Authoring & Playwriting

I've adapted books for authors, Ashley Renee Smith, and they were hands-on, giving me ideas for the scripts and feedback.

Hi, Azat Tyrsunbaev! Welcome to the community. Stage 32 has a blog that'll help you navigate the platform and connect with creatives and industry professionals all over the world. Producers, directors, executives, authors, and more. www.stage32.com/blog/how-to-successfully-navigate-the-stage-32-platform-...

Stage 32 has a Community Open House on November 25th. It'll also help you connect with creatives and industry pros. You can sign up here: www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-s-november-community-open-ho...

It's Stage 32's November Write Club. It's a chance to connect with writers, directors, producers, etc., and it could help you reach a goal(s). There's prizes too! If you're interested in joining, Week 2's blog came out Monday. www.stage32.com/blog/november-write-club-week-2-insights-from-the-stage-...

I suggest adding a profile picture of yourself. People will feel more comfortable networking and collaborating with you if they know what you look like. And if you have a picture, your profile will show up when someone searches for you. You can upload a picture by clicking the gear symbol in the top right-hand corner and selecting “Edit profile” in the drop-down menu, then clicking the red button underneath your location and choosing "Update profile picture."

Once you've written your book, you could post about it on your profile. Producers search profiles for projects. Click the gear symbol in the top right-hand corner and select “Edit profile” in the drop-down menu. Scroll down to “Loglines” and click “Add/edit loglines” to the right of “Loglines.” You can also post about your book on your profile this way: www.stage32.com/loglines (near the top where it says “Add a Logline”)

I would suggest writing an original novel and proceed with having the novel adapted. Once the novel is complete, register a copyright through the U.S. Copyright Office (www.copyright.gov). Create two treatments: one for feature; and one for series. Register these separately with the USCO. Then, seek representation from a film agent via a reputable literary agency. Speak to no one, and post nothing else until the three copyrights are registered. You can reach out to me anytime at gregorj3 at gmail dot com for free advice.

I would ask my IP lawyer to insist that subrights terms for all subsidiary works be added to the contract. Thx for the head's up!

Good to know.

Wise advice, thank you. I am writing the last chapter of my second book. I have a lit agent and publisher from my first book. Even though I have felt many of my TV producing skills were transferable to book publishing, it has still been a steep and expensive learning curve. Good luck out there.

Never talk to publishers directly. Use an agent.

Actually, when it comes time for the CONTRACT, you don't want to work with a literary agent that you don't already have, unless you have more books for them and they want to submit them to publishers.

But to a literary agent, you are small beans, and they value their relationships with editors at publishing houses. That might mean they have you settle for terms that aren't the best for you, but keep their working relationship with the editor smooth.

At the contract stage, even if you have an agent, you want a literary attorney to vet the contract. The you are able to go back to the editor who is buying your book and negotiate for better terms. Paying the lawyer to do the negotiating is usually not worth the investment. But he/she will give you the wording to ask for what you want. If you have an agent, he or she can negotiate for the terms you want.

But definitely do your own research. It's not just about the money. For example, cover approval, or if they publisher has first right of refusal of your next book. I even negotiated who my developmental editor and cover artist would be. (But that's rare.)

Congratulations, Charity Pleasant! I agree with Vidal. And maybe try a different online marketing strategy to sell more books.

You're selling books Charity Pleasant - I get how it can be deflating but if you're selling, you're doing better than you may think. One thing some authors do is setup a YouTube channel and provide information on something that is beneficial to the viewer. That's one way to build platform to sell more books.

Own website (can build for free.) Blogs. Podcast. Substack, Patreon Etc are useful additional tools to build awareness. Some self publishers go Transmedia route & gain built in audience via poems or comic.

This is such a hard industry - As of 2024, the world publishes around 2.2 to 2.4 million new books every year. That includes print books, eBooks, audiobooks, and everything in between. The number grows steadily - fueled by traditional publishers, indie presses, and millions of self-published authors.

I'm like you - I like electricity, fresh water and food on my table so deciding what to do based on what provides for my family is always on my mind. Books sales for me alone don't do this.

However, you can boost your profile by trying to get more of a name by submitting pieces to magazines, internet blogs, newspapers etc. Speaking gigs at festivals etc can pay as well. If you do well at these, you can apply for a speaker's agent. This would build your profile and help get your name and work seen by more people. Just a suggestion of course.

