Good news: I sent the first act of my screenplay to an agent, and they like it! Soon I will officially have “an agent!”
Bad news: Now I actually have to finish a screenplay! :smack: Oh, my god. What have I gotten myself into?!
BTW, I’m not quitting my day job anytime soon.
YAY!
and
aw fuhk!
I guess that covers it. What’s the screen play about? do you need help? 
Congrats!
And you can do it!
And congrats again!
Well done!
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mrs jjimm is in the process of sending the first few chapters of her novel to an agent. Any advice on writing a synopsis - they’ve asked for half a page only, which strikes me as amazingly difficult to do.
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How legitimate is this agent? I ask because literary agents usually want a completed work before they talk about representing you. If he asks for any money at all and for any reason before he sells the screenplay, it’s a scam.
jjimm – that sounds odd. In general, you can write an outline (chapter by chapter) or synopsis (a general description of the plot). A synopsis is generally 8-10 pages, and outline longer. I can’t see anyone getting a synopsis of the story in a half page. Maybe a summary, but I don’t know how that will do the agent any good. The purpose of the outline/synopsis is to show the agent/publisher that you have the book all plotted out. (The three chapters can tell him if your writing is at a publishable level).
It’s possible that the agent is looking for a short summary to get an idea if the book sounds like something he can sell.
I personally wouldn’t heed the limit, but still keep the synopsis a little shorter. A legitimate agent is going to make the primary judgment on the sample chapters – if they are well written and the story engaging, the agent will read whatever synopsis you give him.
jjimm – You should find this article useful.
Thanks, everyone. I’m still a little bewildered about the whole thing.
This guy isn’t asking for any money, though they do want to see the first draft before signing the contract. Getting an agent interested with a synopsis and a first act is fairly common for screenplays, but generally they don’t officially sign you until you’ve got a finished draft.
Anyone looking for an agent should check out this blog: http://misssnark.blogspot.com/
Miss Snark is an agent, and she has outstanding advice about the industry.
Too cool! That is just fun news. Good luck finishing it!
If you have to finish the screenplay just remember,. you can never go wrong with killer robotic monkeys.
It might make for a nice ending.
If you have to finish the screenplay just remember,. you can never go wrong with killer robotic monkeys.
It might make for a nice ending.
If you have to finish the screenplay just remember,. you can never go wrong with killer robotic monkeys.
It might make for a nice ending.
You shouldn’t have posted that, jsgoddess. I’ve been reading it all day instead of writing!
I don’t have any killer robotic monkeys, but I do have an awesome battle to the death between an alliance of pirates, zombies, space aliens and mutants vs. an unholy combination of ninjas, nazis, rodeo clowns and vampires.
Didn’t Dickens already use this in Great Expectations?
ok, that’s three votes for killer robot monkeys. Looks like that’s settled then. Friedo can send the royalty check to: Chicago reader, 453 Flagstaff St, Chicago, ILL, 54326