Toward Finding an Agent

by Barbie Nicholls

Presented by Rita Cook, Associate Editor, Screenwriting

This article will not offer magical suggestions or easy ways of acquiring an agent. And, it will confirm that becoming a professional writer, one who makes a living by writing, is a long road. Commitment is the most important tool along this path. Technique, too, is very important. Talent, inspiration, and enthusiasm are lower on the list because even a little of these can go a long way, provided commitment and technique are present.

To begin, peruse the Writers Guild of America's list of Signatory Agents & Agencies http://www.wga.org/agency.html. You will find relatively few agencies that are considering new writers. Accept this as a blessing because it narrows your approach. I spoke with a random sampling of these agents, mostly in Los Angeles, but also in a few other states. There was a good deal of agreement on dos and don'ts. The only major difference I found is that agents outside Los Angeles and New York City seem to work on a project-by-project basis, whereas those in Los Angeles and New York City sign writers, with the anticipation of many future projects coming from each writer they sign.

All agents I spoke with ask that the initial contact with them be via a "query letter." The purpose of this letter is to briefly introduce yourself as a writer, and to summarize your writing project, as concisely and as enticingly as possible. To help you with this, imagine yourself in an elevator with the director or producer of your dreams. You have only four floors to describe your very special, very promising project to this person. What do you say to him or her? You have only two minutes! Whatever answer you find to that scenario is what you use in your project summary - the meat, the essence, the heart, of your script. Be sure to note specific life experience that sets you apart from other writers (for example, being a fire investigator or a police officer for a period of time).

Some agents also appreciate the use of a log line, a very simple phrase that provides a snapshot of your project. For instance, Under Siege can be described as "Die Hard on a boat." You may also combine two TV shows or movies to describe your work, such as "Mary Poppins meets Home Improvement."

It is highly recommended that you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your letter. Many agents refuse to even read, let alone, respond to, a letter without a SASE. Stack the odds in your favor and spend the extra 34 cents. You may also come across agencies that now accept query letters via e-mail (e-queries), which makes the process a few steps easier for all concerned.

Do not ramble in your letter. Be specific and engaging. "A beautiful love story" or an "exciting adventure" are painfully generic. Even if you have an amazing idea you must be able to communicate the idea in writing. Keep in mind that agents aren't in the business of buying ideas, but of hiring writers who can flesh out ideas on paper, and turn them into saleable scripts, most often following tried and true formulas. Please, do not misinterpret the previous sentence as meaning that a writer is one who knows how to merely format an idea into a typewritten screenplay or TV spec script. While script formatting is a basic tool you are expected to know, it does not replace sound writing. Your story must be developing continually throughout the script, on every single page. You must utilize the subtleties of subtext, and know where to insert plot points, and be able to grasp why certain choices work and why others don't work.

After submitting your letters, be patient. Too many follow-up calls quickly turn into annoyances, no matter how friendly you are. Agents are inundated with query letters. One agent I spoke with had a stack of 500 letters on his desk.

Agents that sign new writers anticipate a period of nurturing the writers. Again, be patient during this process. You will not be the only writer in the agent's line-up. In fact, you will probably be last in that line-up because you are the newest and the greenest (even if you've been writing since you could hold a crayon). As you wait for your first sale, continue to hone your craft, and work contacts and opportunities on your own. (Yes, the person in your apartment building who is the 2nd assistant to the 3rd assistant director to your 4th favorite director is a contact.)

Numerous books exist to help you get the ball rolling. Here are several popular titles to assist you in your search:

• Making a Good Script Great, 2nd Edition, by Linda Seger
• The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, 2nd Edition, by Christopher Vogler
• Writing Screenplays That Sell, by Michael Hauge
• How to Write for Television, by Madeline Dimaggio

Throughout your career you are likely to find exceptions to everything in this article. Not a problem. Exceptions exist for every rule. In fact, I encourage you to print this article and scrutinize it. Do you agree with what I've written? What rings true for you? After you've pondered these questions a bit, defiantly scrunch the paper into the smallest ball you can manage and fling it across the room. After all, you're not a rodent and I'm not playing a flute. Still, you may want to keep the little paper wad around a while to remind yourself that "technique" is not something you hide behind, but is a powerful tool through which you may channel your inspired visions. "Commitment" is not to be feared, but embraced, as it is a determined focus that can bolster you through rough patches.

Find what it is you want to do, then do it. If writing really is your passion, then write. Write when you want to and when you don't want to, but keep at it. Avail yourself of your local library, classes and workshops offered through adult schools, and local colleges, as well as touring workshops and evaluation seminars (many of which feature accomplished writers, agents, and producers). Retain the information that works for you, and dump the rest. (Keep the notes, though, just in case. As you grow as a person and a writer, some of the information you currently find useless may, one day, become meaningful to you.) Write some more. Enter contests and participate in evaluation seminars. Use the Internet to investigate other on-line help services.

Many writers have similar experiences on their individual paths to becoming professional writers, yet no two are identical. This is a good thing; for as great as Frasier, Ally McBeal, and Independence Day are, we don't need to see even good copies of these. We need something fresh, something new, something inspired, something which only you can divine. So, have fun and work diligently. I look forward to seeing your work on my TV or at the movies!

-- BEN
©1999 Barbie E. Nicholls