However, humans are meant to create. If writing and creating feeds your soul then keep at it. You should never quit. Keep playing in the sand pit - everyone will see what you build eventually. Just don't quit. Never quit.

Only you can know your financial circumstances. I make a good living writing books. But I haven't given up my psychotherapy practice (just condensed it) or my corporate crisis and grief counseling work. Writing (and my other work) all has ebbs and flows. So it's good to have other income, even if you don't currently need more. You can always build up more of a cushion in savings and investments. And don't spend all your income in times of doing well!

Thank you so much! Maurice, I’ve always felt that cinema’s real power lies in silence and imagery — where emotion speaks louder than words. That idea has deeply influenced how I now approach writing and adaptation.

You're welcome, Abdul Quddus.Thanks for sharing the blog.

1. Register a copyright through www.copyright.gov for your novel. 2. Create two treatments: One for feature, and one for series. 3. Get a reputable agent to represent tou. Post nothing and reach out to no one else anywhere until these three are done. Feel free to reach out to me directly using gregorj3 at gmail dot com. My advice is always free.

Thanks for your advice, Jeff — I appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective. I’m already in the process of registering my works and developing adaptation materials, and I’m also connecting through verified and official channels for representation.

I value the insights and encouragement from the Stage 32 community — it’s been great learning from everyone’s experiences here.

Well stated, Abdul. Thanks for the e-mails. You're off to the right start.

Hey, Lauren Hackney. I'm looking forward to the AMA!

I've written two scripts from real life experiences. I got so many tears out when I wrote them that I thought I was 'all fixed'.... until my first verbal pitch last week and I ended up sobbing during it. They say write what you know... until you sob like a baby in front of industry professionals! Great post as always Kat!

Generally, I can’t always tell what exactly inspires me — sometimes a new, weird “what if” just starts floating around in my head.

But I do remember the first spark of some ideas.

For example:

The story Back from Oumilas inspired Eugenia Kallistia.

A paleontology documentary about extinct marine creatures inspired The Oceanic War.

Animals with dormancy phases inspired The Eclipsians.

And my love for neuroscience and medical books inspired The Silent PFC War.

A movie that I anticipated, but found disappointing. I began to outline my own version of the story and it grew into something of my own.

That’s a good way to develop new scenarios Michael Dzurak

A tiny change can flip the entire story upside down.

That’s exactly what I did in my story The De-Evolution Game: one small change spawns a new existence and an entirely new reality.

The whole idea was inspired by the timelines in Mr. Nobody.

I was Unable to sleep at 2 a.m., I found myself in a philosophical debate with my own mind. By 3 a.m., a thought struck about existence, and how everything derives meaning through its connections. In a sudden clarity, I formulated the fundamentals of the universe in a single equation, jotted it in my diary, and by the end of the day, had it published with a DOI. Sleep never stood a chance.

I personally believe the most fun that you can have creating a sci/fi story is to break the rules of physics. Of course, there are certain aspects that will have to follow basic rules, but once you start getting creative and building YOUR world and universe, break the rules and unlock your imagination. Let it run wild. Once you do that, YOU can be the one to decide what the rules are. What aspects fit and work and which ones don't.

It's better to do too much and then dial it back later on rather than wishing you had thought of something earlier in the process.

For me, scientific plausibility isn’t a must-have unless the story is actually trying to teach or reflect real-life science. If it’s meant to convey real concepts, then yes, accuracy matters.

But outside of that? You don't really require it. Scientific realism is like hot sauce: not needed, but if you use it right, it can make the whole sci-fi concept way more tasty and appealing.

Personally, I like to make my stories scientifically plausible to attract the attention of scientists and philosophers — but I also let imagination grow freely and wildly.

Sam Clevesy Shaurya Mishra

For me I get involved with my character's story's that get go where no one has gone before and they take me along on wonderful trips.

Yes, that’s so fascinating.

I think the relationship between an author and their characters works both ways — you give them life, and they teach you something in return.

Sometimes I feel as if my characters are real, as if they come from another planet or even the future, and they chose me specifically to tell their story.

I know it might sound like daydreaming, but that’s what happens — we become truly attached to our characters. Edwin Norman Turner

That's awesome Suzanne Bronson ! We need to have an initiation ceremony. I'm thinking Klingon pain sticks.

May be just the blood wine Leonardo Ramirez 2

Haha Suzanne Bronson - nice one!

that's great Suzanne Bronson What are you looking at writing?

I think an audio drama Lauren Hackney