Writers on the Verge: Know Thy Screenwriting Career Path

While different writers do different things (some write for TV, others see things strictly in a feature format, some have great ideas come to them every day while others struggle to find an idea worthy of their excitement every 3 months), not every writer out there envisions the same future for themselves. While some writers are eager to get staffed on a TV show, land a writing assignment, or even sell script after script, other writers are motivated to rewrite the same story year after year driving it towards perfection, or taking the one script and talking about it to anyone who would listen until someone finally expresses interest. The latter, a writer with a single script, is a writer who is trying to get one movie or television show made. He is not, by any sort of industry standards, the sort of writer who is trying to build a screenwriting career in the true sense of the word.

In the 90's, the single-script writer was often one who fell into the "one-and-done" category - a business model that allowed a writer to surface in the industry with one script, sell it and be gone. But in today's industry climate, where it takes twice the time to sell a script or break a writer for half the money that would have been paid pre-2008 strike, the industry - and representation specifically - does tend to invest more in the development of a promising career.

So let's break it down: What makes a career screenwriter, and what avenues are open for the writer who does have just that one script?

A writer who is trying to build a screenwriting career is one who...

In today's market, a screenwriting career is rarely built on the back of one script. Therefore, a career screenwriter is one who is capable of meeting at least two of the above bullet points. Career screenwriters are suitable for representation because they will consistently have new material for their industry advocates, such as an agent or a manager, to shop. Many career screenwriters understand and are ready to commit to the following:

But what if you're not that writer? What if you really have just that one script, that one story you know would be amazing on the screen? What do you do then? Unless your screenplay is that one-in-a-million script that can just go out there and sell, an agent or manager would probably not be right for you. And if you have been pursuing this one story for years and years, odds are you are not interested in selling your script, collecting your writer's fees and walking away. Rather, if asked, you would like to be involved in its realization every step of the way. So chances are that whatever path this screenplay travels, you want to escort it along. If that is indeed the case, there are many options available to you out there for getting the script seen and your project ultimately made:

Whether you're in it for the long haul, or just trying to get your dream project made, it's critical that you understand which path is right for you to take. If you only have one script, skip the representation path, as any rep will likely want to see more than one writing sample before they add you to their roster. And if you are not particularly invested in any one of your works, be sure to get on a schedule of creating new content again and again, because that's what your reps and industry network will come to expect. But most importantly, know where it is you want to go, and the most advantageous avenues to get you there. This way, despite your final destination, you will always appear serious, well-informed, and, ultimately, professional.

Get more advice in Lee's book
Getting It Write: An Insider's Guide to a Screenwriting Career