Authoring & Playwriting

For all the authors and playwrights in our community, a place to discuss, share content and post tips and advice.

Terrence Sellers
A Big Editing Milestone

Happy to report that I finally finished editing the first draft of the 2nd novel in my fantasy series. I now need to go back and add 4 chapters, as well as edit some additional lore. But the hardest part of the process is over. I hope to see book 2 ready for query by June. Then I'll have to start the long process of editing book 3.

Jed Power

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

Sam Sokolow

That’s awesome, Terrence!

GiGi Raines

Congratulations! Major milestone indeed!

Terrence Sellers

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...

Expand comment
Jed Power

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

James Porteous
Logline: Stinky Karma - a fictional biography

Bo Carter was a novice songwriter when a hurricane named Bob Dylan crashed into New York’s folk music scene. Bo survived the flood, but after a career spanning three decades, he fears he will be remembered as a ‘one-hit-wonder.’

D.E. White

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

James Porteous

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

Tessa Shaffer
Literary Agent AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Hi All! I've been a little backed up with book-to-TV development and haven't been able to add to the author's lounge as much as I'd like to, so I'm posting a Q&A! I'm a Literary Agent for novelists and a Literary Manager for screenwriters. What questions do you want to know about Literary Agents or...

Expand post

LoLo Paige

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!

Nancy Burke

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.

LoLo Paige

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..

Alex Lang

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?

Jeff Bonilla

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...

Expand comment
Anyone else writing a novel atm? Want to do a weekly word count?

If you're writing and want to do weekly word count accountability v happy to do an end of week round up on here. Writing can a lonely business and I feel like sometimes it helps to be part of a group all working towards the same goal. I need 40,000 words down by close of play Friday.

Ps. This DOES n...

Expand post

D.E. White

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

Karen "Kay" Ross

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

D.E. White

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...

Expand comment
Jeffrey J. Mariotte

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.

D.E. White

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

Amazon Banter

Always up for a good argument, I have had to concede defeat and take down the word bestseller from my KDP title. Mainly because they couldn't think of any arguments to get back with and just said remove the word or we'll take your book down. Sigh. However I do get to keep all my other keywords, so w...

Expand post

Geoff Hall

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...

Expand comment
Niki Hayes

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.

Jed Power

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

D.E. White

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.

D.E. White

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 M. Adler
Advice to Author Client seeking Literary Agent?

Hi All, not sure if this is the best place to post. I have a client who has written several novels and seeks the assistance of a literary agent. The genre is generally "action thriller." Any directions/resources/referrals are greatly appreciated!

Jed Power

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 a...

Expand comment
D.E. White

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.

David M. Adler

Good advice. Thanks for the comments.

Sam Sokolow

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-t...

Expand comment
D.E. White

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

Marian Betts
Intellectual Property Lawyer

Along with my previous post, I also need to find an Intellectual Property Lawyer for both the books and the movies in the series. Does this lawyer need to be in the same state as I am, or can I look for such a lawyer in, say, New York or California? And, does anyone know of one that is accepting new clients?

Shellie Schmals

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...

Expand comment
Marian Betts

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!

Marian Betts

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...

Expand comment
Sam Sokolow

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 o...

Expand comment
Marian Betts

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.

Book manuscript to film?

Hello all,

I'm an author of five psychological thrillers published by Harper Collins, but I've also written one rom-com manuscript that's not published and I feel it would make a terrific movie.

What's the best process to get that from book manuscript to film?

Can I pitch just the idea to film peopl...

Expand post

Morgan Aitken

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...

Expand comment
Maverick Knox

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 di...

Expand comment
Pradip Atluri

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.

Richard Buzzell

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...

Expand comment
Annabel Kantaria

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

Karen "Kay" Ross
Novel-Writing Software Recommendations, Please

And thank you! A friend of mine and I were talking about writing books and she asked about the best novel-writing software. Of course, I knew we’ve discussed this in the past in this lounge, and yet my brain still can’t recall. Help! Please share your favorite novel-writing software and why below! Thanks in advance!

Abdur Mohammed

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

Jeffrey J. Mariotte

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.

Carina S. Burns

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!

Julia Warren

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...

Expand comment
Steven M. Cross

Final Draft has a novel template.

Daria Firestone
How do you tell when your idea should be made into a film/series or a novel?

Hi Fellow Creatives, a question popped into my head this morning. Have you ever had to consider this, and how did YOU know which medium would be best for a given story?

Thiago Carvalho

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.

Howard Koor

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

Jeff E. Gregory

Not for you to decide.

William Schumpert

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

Julia Warren

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 cine...

Expand comment
KDP in Numbers

Thought it might be interesting to share sales numbers from KDP for the month. I have sold 50 books, so I can buy myself tea and cake at the cornershop and maybe petrol to get into town lol. Zero advertising still. KENP remains to most profitable.

Stephanie Munch

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)

Sam Sokolow

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

James Drago

I hope 50 become 100 become 1000!

Shellie Schmals

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

GiGi Raines

Congratulations! Agreed with James!

Debbie Elicksen
Just clicked publish on book number 18.

Kindle will only let me make it free for five days, otherwise, it is priced at 99 cents CDN. I do have a PDF version, too.

The book highlights all the fantastic people I interviewed on my show, up until August 8, 2022. Yes, I am already working on Season 2's book.

In Season One: a UK comedian/actor...

Expand post

Locker Room for Growth: Season One
Locker Room for Growth: Season One
Featured guests who appeared on the Locker Room for Growth podcast from August 8, 2021 to August 8, 2022. Locker Room for Growth is about planting seeds of inspiration. Interviews are with compelling…
Shellie Schmals

Congratulations Debbie Elicksen!! How exciting!!

Stephanie Munch

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

Debbie Elicksen

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.

David E. Gates

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!

D.E. White

Congratulations!

register for stage 32 Register / Log In