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A prominent literary manager recently told me that he still reads queries. If they don’t come in late at night, in which case he rarely bothers. Or when he’s driving. Or early in the morning. Or when he’s at lunch. But when he’s at his desk, and not too busy…… read more →

Readers of my blog first became familiar with Marissa Jo Cerar in January 2013, after her spec screenplayConversion was named to 2012’s The Black List. Following her placement, Marissa was generous enough to do an interview with me, sharing with my readers the insights, experiences and lessons that had brought her to that… read more →

Many years ago, shortly after I took over ScriptShark, I came across a script whose writers swore to me was going to be the next big Hollywood hit. The problem? The screenplay was written – as the scribes proudly told me – for what they called the Paul Newman generation.… read more →

There are writers out there who HATE career advice. Don’t ask me why, but they do. I don’t mean all writers, but more than one have come out and proclaimed before me and anyone else who would listen, that advice, input and guidance can only be destructive: I don’t see movies… read more →

One of the best things you can be doing for yourself as a writer is read other screenplays getting traction and getting produced in the industry marketplace. As your screenplay emerges into the space, it will inevitably be compared to other successful works out there. What better way to prepare… read more →

With pilots due to be delivered in the next month and May Upfronts to be announced shortly thereafter, I am getting the same question from almost everyone I come across: How do I get staffed on a TV show? With the fall season looming, it’s natural to assume that many… read more →

Here’s what I sometimes hear from writers contemplating the to-submit-or-not-to-submit question when it comes to screenwriting contests: If you submit your screenplay to a contest, you’re effectively giving the reader permission to steal your work. Screenwriting contests don’t mean anything these days. All screenwriting contests are exactly the same. There… read more →

A couple of weeks ago, I went to visit my friend Dallas Sonnier at his ever-growing management company, Caliber Media. Dallas and his people hold a special place in my heart; I’ve seen them grow from a three-person/two room operation to what they are now: A powerhouse management company with… read more →

Writers, take notice: Time is NOT your friend. It’s NOT waiting by patiently. It’s not forgiving, in any way, to writers. Time is, in the best and worse ways, your enemy. A good adversary should keep you on your toes. Should inspire you to stay alert. To stay on point.… read more →

The industry changed so aggressively over the past five years. Some attribute it to the writer’s strike of 2008. The strike in which the writers won the battle, but lost the war in many ways. A recent Vanity Fair article pointed out this moment as the time when Hollywood stopped… read more →