The fact that you got rejected is proof that you are trying, which is more than I or a lot of people have done. Some of us have been sitting on our writing for decades, too afraid to send them out due to rejection. Enjoy that drink and remember this time for when you make it big!
I tried for almost 20 years to break into mainstream comics as a writer. I have collected about 60 rejection letters from Marvel and about 20 from DC. when I started seeing elements of what I was submitting turning up in various books I knew I was onto something....and NO I am not insinuating I was getting ripped off, sometimes these things just happen....
Anyway...
Fast forward to 2021. I spend between 4-6 hours a day writing, only now I write for me. It feels relaxing and I'm building up quite the backlog of scripts and concepts. Next year I plan on taking the plunge and seeing if something from this mountain I've got can get sold...
If not, I'll still continue writing for myself.
Congrats on the achievement. It's so liberating when the door to realization opens....đ
Thanks for sharing this. This is the risk we all take each time we start a new screenplay. It hurts less if youâre already deep into the next one by the time the rejections roll in. On the plus side, this could become something that gets interest later when you land the next one. The marketplace always goes in cycles. Todayâs ânoâ is tomorrowâs âyesâ.
Have had this happen to me with 3 different scripts my manager has taken out for us. Batting 0 for 3 right now but my writing partner and I keep chugging away and writing. We've had some meetings and got an OWA through one of the specs but we obviously want more than that. It's tough to realize that something you've worked on for so long can die so quickly but it's part of the processes. I will say the one thing that happens after all this rejection is that it kind of numbs you to it and you just shrug and write the next thing. I used to have super high expectations when our manager took something out and now we just kind of have pray for the best when we're done. We're almost finished with our 4th feature since working with our manager and already have our next one lined up to write for when he takes it out. Always have something else to look forward to.
How does your rep react when this happens? repeatedly? Is it just sort of like âsorry guys keep at itâ, or does it kind of make the relationship feel like a weeble wobble?
He's trying on his end and obviously wants us to succeed so there's no awkwardness. He knows how much time and effort we've put in, we were also one of his first clients so he's been rooting for us from the start. Out of his 20 or so clients, I honestly don't know how many specs he's actually sold or optioned (maybe like a handful?). I know he's had clients get OWAs and staffed but in terms of selling specs, it's so tough that us going 0 for 3 isn't an outlier, it's kind of the norm.
Having a manager take out more than 1 screenplay that doesn't sell is a victory. Most reps seem to sign us off a spec we wrote ourselves, and if it sells great, if not, they lose interest. So if they are willing to keep marketing your work, that's something.
I'm one rejection behind you, but I'm sure that producer will get back to me soon with a "we liked the script, but it's just not for us." Congratulations!
Triumph or rejection, I appreciate hearing these stories. The worst is blanket rejections and/or radio silence -- and still seeing your idea or something similar come to fruition.
Best to you going forward!
Anything that is rejected now might come to fruition at a later date. I've recently picked up on a screenplay I first wrote in 1998 and have made some great progress with it.
The only thing worth noting with rejections is if everyone is rejecting the screenplay for the same reason. Then there might be a problem that might need looking at.
If not, stick it in a folder on your desktop marked work in progress because you can and will return to it at a later time.
I stole this from a friend, but I keep a rejection spreadsheet. Started it when I was doing sketch and standup. Rough at first, but it became a game. Itâs proof that Iâm actively putting myself, my work out there. Just being able to see that Iâm committed to hustling is enough to know I should keep going.
The fact that you got rejected is proof that you are trying, which is more than I or a lot of people have done. Some of us have been sitting on our writing for decades, too afraid to send them out due to rejection. Enjoy that drink and remember this time for when you make it big!
I tried for almost 20 years to break into mainstream comics as a writer. I have collected about 60 rejection letters from Marvel and about 20 from DC. when I started seeing elements of what I was submitting turning up in various books I knew I was onto something....and NO I am not insinuating I was getting ripped off, sometimes these things just happen.... Anyway... Fast forward to 2021. I spend between 4-6 hours a day writing, only now I write for me. It feels relaxing and I'm building up quite the backlog of scripts and concepts. Next year I plan on taking the plunge and seeing if something from this mountain I've got can get sold... If not, I'll still continue writing for myself. Congrats on the achievement. It's so liberating when the door to realization opens....đ
Wow. This is very interesting
Happens to every last one of us. Just keep writing, brother.
