Lack of professionalism will sink an aspiring writer every time

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Lack of professionalism will sink an aspiring writer every time

by Mark Sanderson

Let's call this a cautionary tale. I had an interesting discussion with a producer this week. We were working together on a web series project that I wrote, and she lamented to me about her recent experience of working with a screenwriter under option on her feature screenplay that has become a total mess. The script received a less than positive professional review, and

it didn’t have much good to report on about the characters, story, execution, or chances in the marketplace. The producer had also given this screenwriter notes as part of the development process, but the writer has been unable or unwilling to execute the notes to make the script worthy of moving forward. 

Hearing familiar tales like these make me angry because many times writers can be their own worst enemies when they do not appreciate a good opportunity offered to them. It’s also the reason why Hollywood has created such a high wall as a method to filter out unprofessional writers. Do aspiring screenwriters really believe that everyone in Hollywood cares about their precious screenplay just because they wrote it? Trust me they do not and when writers become “difficult” in the process, it does not help their reputation or chances for long term success.

BUILD A SOLID REPUTATION

If you're blessed to find a producer interested in your screenplay like in this situation, you need to do everything you can to push the project forward. It's shortsighted to do anything less, and it will ruin your reputation as team player and collaborator. When the producer presented the aspirant her own detailed notes, the screenwriter told her to go see a recently successful horror movie at the theater as an example of what she is trying to do with her project. Obviously, her movie was not on the page, but the aspirant wasn’t open to hearing constructive criticism from professionals. Only an amateur would have this attitude. Tens of thousands of screenplays bounce around Hollywood every year looking to get produced and writers need to do everything in their power to help their odds including building their professional reputation. 

So, when you do find a producer or company who wants to work with you—work with them! Otherwise, they will move on with another project and another screenwriter. Remember this always—you are not that special. Sorry. You’ll have to fight, claw, and create just like everyone else does and even more once you do start working professionally. As my producer continued with her story, I could sense that she was ready to drop

this aspirant and move on. This aspirant’s unprofessional attitude and denial will sink her chances no matter where she goes with her screenplay. I asked my producer if her writer had written a solid outline before she went into pages and her reply was exactly as I suspected: “No, she just wrote script as she went along.” It obviously showed by the poor reviews on the project. A screenplay can live or die from a thousand details, and you'll need to spend about seventy-five percent of your time on the story of the movie before you jump into writing any pages. 

EXECUTING THE NOTES KEEPS YOU ON THE PROJECT

This is a perfect example of how important a solid story outline is before you start into pages. Unfortunately, this aspirant doesn’t know she was blowing her chances with moving her screenplay forward. She already has achieved one of the most difficult aspects of a screenwriter’s journey— finding a producer who is interested— but she was not willing or able to see the value of her situation. She also was unable to execute the producer’s notes,

and that doesn’t bode well for staying on any project. This is how original screenwriters of projects get fired and why producers hire someone who can execute the notes. I have been hired to rewrite several projects because the original writer was not experienced enough to bring the script to a place that moved it closer to production.

There is zero time in the development process for a screenwriter who can’t execute notes. No producer will show a poorly executed script to investors, directors, or actors, and that means the project stalls and does not move forward. 

It is vital for writers to properly execute screenplay notes and it takes time to learn how to be proficient. It was obvious to me from listening to my producer’s story that this aspirant wasn’t passionate about her screenplay or even respects the craft of screenwriting. My producer told me the aspirant’s reasoning for writing horror was because, “Horror sells.” I laughed out loud. Yes, every year we see a series of successful horror films, but it looks like this will not be one of them. 

These successful movies you see in the theaters or streaming went into development and then production up to two years ago, so the moment you follow the “trend” of the current box office, by the time they produce your film the audience and the industry has moved on to something else. That's not to say you shouldn't pay attention to what fails and what is successful at the box office.

STRIVE TO BE A TEAM PLAYER AND COLLABORATOR 

According to the coverage on this screenwriter’s script it had “unnecessary long pages of exposition and characters that no one cared about even if they lived or died.” But even after this professional review, this writer continued to defend her poorly written script. It’s like she believed somehow the producer didn’t quite see the genius of her

work. This delusional thinking will lead to a rejected screenplay and a “screenwriter” wasting precious time blaming others for not seeing the value of their screenplay. 

Yes, ideas are where stories and scripts begin, but it’s the execution of the idea that will get it sold and produced. Here is the simple formula: Great idea + horribly executed script = failure of screenwriter and the script. It’s rare that someone these days will buy a script just for the idea. 

 You want them to buy it because it’s well-written and they see the potential of successfully produced film. Also, you want them to keep you on through the development process and into production, so you receive full writing credit. 

It's a delicate balance and the script's best interests must be put forward always. How best can we writers make changes to the script to attract investors, talent, and ultimately attract an audience? The best situation is when it's an equal partnership of collaboration and each artist allows the other to do what they do best for the project.

The truth is that Hollywood has no shortage of good ideas. It’s the lack of execution of those ideas that can be the problem. Hollywood has thousands of screenwriters competing with their scripts, but the odds of carving out a steady career becomes more difficult. In 2021 only 34 spec screenplays sold. Aspirants face these tremendous odds every time they send out with a project. 

RESPECT THE CRAFT AND MOUNTAIN WE ALL CLIMB DAILY

Again, if you are lucky, you will end up with a visionary producer who has the experience and talent who pushes screenwriters to do their best work—all for the benefit of the movie. This aspirant didn’t have any respect for the genre she attempted to write. Her reasoning for writing a horror film was because she thought that she could sell her idea for big money. She also showed a woeful lack of respect for the professional work ethic needed to survive in Hollywood. Trust me, producers will go out of their way to work with a screenwriter who is a team player and goes above and beyond every time. But what about the temperamental writers with undeveloped talent who believe their scripts are masterworks? Their lack of professionalism and ego will sink their chances of any success as the film business will quickly humble them. 

Keep the faith—but also keep filling your blank pages on your road to success.

Mark Sanderson (aka @Scriptcat) is a working screenwriter, author, script consultant, and lecturer blessed to be living his childhood dream of making movies. His work ranges from his sketch comedy writing and performing as a founding member of The Amazing Onionheads, writing for MTV, to his spec sale, and his two-dozen screenwriting assignments with television premieres and worldwide distribution of his fifteen films.

His book, “A Screenwriter’s Journey to Success” is available on Amazon, and he offers screenplay consultation services on his website: www.fiveoclockblue.net