When to send the query

[clonedbeef]

Since the query is a very collapsed description of the screenplay would it be okay to send it out when it is in it's final stages but not totally complete?

I ask because I assume that it takes months to receive replies.

[icerose]

Never assume. The fastest request I've ever had was 3 hours. You do NOT send off the query until it is as perfect as you and your best betas can possibly get it. You want that thing to shine. You want it to be the best possible thing you can come up with, because if you do get a request before you're ready, chances are you'll never get any further than that, and it's really quite sad to waste a read on a script that isn't ready.

I can't emphasis that enough. DO NOT DO IT.

[DevelopmentExec]

Since the query is a very collapsed description of the screenplay would it be okay to send it out when it is in it's final stages but not totally complete?

I ask because I assume that it takes months to receive replies.

If your first draft is not complete, then you should not be thinking of querying in the near future. You should expect to multiple rewrites before it will be query ready.

If this is your first script, regardless of the draft, chances are it will never be ready to be queried.

Ditto for your second script and probably your third.

Producers are looking for professional screenplays and it usually takes several scripts before a writer is at that level.

If you have done multiple rewrites on multiple scripts, then as icerose said, don't query before you are certain it is as good as it can possibly be.

[clonedbeef]

Never assume. The fastest request I've ever had was 3 hours.

That's reason enough for me to avoid doing this.

If this is your first script, regardless of the draft, chances are it will never be ready to be queried.

I'm all for not letting my expectations get out of control but I've heard this so much it's beginning to sound like pre-meditated pessimism. I would have never gotten as far as I have with this script if I let myself be sucked into that frame of mind completely even if it is common sense in this business I know so little about.

It is my first script, I'm on the 14/15th draft 3+ years in the making, it may not be what a producer wants but it sure will be professional(still many months until completion).

At the end of the day I will be happy if I just get some work out of it. I think it's a good story so even if it doesn't sell at first I could look at it years down the line and go over it again.

Thanks for the advice.

[Stylo]

When I'd almost completed my first screenplay, I thought I'd dip my toe and sent a synopsis and query to 3 prod co's. To my surprise 2 out of 3 requested to see the full!

I've never sweated so much trying to get it sent to them but I did it and got some very useful feedback from one (via telephone, no less!)

So I'd say send it - (after 3 years if you polish it much more something's going to drop off!) but don't be disheartened if it's not snapped up - start on your next idea the day you send it out.

Despite plenty of interest the aforementioned screenplay of mine was never picked up, but was invaluable to me as a writer, as it taught me not only the basics but introduced me to the weird and wonderful creature we call the film industry.

Good luck!

[icerose]

The problem, Stylo, is he still doesn't even have a third act on his script. Three years or not, it's way too early to send out queries if the story hasn't even been fully figured out.

[xhouseboy]

The problem, Stylo, is he still doesn't even have a third act on his script. Three years or not, it's way too early to send out queries if the story hasn't even been fully figured out.

Where does he say he doesn't have a third act? After 14 or so rewrites, I'm assuming that the third act is in there and is also being rewritten.

I'm kind of with Stylo on this one. Send the query for script if you believe enough in it, but not until the work is polished and ready to go.

I submitted my first script. Didn't ever get made. But a producer (who commissioned another of my projects down the line) sent it on to an agent who then took me on on a a client.

It may turn out exactly as DE predicts. Chances are it probably will.

But nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[icerose]

Where does he say he doesn't have a third act? After 14 or so rewrites, I'm assuming that the third act is in there and is also being rewritten.

I'm kind of with Stylo on this one. Send the query for script if you believe enough in it, but not until the work is polished and ready to go.

I submitted my first script. Didn't ever get made. But a producer (who commissioned another of my projects down the line) sent it on to an agent who then took me on on a a client.

It may turn out exactly as DE predicts. Chances are it probably will.

But nothing ventured, nothing gained.

On a previous thread entitled third act troubles. He stated he's only done this one script, after 3 years and 14 rewrites he still didn't have a third act. I'd say that's far from ready.

What he needs to do is set this one down and write another one, then write another one and get a pacing for script writing itself.

But that's just me.

[xhouseboy]

On a previous thread entitled third act troubles. He stated he's only done this one script, after 3 years and 14 rewrites he still didn't have a third act. I'd say that's far from ready.



And that answers my question as to where he mentioned that he didn't have a third act.

[clonedbeef]

I wasn't actually prepared right now to submit the query(indeed, I don't have the third act flattened out), I was just asking in general because I might be to some very solid point in 2-3 months.

I did work on another script for a few days but I had a few more revelations on this one so I went back to it...still very tricky working it out.

[scriptwriter74]

You only get one chance and you better not screw it up! When you first finish you'll think it's perfect, but let it sit for a week and reread or even better have a few trusted people read the script out loud and you will see the errors