Screenwriting : How many scripts did it take before one was sold, produced and made into a film? by Steven Harris Anzelowitz

Hi Steven, keep writing colleague! In one year recently, 10,000 were submitted, 52 were produced. Good luck !

There's no magic number. Anybody that tells you there's a magic number is crazy. There are statistics, but then statistically you have more than the average number of legs (assuming you have two). The quickest way to finding your voice, in my opinion, is to try and chill out, write what you're motivated to write, enjoy writing it, and try not to stress out. You're going good, Steven, keep in mind you'll turn around scripts and improve your craft faster and faster. 60 is the new 40, my friend.

CJ- Good advice indeed (as always) I just have to keep at it. (And I will)

Glad to read it, you're an inspiration to me and sure many more here.

If I don't count things that I wrote in high school or college or shortly thereafter, the first script I ever sold was probably my... sixth? If I include the two earlier ones that I had shot myself and never tried to sell. If I include every completed feature I wrote going back to college (things that were recognizable as screenplays but nowhere near professional enough to try to sell), it was probably my eleventh or so.

I like CJ's comment. Just keep on writing. I am working on number 5 while waiting on notes from number 4. Don't worry about the age thing.

I've sold scripts for options and for me, I think the magic number how many it takes is the first good script.

To Phillip, Jim,Landon & Kerry-- Thank you for your comments. The best advice I have taken from ALL your comments is to just stay in the game. Keep writing. Keep pitching. Frankly, There is nothing else I want to do.

Steven: If you're having fun, definitely stay with it. If you're not... stay with it anyway. You'll watch less television.

Phillip---I will stay with it. BTW--- I don't have a television. However, I do have Netflix on my computer. And I am taking Aaron Sorkin's advice. Hold a script in your hand and try to reverse engineer it. I have the pilot to "West Wing" and I am studying that. Plus It helps me expand my range of genres; Up to know only Comedy, Sci-Fi and Animation. His dialogue is what I would call machine gun: rat, tat,tat, tat. He condenses so much information in a short time when his characters speak. Not too mention at times he has a wit and humor that helps the narrative. After Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Billy Wilder and Neil Simon. I can see Aaron Sorkin as another one I can emulate if I want to tackle political drama. Of course mine would have to be set in New York City. Where else? You know what they say, "Write what you know. Where you know" And as a Brooklyn native. Manhattan resident. I'll keep the narrative on home turf.

I agree with Phillip and CJ. The number is whatever it takes for somebody to want to buy something. The more significant number is probably "how many producers have you contacted in your quest to sell your script or to establish a potential future working relationship with?" I got lucky and optioned my second script. It was a mess, now that I look back on it, but the producer liked the hook and story. It never got made, but I got a nice sum for it, and it opened some doors for me at the time. It wasn't until my 9th script that I got a contract to write a 10th script, and I've turned down options for a few of the others. In the bigger reality of "Being a Writer Who Is Trying To Sell Something"....feature-length spec scripts rarely get made into films in today's world. Most producers and studios already know what they want, and hire writers to fulfill those needs. If you can option a spec script to a reputable producer, that's great. If it gets sold and made into a movie, that's even greater. If your spec script can make a producer say, "hmmm....this writer is good....I'm going to have this person write the story that we want to make...", that's more realistic and is usually how a writer becomes a part of the business today. If selling something is someone's main goal.....I'd suggest that they novelize their story...or serialize it....or turn it into a comic book....or a web series.....or base it on a true story. Just look at the top 100 films on any given weekend, and do a little research on them. You'll see how many of them originated from a previously-existing source, and how many of them originated elsewhere - like the idea of a producer, network or studio person who then hired writers to do the writing part. ULB films aren't in that list, because they're not in box office numbers, but even the idea/concept of most low-budget films originate elsewhere. I'm not saying selling a spec script is impossible, but the business is what it is. I would only expect my original spec scripts to lead to options or to something else, and am pleased when that happens. I'd be very surprised if someone bought a spec script of mine that didn't have a previously-existing source behind it and actually turned it into a film.