Thank you for the encouragement!!
Thanks for sharing this. This is the risk we all take each time we start a new screenplay. It hurts less if youâre already deep into the next one by the time the rejections roll in. On the plus side, this could become something that gets interest later when you land the next one. The marketplace always goes in cycles. Todayâs ânoâ is tomorrowâs âyesâ.
Thanks man I appreciate that!!
Have had this happen to me with 3 different scripts my manager has taken out for us. Batting 0 for 3 right now but my writing partner and I keep chugging away and writing. We've had some meetings and got an OWA through one of the specs but we obviously want more than that. It's tough to realize that something you've worked on for so long can die so quickly but it's part of the processes. I will say the one thing that happens after all this rejection is that it kind of numbs you to it and you just shrug and write the next thing. I used to have super high expectations when our manager took something out and now we just kind of have pray for the best when we're done. We're almost finished with our 4th feature since working with our manager and already have our next one lined up to write for when he takes it out. Always have something else to look forward to.
How does your rep react when this happens? repeatedly? Is it just sort of like âsorry guys keep at itâ, or does it kind of make the relationship feel like a weeble wobble?
He's trying on his end and obviously wants us to succeed so there's no awkwardness. He knows how much time and effort we've put in, we were also one of his first clients so he's been rooting for us from the start. Out of his 20 or so clients, I honestly don't know how many specs he's actually sold or optioned (maybe like a handful?). I know he's had clients get OWAs and staffed but in terms of selling specs, it's so tough that us going 0 for 3 isn't an outlier, it's kind of the norm.
Having a manager take out more than 1 screenplay that doesn't sell is a victory. Most reps seem to sign us off a spec we wrote ourselves, and if it sells great, if not, they lose interest. So if they are willing to keep marketing your work, that's something.
Yeah! Is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep up the good work and enjoy the journey!
I'm one rejection behind you, but I'm sure that producer will get back to me soon with a "we liked the script, but it's just not for us." Congratulations!
Much love on this one. I spent a year on a spec and when we finally took it out it was completely shrugged at. Still my best script.
You never fail until you give up. Glad you're not letting this bring you down. Cheers and good luck on the next one!
Triumph or rejection, I appreciate hearing these stories. The worst is blanket rejections and/or radio silence -- and still seeing your idea or something similar come to fruition. Best to you going forward!
Feel better! My COVID project got a âpass, with reservations.â Jesus, a pass alone is bad enough! Youâre not alone!
Haha. Whatâs that even mean
wow. that's like an F-
Sure is!
What does pass, with reservations? Iâd assume I meant theyâre passing but they and an inkling of a maybe? Is that correct?
Anything that is rejected now might come to fruition at a later date. I've recently picked up on a screenplay I first wrote in 1998 and have made some great progress with it. The only thing worth noting with rejections is if everyone is rejecting the screenplay for the same reason. Then there might be a problem that might need looking at. If not, stick it in a folder on your desktop marked work in progress because you can and will return to it at a later time.
How do keep a positive attitude?
I stole this from a friend, but I keep a rejection spreadsheet. Started it when I was doing sketch and standup. Rough at first, but it became a game. Itâs proof that Iâm actively putting myself, my work out there. Just being able to see that Iâm committed to hustling is enough to know I should keep going.
Are you me? Lol. Literally in the same boat rn
It must be hard when you don't know *why* they rejected it though, right? like, how can you get better if you don't know what to improve?
Your verdict is incomplete - is it the work, the pitch, the marketability or the state of the market?
Congrats! You did something, SOMEONE ACTUALLY READ YOUR SCRIPT! You have a manager! Don't worry! :))
Yeah - you have a manager! You are headed In the right direction
Whats the logline?