You know your story. It lives with you day and night. But how do you communicate the story and, ultimately, make someone else as impassioned about its telling as you are?
Whether you’re creating prose or poetry, your goal is to find an audience. Otherwise, like I’ve mentioned before, you’re simply writing personal journal entries! Sure journals have their place in your realm of inspiration. But you want to market your stories, because their whole purpose is to be experienced by others.
But, getting the work out there is not always easy. Albeit, there are plenty of self-publishing opportunities for books, publishing newsletters via email, blogs on your website, etc. Without question, there are all sorts of ways to get exposure for your work.
I’m a novelist and a screenwriter, but not an expert at marketing. I’ve done the social media Facebook ads, postings and tweets promoting book signing events, a Goodreads book giveaway. I don’t believe anyone can tell you what works for you! The only thing that doesn’t work, and you’ve heard this a few dozen times, is giving up! I know what it’s like to face myself in the mirror and say, “Are you writing that book or not??” I dragged out writing my first novel over a five-year period. It’s now part of a five-novel series in the works. I admit Book 2 took nearly another five years to write before it went to the publisher for edits. So, even though I’ve earned my slacker award, I didn’t give up!
For me, the flipside of the coin is screenwriting. Let’s be honest. It’s a little or a lot like playing the lottery! You’re in a pool of thousands and only a handful of movies and episodic shows get made. Indeed, there’s a thirst for content with streaming now the wave or flood in entertainment, but you’re still competing in a lottery of sorts.
But, nothing can diminish your story, if you believe in it and can tell it with passion. So, in the world of novels and scripts, it comes down to a logline, synopsis, story treatment and then the manuscript or screenplay. Each one must be an excellent piece of writing. Don’t sell your script short with a lame logline! The written word must be compelling in all of its forms!!
If you’re marketing yourself and your work, most likely you’ve pitched your story verbally, or via query letter, contest submission, or some other fashion. I’ve done several verbal pitches throughout my screenwriting phases. But those pitches were formulated within the context of a pitch fest or other scheduled event.
Let’s look at the logline. It’s basically a sentence or two on an actual, yes, logline. Think of someone on the receiving end writing it down on one line of a sheet of paper. Be concise. The logline for Spielberg’s “E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial” reads: A troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape Earth and return to his home world. Okay, there’s a sense of adventure without knowing the details. An alien? A troubled child? Why is he troubled? How did the alien get here? What’s he look like? Does he get home? All sorts of curiosity bubbles up. Here’s a logline from “The Sting” one of the top 25 movies with original screenplays: Two grifters team up to pull off the ultimate con. That’s a great logline but with the trifecta of George Roy Hill, Paul Newman, and Robert Redford, anything would have sold! The key is giving enough broad strokes on the canvas for someone to want to see the detailed portrait!! Finally there’s the ultimate holiday film. “Home Alone” and the logline: An eight-year-old troublemaker must protect his house from a pair of burglars when he is accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation. Oh boy, that one surely delivers!! And how cool that the movie title fits snugly in the logline! Well, I think so!
Next is the synopsis. They can range from a paragraph to a few pages. My book, “Unearthing Christmas” has a synopsis on Amazon taken from the back cover. Honestly, I don’t know how compelling it is, but I liked it when I wrote it since it captured the feel of the story and a central theme of forgiveness. Themes are essential for a synopsis. Don’t go into every story beat, unless you’re creating a beat sheet for your screenplay.
If you’re fortunate enough to have some interest in your work, follow up with WHATEVER is requested. If it’s a synopsis, make sure it shows the conflict that’s going on for the main character or characters. At times, I’ve included some dialogue from the draft I’m working on. The narrative arc and plot points are essential including how the story ends. No surprises here!
About five years ago, I wrote a three-page synopsis for a movie idea based on the life of Ella Fitzgerald. I sent it to a record producer who knew Ella. He called me and said he liked my approach to her story. I wrote a spec script, and I believe the project, although right now on a roller coaster ride, will come to fruition. I need to be patient and persevere.
Finally, there’s the finished product, the actual manuscript! Now comes the hard part of taking criticism in the form of notes, comments, and edits. Whether an author or screenwriter, notes are a reality! You must live with it. If you feel your work is compromised, take a hard look at why you believe so! No one is trying to sabotage your work, even if it feels that way! I’m thin-skinned beyond measure. When I opened my editor’s comments to my latest manuscript, they felt like daggers. I asked my editor if she hated me. Yeah, I know she doesn’t hate me but I had to spew it out! Take a deep breath. Put the project aside for a few days. Go back to the comments, notes, etc. with a logical, unemotional approach, and get to work on improving your story. You’ll figure it out!! Believe in yourself!!
So, from logline to finished manuscript, be the supreme storyteller. When I sell my book at author signings, I have to grab a potential reader’s interest with a quick logline. It’s the same as the elevator pitch. The potential reader raises his or her eyebrows with curiosity and picks up the book or they smile and say, “good luck” and move on. Selling isn’t an easy gig, but your stories are begging for an audience! I close with the words of Maya Angelou since I was graced by her beautiful poetry and commanding voice at my college graduation ceremony. “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” Tell your story and tell it well!!