ring. Take a few punches (left-hooks) to the head. And you wind up flat on your back...knocked unconscious. Then you get your paycheck and go home.

Being a writer is similar to boxing. The ring (is that confined space in front of your computer keyboard). The punches (are all the in-depth research you will have to do to make your fiction or non-fiction stories credible). When night falls you will be in bed, out cold on your back. At least with boxing you know when the paycheck is coming!

Good Luck and Godspeed! I guess if you didn’t want to be

a writer, you wouldn’t be reading this column...say word?

So let’s get right down to the real nitty-gritty.

You’ll have 3 opportunities to prove to literary agents

and book publishers that you are a GREAT writer.

OPPORTUNITY #1) Your Written Work (completed): Movie Screenplays (120 pages), Book Manuscripts (300 pages), Poems (at least 200).

Most novice writers personally believe that when the script is finished...the writing process is over. That is as far from the truth as Earth is from the Andromeda Galaxy (2.5 million light-years!) Actually, the end of your script is when the real writing is just about to begin!

That leads us to...

OPPORTUNITY #2) The Synopsis. This is where you take your 120 page screenplay or 300 page manuscript (that you have labored over literally for months) and condense it into a slick one page overview. And most importantly - that one page has to have all of the eye-popping excitement of the complete script.

(OMG!) Yeah...I heard you. Is boxing starting to sound more appealing? Relax...you’ve made it this far - to late to turn back now!

You’ve finished your script (sans typos, grammar errors, etc.) and typed out your synopsis - now you are ready to start pitching your proposal to agents and publishers.

You are going to need...

OPPORTUNITY #3) A Query Letter. A formal one page letter that is sent to ask agents or publishers to consider your work for representation and/or publishing.

An excellent query letter is an important tool and can be the difference between writers getting a rejection letter or a request for the full manuscript. Your query letter should be addressed to a specific person - never “To whom it may concern” or “Dear Ms”.

It should include:

Paragraph #1 - A brief introduction with the title and word count of the script you are sending.

Paragraph #2 - A script “teaser” and why you think the work is marketable.

Paragraph #3 - A short biography and credits (if you have any) on why you are qualified to write about the subject matter.

It’s cool to brag (just don’t over-do it!).

End with a sincere Thank You for using so much of the agent or publisher’s valuable time. Your name, mailing address, phone, and email should also be included.

Script, Synopsis, and Query Letter are ready to be mailed. And don’t forget to add a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE)...so you can receive a reply.

Do as much research (as you can) to find out which agents or publishers are inclined to read your work (be genre specific). The Internet is a valuable resource so Google-search literary agents and book publishers. Go to their websites and look for the submission guidelines link on the home page.

The guidelines will show you exactly what and how to submit. Only do what the guideline say to do to increase the chances of your script getting read.

Okay...you found an agent or publisher that wants to see your work. You mail it out in a neatly wrapped package. Now the fun really begins! A few weeks of patient waiting and guess what you get in your mailbox...a form rejection letter. Get used to it! Rejection...that is. Well, you said you wanted to be a writer...right? Rejection is going to be an integral part of your run-up to a Pulitzer Prize.

But...Never! Never! Never let rejection deter you from continuing to write.

Look at it this way...You are an 8-cylinder, Turbo-charged, Petrol-burning Writing-machine...and every rejection letter is the High-octane fuel that drives you to continue to write fascinating scripts! I know...that analogy would Freak-out the average Global-ecologist...but I think you get my drift!

In future columns we will cover the topics discussed

today in greater detail. And you will become an expert

at crafting scripts that meet (carved-in-stone) publishing industry standards.

So let me be the first to welcome you to the elite group

of Humanoids who make magic with paper and pen!

Write On!

A. Supreme

Author Of

THE TIMECODE RAILROAD

“The American Civil War – Like It’s Never Been Told Before”

For information about how to purchase my books or if you have questions or comments please send your emails to:

nightwriterblog@yahoo.com