Hollywood Scriptwriter, The Trade Paper For Screenwriters

The agencies that are listed in our agency issues are all WGA signatories. None of these agencies, according to their responses, charge any reading or processing fees. If they do, please contact us and the WGA immediately.

These agencies are usually deluged with queries from HS subscribers. In order to make their jobs easier and give you the best possible chances of success, here are some basic rules:

Read carefully.

Please only submit the genres that are requested. Submit to the addresses supplied. You only get one chance to make a good first impression. Follow the rules. You won't stand out as being innovative by delivering your script in a gorilla suit.
Send SASE.

Always include a self addressed, stamped envelope, no matter if you're sending a query or a script. Occasionally an agent will suggest you don't bother. And all too often, unfortunately, agencies will toss your SASE into the circular file. But it is still required that you include it.
Send your best!

It's a fact of life that most first scripts (and even second and third scripts) are seldom good enough to be submitted anywhere. Once again, you only get one chance to make a good first impression. Do not send a script unless it is really your best work. In all my years as a consultant, I've come across far too many writers who were far too anxious to hurry their work to market. Few have the patience to learn the craft script after script after script, willingly shelving early scripts in that process. Most jump the gun and even query before a script has reached the final draft stage.

Be patient! There isn't any way to hurry the learning process. The only way is to write the next script and the next one after that. If you shop an early script, not only is it likely to be rejected, but you might find that the rejection dampens your writing spirit. It's human nature. On the other hand, if you have the patience to wait for the right script (and you'll know when you finally have a truly marketable script) you'll have a better chance of finding an agent to represent you.

That kind of confidence, knowing you really have a good script, also makes the inevitable rejections easier to take and, of course, while you're agent hunting for that script, you're hard at work on the next script. Never put all your eggs in one basket. Don't pin all your hopes on selling this one script. Plan your career by continuing to write and understanding the dynamics of the business.

Also in the category "Send Your Best": Be sure your script is properly formatted and that it has been thoroughly proofread. Improper format, typos, misspellings, and incorrect grammar are the marks of an amateur. Present yourselves as professionals. There are excellent books on formatting available to you. One of the best is The Screenwriters Bible by David Trottier. Get it if you don't already have it.

I wish you all much luck in the pursuit of representation and hope that we'll see your names on the big screen soon. Good luck to you all!