| Once upon a time, there was a young man who very | | | | artistic endeavors like an entrepreneurial small |
| much wanted to be in show business, or more | | | | business, I began to see things in an entirely different |
| specifically, making movies. He attended one of the | | | | light. I call myself a writer and producer ? and those |
| best film schools in the world, while there discovered | | | | are accurate titles ? but the business I'm in is really |
| the joys of writing and producing and everyone | | | | manufacturing, sales and distribution. Huh? |
| around him had high expectations about his career. | | | | Think about it. As a professional writer, you're |
| Yet for more years than he cares to admit, that | | | | manufacturing a product ? the things you write. In |
| career was stalled. | | | | order to get paid for that product, you also have to |
| Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that young man was me. | | | | have a sales, marketing and distribution mechanism in |
| And this article is for everyone who, like me, has | | | | place so that the scripts you write can generate |
| visions of having their name up on the big screen as | | | | money for you. |
| a writer. It's all about the importance of getting a | | | | Of course you have to have the talent and skills to |
| balance of what I call ?macro training.? | | | | consistently deliver quality scripts and do so on time. |
| Over the years, I've invested tens of thousands of | | | | But talent and skill alone don't hack it. If you want to |
| dollars in classes, seminars, books and retreats all | | | | be a successful, consistently and steadily working |
| intended to teach me to be a better writer. Don't | | | | writer, you have to understand that you're in the |
| get me wrong. Many of these classes were well | | | | business of creating and selling products. Your |
| worth the money when it came to teaching me | | | | products are your scripts. |
| about the CRAFT of screenwriting. I absolutely | | | | Like any manufacturer, in addition to dedicating part |
| learned a lot. But talent and craft by themselves are | | | | of your business to developing and creating products, |
| not enough to make you a regularly working | | | | you also need to address the sales, marketing and |
| professional screenwriter. | | | | distribution of those products (scripts) along with the |
| I learned through painful experience that if you want | | | | business affairs aspect (contracts, accounting, etc.) |
| to succeed as a professional artist in show business, | | | | of working with your customers (studios, production |
| whether it's as a writer, actor, director or any other | | | | companies and/or networks). You don't have to do it |
| craft that's employed by the networks and studios, | | | | all by yourself, but you do need to make sure these |
| you have to treat your career as a small business | | | | aspects of your business as a professional writer are |
| with yourself as the CEO. As countless people have | | | | handled. Just by making that shift in the way you see |
| said to me over the years, it's called Show | | | | yourself and your career, you'll immediately transform |
| ?Business? for a reason. | | | | from would-be writer to an entrepreneurial |
| Eureka! This was the missing piece. When it finally | | | | professional well on the road to success. |
| registered with me the importance of treating my | | | | ? |