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Continuing with The Ten Mistakes New Writers Always Make (even though they think they know better.) Mistake #1 was Going Out with your Script Before It's Ready, which was trying to sell your wares (to agents, producers, etc.) without having done the grinding work of massive review and rewriting. So let's say you read last weeks column, you've reviewed and rewritten to the nth degree, and now your beautiful first script is as good as it can possibly be. Ready now? Well, if you think you are, then you're probably making...
Mistake #2: Going Out with your Script Before YOU'RE Ready.
"WHAT...?" Just read.
So fine, your script is in top-form, no holes, no weaknesses, no typos. But what about you? Are you a writer who can be taken seriously by an agent or producer?
Those are really separate questions. If a producer absolutely loves your script (translation: if it's a script s/he thinks can make a lot of money) then they probably won't care if it's your first. But chances are they won't love it that much. Why? I'll get to that in a minute.
First, though, agents. Say the agent loves your screenplay. Will they represent you? Again, probably not. First, they'll ask if you have any other samples. Obviously if this is your first script, the answer is 'no.' "But if they LOVE my script, why would they want to see another one?" Well, they want to make sure you're not a one-trick-pony. It's been said that everyone has one good script in them. But if an agent is going to set about the huge task of developing your career, they want to know that you can put out. That means the ability to write script after script after script, maintaining (really, improving) the quality each time. But even if you have two or three good scripts, it's still a long-shot. You have to look at it from a common-sense perspective. Any given agent will have clients already working, making them their 10%. Sometimes, that 10% is quite a large number. So Agent X can either focus their energies on their proven commodity clients, making their proven comissions, or spend their time on you, trying to break you into the biz, an unproven name with no track record, a job requiring time, energy, and risk. What would you do in their place? "But Stephen," you're saying, "my script is GREAT. It's a MASTERPIECE." If this is your response, you still don't get it. This is show BUSINESS, that is, mostly business, with a little show.
But back to the bigger question. Why is it unlikely that producers and agents will go for that first (or second or third, even) effort of yours? BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST (OR SECOND OR THIRD) EFFORT OF YOURS! You're a new writer. You're probably not that good yet. Yeah,I know YOU think you are. But all my experience indicates otherwise. The fact is, ALMOST NO WRITER'S FIRST EFFORTS are all that stunning. Developing writing skill takes time and work, a lot of both.
It always surprises me that new writers don't get the above fact (although I suffered from the same delusions when I started out.) But again, use your common sense. Would you want to own the first chair a carpenter ever made, or his tenth? Would you want to be your lawyer's very first client, especially if a lot of money were on the line (like the budget to a feature?) Would you want to be the first patient under your brand new surgeon's knife? Well, the same goes for screenwriting. And the fact that you don't think this applies to you is merely a testament to your newcomers inexperience.
But let's say that against all odds, that first script of yours does hit, and you make a killing. Is this a good thing? No. I've seen more than a few wunderkinds hit it right out of the gate (remember, that's a few out of TENS OF THOUSANDS.) And then, of course, more work follows. But guess what happens? The writers don't have their chops yet. They're not ready for the assignment they're handed. They tank, and now they have a reputation and their careers are effectively over, right after they begin! It's true, just ask any development executive.
Fine, so you keep writing, now you have a stable of five, six, seven, maybe even ten brilliant, highly polished scripts. Ready now? Maybe. Or maybe not. More next week.
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