If you want to be a working screenwriter, you'll have to make an investment in time and money.  Look at it as starting a business.  It'll probably cost you three - five thousand dollars before you ever see a return on your investment - that's if you ever see a return.  This is a very difficult business to break into.  Not only do you have to be good but you have to have a sense of what is commercial and you have to have a certain degree of luck.

Now that we've set the record straight, here's what you need to do:

• Experience Life
• Read a ton of books, screenplays, plays, magazine articles, newspapers, comic books, phone books, cereal boxes, anything you can lay your hands on
• Watch movies, the good ones and the bad ones
• Screenplays in book form can be found at:
  

  Writers Store

• Take a screenwriting class at a college, or community college.  Many of these schools offer inexpensive beginning classes.  You can also find classes:

  Online: Syd Fields' "Getting Started" Online Workshop Writer's Boot Camp Offline: Dave Freeman's Workshop He conducts his seminar in Los Angeles and New York twice a year. Michael Hauge's Classes

• Take a psychology class
• Take an acting class
• Take a directing class

  Guy Magar's Action/Cut Directing Workshop

Information On The Industry

Spec Screenplay Sales Directory

Hollywood Creative Directories - Agents and Producers' Books

Opening The Doors To Hollywood by Carlos D'Abreu

The Big Deal by Thom Taylor

Hollywood Dealmaking by Dina Appleton and Daniel Yankevitz

Formatting

The Complete Guide to Standard Script Formats by Hilis R. Cole, et al

Writing A Treatment

This is the blueprint for your screenplay.  You must write one.  Many new writers don't and then they end up having to rewrite their scripts from page one.  Remember, THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS TO GREAT SCREENWRITING.  If you don't want to or can't put in the time it will take, think about another career.

Writing Treatments That Sell by Ken Achity and Chi-Li Wong

Dave Freeman's Treatment Pak by Dave Freeman

Screenwriting Software

Most of the screenwriting software out there will do the job.

Final Draft
It's the most popular.

Movie Magic Screenwriter

Scriptware (big sale until 3/31/03).

Screenwriting

Screenplay by Syd Field

Making A Good Script Great by Linda Seger

The Plot Thickens by Noah Lukeman

Other books can be found in our bookstore.

Order Coverage or Development Notes

Find out what an experienced industry story analyst thinks of your material before you send it out.  They will write up a report outlining its strengths and weaknesses.  If it gets a "consider" or a "recommend," we will send the report to dozens of industry contacts.  You can't lose on this deal.  The cost is low, the readers are tops and it's a great way to jumpstart your writing career.

  Now Accepting Material Online For Coverage/Development Notes

After The Script Is Perfect

Attend a pitch session and meet with Hollywood execs.

Questions about the industry or about writing or selling?  We have a few thousand of questions and answers on our "Ask A Hollywood Pro Board."  If you don't see an answer to your question, post a new one.  It's free and easy to use!

Copyright © 1997-2006 HollywoodLitSales.com. All rights reserved. PLEASE READ THESE TERMS OF USE CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS SITE. By using this site, you signify your assent to these terms of use. If you do not agree to these terms of use, please do not use the site.