Question:

Will I get rich writing?

Better than Average

Thanks to your persistence, your spec script gets a lot of attention. You get a good agent. A little buzz happens—self-promotion involved here, too—and you get meetings. You win a writing assignment. You turn it around (without missing a deadline). Writing pays your rent. Writing assignments keep you busy most of the time. Every few years, you sell a spec. You're never famous. You are happy—enjoying the journey.

Best Case Scenario

You are a wunderkind. You sell the first spec script you ever write. It actually gets made into a movie and released. Audiences love it. You pitch and sell—or get new assignments—regularly. You are a millionaire. Hollywood loves you.

Will this happen for you? No one can say for sure, but the odds are against all aspiring screenwriters (even you). Who pulls this off? The cream of the cream.

Wealth

Here's something to consider. At a panel on screenwriting during the Northampton Independent Film Festival—held November 6 through November 10, 2002—one of the industry panelists said that anyone who goes into screenwriting to make tons of money is nuts.

Keep that in mind when weighing whether you really want to chase this dream. Only about 1% of screenwriters get rich writing screenplays.

Screen Writing Frequently Asked Questions

How do I follow screenplay format?

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What festivals should I attend?

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Where else can I learn more about screenwriting?

Where can I find exposure for my writing?

I have an idea for a screen play. However, I am not really sure how to write to that format. Can you help direct me to a screen play format. Thanks.

An agent has asked me to write a "Blurp/Logline" about my screenplay. What is a Blurp/Logline?





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Sherril Steele-Carlin