Authoring & Playwriting

Terrance, don't you think it is a good idea to have a pro editor? I do.

That’s awesome, Terrence!

Congratulations! Major milestone indeed!

Jed Power As I've never queried a novel before, I can't speak to whether they're a necessity or not. Of the various produced projects I've written, I've never used a professional editor. But I've also never sold a feature to an independent producer, so who's to say. But screenwriting is also different from novel writing, so again I'm not experienced enough in this medium to comment.

Terrrence, You are right, I bet, Probably only needed in novel writing world.

Hi James, if you are looking to pitch I would highly recommend signing up some of the webinars here on Stage 32!

Thanks very much. I am still finding my way around here!

Wow Nancy, I want to read your book, I peeked at it on Amazon. If I were a producer, I'd be interested in this one! Good luck!

Thanks! Publishing mid pandemic was not easy. No live events, just Zoom and interviews and podcast appearances. I'm trying to make up for lost time.

Nancy, just remember to pace yourself. I too published my first during the first lockdown in 2020, and shot out of the gate ready to conquer the world. I burned out and hit the wall. I tried to do too much. Now I'm focused on building my backlist and writing a good screenplay for my series..

Hi Tessa. Sorry I'm late to the party. I have written a 90-page epic poem (YA Fantasy in unrhymed verse) and have adapted it to a feature screenplay. My question is: would a literary agent be interested in an epic poem or is poetry a non-starter?

Hi Tessa. I've had agents for alternative media but I know that is quite different than Literary Agents. I also had success years ago with a small publisher and a niche book. Recently I independently published a fiction novel which has been getting good reviews on Amazon and I've had feedback asking if there will be more books with these characters. My question is: Is it bad practice to pitch a book to a literary agent if you have already self published it? Or can you use it as a calling card to see if they may be interested in publishing the follow up books?

Love this Laura Melguizo Perez - let's keep going!

Ooo, what a great idea! How did it go? You can also list your virtual meet-up on Stage 32 here: https://www.stage32.com/meetups

I'm on 60,000 words now (ploughing on with Covid - typical), but I'm having to take a break because line edits from my other book are back from my publisher and these take priority. At this point I'm reckoning in finishing the WIP end of Sept latest, but line edits need to be back asap for Dec publication. How's everyone doing?

I'm at about 55,000 words on a novel due Aug. 1. It's going to be a photo-finish. (Incidentally, an editor wants a short story from me the same day, and another one wants a story by August 15. Not sure either of those are going to happen.

We got this! Haha always a deadline pile up, isn't there?

D.E. White Hi, I had my novel deleted from the Amazon site and my royalties confiscated, due to my publisher’s alleged breach of copyright. This was not the case, but you can’t argue with an algorithm, apparently.

Glad you got to keep the rest at least! The rules and regulations and tech robots can all get a little confusing and heavy handed.

D.E., Was it really a best seller? Where? Curious because I have 9 KDP titles

It's me that is the bestseller, not the book ;-) I did pretty much lift the wording from a number of successful publishers, but I'm not allowed to keep it and they are. Grrr.

So it was '... from bestseller D. E. White.' Apparently totally normal for Amazon. Having the keywords in the actual titles has definitely helped with sales.

David, Have they already been indie-published? I have a similar issue-- I have adapted the first novel in my 8-book Dan Marlowe/Hampton Beach ,NH Crime Series into a completed 0ne-hour Pilot (easily adapted into a feature.) I would like to find representation for this and other completed works I have. Good Luck. /I'm sure you will get good tips here. Best, Jed.

Hi David, your client would need to submit to any literary agents he is interested it. Best place to start is Googling and checking out their websites. Curtis Brown maybe? My own agency reps a few action thrillers: The Kate Nash Literary Agency I think the action thrillers are Justin Nash.

Good advice. Thanks for the comments.

I recommend this Stage 32 class taught by literary agent Audrey Knox - this can helpful in figuring out how to navigate this process: https://www.stage32.com/classes/Stage-32-Screenwriting-Class-How-to-Bett...

That's a really good point Sam Sokolow - David is your client looking for a literary agent or a literary manager?

Hi Marian Betts - I recommend reaching out to Stage 32 Moderator + Entertainment Attorney Dane Johnson, https://www.stage32.com/danejohnson and emailing our expert team at success@stage32.com to help you!

Thank you, Shellie Schmals. I will do this! Actually, I discovered the person works for Writers Value which is on the scam list. It is connected to Vanity Publisher who was trying to steal the rights to the books and the movies! Thank God I did my due diligence!

