Harder to sell - screenplay vs novel / Agent Interest

leim · May 12, 2008

I have written several screenplays (non sold as of yet) and I am going to try my hand at a novel... God help me.

After viewing many of the threads on this site I am getting the impression that manuscript agents seem more willing to respond and request material than those agents queried for screenplays.

Is that the case, or is it just me?

Thanks

Will Lavender · May 12, 2008

Impossible to answer.

They're both very difficult at the top. Competition is fierce in both industries because there are a lot of them floating around out there. The word "easy" is sort of oxymoronic when talking about the arts.

Will Lavender · May 12, 2008

And the requests for material are a little bit misleading.

I think agents are apt to request partials or fulls, but that doesn't mean they're taking a lot of new clients on.

And of those new clients, what percentage of those actually sell?

As I said, it's a tough business.

BUT debut novelists are published all the time, so it's certainly not impossible.

Harder to sell - screenplay vs novel / Agent Interest

leim

Will Lavender

Everything is what it seems.

Will Lavender

Everything is what it seems.