RU Readers, if you’d like to learn more about screenwriting or loglines, be sure to check out one of Cindy’s workshops. She has an amazing assortment listed on her website http://www.CindyCarroll.com.

Have a great weekend!
Tracey

Sorry, I’m late! The dog ate my homework, the alarm didn’t go off, I forgot it was Friday. =) Actually, it’s a long story involving cat claws and an exploding waterbed, but no one really needs to hear THAT story. =)

Anyways, thanks for being here! A friend of a friend of mine (yeah, I know I know) is a screen writer..so I kind of have an “in”…lol….yeah, it’s really distant…but something that the friend of mine and I have talked about doing – someday. I am hoping first to get published as a novelist, then work my way around to screenwriting…so thanks for your helpful hints, I’ll be looking at your website and other information you popped into your article! Something definitely to think about!

thanks again!

carrie
(always late to class)

It depends on the person. But it took me two years to write my first book. And it took me two months to write my first script. I find scripts are much faster to write. Revising them, that’s another story.

Yes, there’s always a catch. And it’s much harder to sell a script than it is a novel.

Most agencies for novels don’t represent screenplays. There are agents who specialize in scripts. The WGA has a list of agents that conform to their standards.

http://www.wga.org/agency/agencylist.asp#top

My question is – who do you send your scripts to? Are there agents specifically for script writers?

Usually the producer will approach the writer, the writer’s agent or the publisher about getting the rights to turn a novel into a script. So writers should make sure they check their contracts carefully to make sure they retain the movie rights not the publisher. Once the novelist sells the rights it’s up to the producer to hire a screenwriter to write the script. Some novelists will be producers so they can retain control. Some novelists have it written in the contract that they have some (or a lot) of control. But you have to be a big name author for that usually. Usually, once you sell the rights you don’t have a say.

Submitting scripts are a little different. They go to producers, managers or agents. You still need to research to see who produces the kind of movie you’re writing. And you still have to write a great story.