Cholent Boy-- ULB? But great advice. Especially the part where the producer says he likes it "He's a good writer". And then offers him a story idea that the producer or studio wants to have made and hire that writer to do it. It sounds like a nice "back door" into the business. But, hey I'm not proud. I'm from Brooklyn. I'll take any door that's open. As always good stuff Cholent Boy. You helped keep this "Happy Writer" in the game. I mean it. I don't know what I would do without you guys. And you still have not told me when you're coming east? Sandwiches free sandwiches!!!

Steven - ULB is "ultra-low budget". And I'd love to be in NYC for 4th of July or San Gennaro in September. No place in America does those two events like the Big Apple. We'll see how things end up.

Steven I just finished my sixth script. So far I've been paid to write a script once, I was hired to adapt a book. I was not paid much at all. But beggers can't be choosers and I figure it's all resume building. I came to screenwriitng late in the game too, but I plan to keep on keepin on with it. My most recent script is an unauthorized biopic/true crime that both my agent and my mentor suggested I write. Hoping this one might actually open a door or two.

Bill is right. Almost all scripts get made do so because someone knew someone. Think of you script as a means of meeting people in the business that can help you launch your career instead of just something you want to sell. I sold a few screenplays but it is the contacts I've made that has paid off the most.

Steve, It took me four scripts before I sold one. However it is the connections I made along the way that paid off for me. When I would get rejection I would take the time to thank the producer for reading my script and let them know that if I could be of any help to them to let me know. Also anytime you finish a screenplay contact those producers know you just finished another one and let them know you appreciated them looking at your last one and wanted them to be the first to read your most recent one. Everyone in this crappy business has an ego and wants to feel special. If you do that every time the odds are some of those producers will remember you and will think of you for an assignment. Anyway that is what I used to do when I was more motivated.

Steve, I've heard of writers taking 25 scripts before they sell one, and others on the first try (though there's always got to be more to the story in those cases). Some depends on your network, yes, but it also depends on simple talent. Some people learn the craft a little faster than others, but you have to learn the craft. For me, I've done 9 scripts now, I think, and it took about that many for me to figure out the craft well enough that I am ABLE to write a marketable script. So for me, now it's about the networking part...

According to an old WGA survey the average pro writer wrote 9 screenplays before making a cent. I was average.

Cholent Boy-- Do the fourth, No corn beef at San Gennaro. Unless you want to stuff your face with zeppoles. And anyway, We can watch the Macy's fireworks. Up to you Just let me know which.

To All: Your comments have been most helpful. It restores my faith in the "Happy Writers" fellowship. There does not to seem a magic number as I had asked with my original thread. The fact is simple you keep writing till you get someone to say yes. But as many have pointed out. It is also about building relationships and networking. I am confident that as long as I stay with it and continue to hone my craft that there will be a film out there one day with my name on it. And if that is not to be the final destination, doesn't matter I am loving the journey. And It sure beats telemarketing. Yeech!! And a special shout out to all my fellow Stage 32 creatives in New York City!!! We're a coast too, man. We're a coast too!!

@Steven... Tootsie, right?

Kerry-- Yes (1983)The best line in that whole movie between the late great Sidney Pollack and Dustin Hoffman. Also Bill Murray was in there too.

Matt Cook sold his first and only screenplay and its about to be released. John Swetnam took 17 scripts before getting produced but then he had 2 premiere the same wknd. If you've never been in the writing field before, I'd say 7-10 is a good average. if you've been writing in some capacity all your life, then probably 3-5. but ya really never know. so many variables, not the least of which is luck & timing.

I think Danny's given a good general overview. Wesley Strick (a great man I'm lucky to be working with) sold his first script. As Danny said, Wesley had been writing all his life and was writing for music magazines like Creem and Rolling Stone before screenwriting. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cuff-podcast-screenwriter-wesley-s...