I talked to a local Law Firm who handles copyrights, patents and intellectual property rights. Very helpful and confirmed I did everything I needed to do to protect myself from this scam. He's looking forward to working with me when the movie scripts are ready to go on the market. I feel so much better!

Hi Marian - here is a great Stage 32 webinar on the subject that I recommend. It's great that you have an attorney you feel good about now in the mix but I also recommend getting to know the ins and outs of these types of deals so you can be best prepared to participate when things start to happen: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/Understanding-Option-Agreements-for-Fil...

Thank you Sam. I will keep this in mind for when I'm ready to move forward. script is being difficult at the moment. Actually, I'm learning new stuff that means going back and making changes to characters, etc. All good stuff.

I beg to differ, D.E. For instance, I sure as shite, ain't a real writer. I think the real part comes from having a track record to point at, or real publishing houses pubbing your stuff.

I've, on more than one occasion, danced around in my underwear in front of an iPhone (and there was that CCTV footage from the lift that went viral), but does that make me a movie star? Does it make me a real actor? Does it even make me an actor?

... 'nuf said: you and Annabel are real writers. Others? Meh... prove you're more of a writer than I'm a movie star.

From a few seminars Ive watched, they said its best to 1) have the author’s permission to adapt the book to a screenplay (but i thinky you’re the author correct?). 2) find the assistants of certain directors that specialize in the genre the book/script is written in (they suggested searching through IMDB for this) 3) have a clear storyline concept/stake high theme. The main thing about adapting books is they dont always stay word for word with the book when you’re writing it as a screenplay. Hopefully this helped :)

Hi Annabel :) Getting the book published and then selling the IP is the best way. A lot of streamers are looking for IP of published work with decent success.

If the book gets published and becomes a bestseller, people will come to you with option offers. That's when the hard part starts. "Eleanor Oliphant" got optioned by Reese Witherspoon back in 2018 and it's still not in production yet. And rightly so IMO. Not all great novels translate well to the screen (eg The Goldfinch). So that's a big question to ask about your novel: Will it translate well to the screen?

Thank you all so much for your replies. Absorbing them all!

Hi Karen "Kay" Ross i use scrivener…it’s very versatile and has a trial period. Takes some getting used to though.

I've written 70-some novels in Word. Tried Scrivener, but I found I was focusing on that instead of just letting the story flow. Every publisher wants docs in Word anyway.

I used Word for my memoir. I constantly backed up all of my work and kept several updated drafts with my editor as well as on an external drive. I have to agree with Jeffrey J. Mariotte that Word seems to be ubiquitous. In my arena, we all preferred Word!

Notebook. Wonderfully simple to use. NO plugs or adaptors, you just open it up and start writing. Comes with ready-lined pages.Battery never conks out. ANd the accessory pen - great until the ink runs out. I then 'commute' to Google docs.

Joking aside, I have played with Liquid Story Binder, tinkered with YWriter and had fun with Writer's Cafe - I think my favourite might be OmmWriter which I may, at some point, install again. Currently though I am using google docs and JamBoard for co-writing when planning/throwing ideas together. It just seems quicker, less distracting.

Final Draft has a novel template.

I try to enumerate the necessary points that are present in the genre of the work I will write. Keeping in mind, creative work flows more naturally.

No easy path of course. Without knowing all the details. A published book has a better chance of becoming a movie. Best of luck.

Not for you to decide.

As long as I could be part of the adaptation process.

Sometimes I visualise it as only stage or only screen, or possibly ony audio; at other times, I might get a mind picture of it in two mediums. How do you see it playing in your head? Does it feel cinematic, or do you see the characters as players on a stage? That might give you an indication of where it fits already.

Congrats ! That's what I did in five years with my first book and in the first month for my last one, then sales tragically dropped ! I'm not good at selling myself (but improving)

Super impressive!! What genres do you like writing the most?

I hope 50 become 100 become 1000!

Congratulations D.E. White!! Super exciting!!

Congratulations! Agreed with James!

Congratulations Debbie Elicksen!! How exciting!!

It's so much work & I just love the concept of your show "planting seed of inspiration", congrats !

Thanks guys. :) I find screenwriting so difficult, it's like going to school to learn to be a lawyer for me. Writing books is a lot easier.

The thing I love about book writing, compared to screen writing, is that I can finish a book and have it published and be "out there" whereas the script I've got is just gathering dust. Though, that said, I have published that as a book too!

Congratulations!