Breaking into the writing world is difficult at best. Once you’ve written your script you then have to find someone to shop it out to and that usually means an agent. Sure you may think that agents are heartless, money hungry thieves who want nothing more than your money and a script that can easily sell, you are most certainly correct about that assumption. Unfortunately, agents are also gatekeepers to the profession that you so desperately wish to break into. The subject matter of your script at this point is inconsequential, you could have the best Zombie Comedy the world has ever seen or the most heartfelt drama destined to win audiences hearts, chances are literary agents will hate it.

At some point during your quest to become a professional writer you will be told that “your movie is too unoriginal, it should be more like…, ” or “I see that you’re writing a movie about teen vampires in love, but could it work as a buddy cop film?” Yes, these rage inspiring quotes come straight out of the mouths of literary agents that I’ve had the “pleasure” of working with in the past. At the heart of their statement is the sentiment that you should rewrite a script to suit their own needs. I’ve been tempted by the fruit of writing a script that my heart wasn’t into, simply to gain the attention of a producer. Certainly if I just stuck to the formula all would be right in the world and after earning this man millions of dollars maybe, just maybe I could pitch the bro-mantic zombie comedy of my dreams. The reality of this situation is that you will spend so much time trying to write this script, detracting from the one thing that really matters, writing films that you believe in. The film business is tough to break into. Don’t waste your time writing a script that you don’t believe in. Every second brings a new opportunity for your original works to be ready. Do we really need another “two people switch lives” movie, or a “ridiculously hot, but shy, girl next door can’t get the guy of her dreams until she takes off her glasses” film? No, we do not! Until next time, keep writing!