Screenwriting : New Blog: The 10 Biggest Mistakes Screenwriters Make When Querying by Maurice Vaughan

She might be talking about a short synopsis, Dan Guardino. Sometimes I write a short synopsis and a full synopsis for a script.

I have a question along these same lines. When I was writing my script for a screenwriting class, there is a marketing component. My question is, 1.5 years and several re-writes later, should I re-query the producers who appeared interested when I was taking the class. Thanks for any suggestions.

Great read and congrats!

Hi Dan, I think she misused the word synopsis. In a sales letter I think it would be better to use the word “summary”. It is true that a screenplay summary is a synopsis. However a synopsis does have a certain form and five lines is not that form. That is virtually a logline.

Otherwise this is just some solid sales advice.

I agree, Dan Guardino. Sending emails is a longshot compared to calling agents. I think it's smart to do both (email and call) though.

Monica Arisman, I think it's ok to re-query the producers. It's been a long time, and you've done rewrites.

I think summary would've been a better word, Craig D Griffiths.

When you get a distribution deal for a film, you tend to have to supply a bunch of synopses of various lengths (30 words, 250 characters, and 500 characters) so platforms have description text that fits their needs.

Synopsis is a very flexible term and it's being used correctly here.

I'm very sceptical of the five line rule claim when it comes from someone with no bio and/or credits. That said, the principal is certainly true; you want to draw people in, not bombard them.

Thanks for explaining, CJ Walley. "When you get a distribution deal for a film, you tend to have to supply a bunch of synopses of various lengths (30 words, 250 characters, and 500 characters) so platforms have description text that fits their needs." I remember DVDs used to have (might still have) short synopsis on the back cover. I also thought about the TV guide menu when you said that.

The old TV guide menus are literally where the term logline comes from.

I don't know if I knew that, CJ Walley. Thanks.

Some great advice in this article! It is also good to get to your point quickly so you don't waste the reader's time.

"It is also good to get to your point quickly so you don't waste the reader's time." I focus on that when I write a query letter, Ewan. I scan the letter, making sure it's straight to the point.