Increasing Your Visibility as a Writer

Through these successes, we’ve learned that many talented writers work day in and day out on scripts that catch the attention of producers. Yet often, some writers focus only on their own writing instead of shining a light on themselves. True, a writer’s script needs to deliver once it’s read – craft is never overrated, and a producer’s sensibilities and the investors’ needs must also co-align. But ultimately, a writer must continually create opportunities to present that script in front of producers’ eyes in the first place.   Read More

5 Things You Can Do to Help Sell Your Scripts in 2014

A writer asked me a very specific question the other day, and it was the best question I think I've heard from a writer in all my time here at InkTip. She asked: "Is there anything I can do to guarantee I'll sell one of my scripts this year?” And the answer is…no. Sorry. BUT… I can think of five things you can do to dramatically increase the probability of selling your scripts   Read More

Logline Cliches to Avoid

When you read logline after logline, patterns emerge. These patterns reveal clichés based on expressions and idioms hammered into our heads in taglines we’ve seen on movie or show posters, or in voiceovers we've heard in trailers by the late, great Don LaFontaine.   Read More

Why Your Logline Matters and How to Write One

I’ve lost count of the number of loglines I’ve read but it’s in the thousands. I don’t just read them. I see which ones work and which ones don’t. The logline is the master key that will help unlock doors for writers...   Read More

7 Pitching Tips from Ancient Myth to Modern Media

What's the Perfect Pitch? According to those who come to me for assistance with writing a pitch, or who attend Pitch Prep workshops where I often serve as a coach and panelist, it's darn hard to write. Ancient writers did a pretty good job of this sort of thing, though. The Roman poet Virgil's opening three sentences of The Aeneid is a perfect pitch for his entire 130 page story. It begins Cano, arma que virum que... "I sing of arms and of the hero who..."   Read More

Your Synopsis Should Not Be These 3 Things

The synopsis can vary wildly from writer to writer. Because I’ve seen such a variance as far as length and philosophy in synopses, I must state that the important thing to remember is that the synopsis is not written for the writer but for the reader. Yet many synopses I’ve read seem to ignore the reality of a typical script reader’s workload.   Read More

The Art of Query

Now that you've got your material together, you are ready to take on that next important step of getting it into the right hands. Thus begins the query process.   Read More

Selling Your Own TV Series

CAN WRITERS SELL THEIR OWN TV SERIES? Writers? NO. Writers who are reading this article…YES! And I’ll tell you how, if you go with me on this for a few minutes.   Read More

Once Upon A Pitch

It doesn't matter how good your screenplay is if nobody reads it. Each year, thousands of spec scripts are written. Many of these scripts are written by established screenwriters who have agents and/or managers and an existing track record, all of which aids in actually getting someone to read the script. Of course, there are many more scripts being written by those not yet established in the film business. In this case, a great logline and a sensational short summary are your two most important sales tools.   Read More

Get Your Script Noticed

Here are some tips for unknown writers trying to get their script read by an established feature film production company. For almost six years, I've worked at a high profile feature film production company in New York City.   Read More