Invest In Your Success

If you want to be successful, you must invest in your career. Stop kicking the tires, friends.

So many people who claim to want to be professional screenwriters balk at the idea of paying for anything. They feel that the time they invest in writing a screenplay is all the currency they need. And then they complain and blame when no one reads their improperly formatted script.

Or worse, they bitch about professionals or services who charge for their time and tutelage. The audacity, right? I mean, everything is on YouTube. Why should we have to pay for anything?

Uh... because it's your career!

You can get very far with the freebies. And countless resources will help you. But 'help' is as far as it goes. If you're serious about this and want to pursue it, you'll need to go further and invest in yourself. And that means spending some money.

Below is a list of investments you can and should make.

Remember: Do your research first.

• Professional Screenwriting Software - it doesn't matter what you use: Final Draft, Celtx, Studio Binder, Writer Duet, but skip the free shit. For God's sake, stop using Microsoft and Google. It's not just about formatting (which is ESSENTIAL). It's about streamlining the work for other writers, producers, directors, and SERIOUS people who work in the industry. If you want to work in the industry, you must be serious, too.

Check out my blog post: Top 8 Screenwriting Software Ranked for an in-depth analysis of the most popular Screenwriting software and subscription services available.

• IMDb Pro - Do you want a manager? An Agent? Need to contact a studio or production company? Then pay the $200/year. All Managers, agents, and production companies are required to include contact information. You're paying for direct access to the film industry. Yes, the email may just be info@, but it's an email and a phone number you didn't have when you just Googled. IMDb Pro is an incredible resource; it's the Yellow Pages for the film industry.

• Industry Professionals Who Offer Service -- My advice is always free. I've been doing this for 25 years; I've been blessed to have an incredible career, and giving back is the least I can do. I am happy to give my opinion based on my experience and expertise. I want nothing more than for you to succeed, and I am always serious when saying, "I will help you in any way I can." I even created a free private Facebook Group where I do a live stream on Thursdays.

While my advice and Pro Tips are always free, my time is limited. So please stop being offended when I give you my rate sheet after you ask me to read your screenplay and give you notes. I'm not scamming you or pulling the wool over your eyes. I'm working.

• Online Courses -- Online courses, webinars, and coaching programs. They are a great way to jumpstart your knowledge base, and they are way cheaper than film school and require a much smaller time commitment. The best part is you can find an online course in any niche.

NOTE: If you're apprehensive about paying some "screenwriting guru" with an online course, research. Remember, IMDb is your friend. Look them up. Are they legit? Have they sold screenplays? Do you connect with them? You can always take the best and leave the rest.

• Coverage Services -- MANY excellent and not-so-great coverage services exist. I'm happy to recommend but do some research and get that coverage. Notes from your fellow scribes are great; if you have writers willing to read your script and get notes, fantastic. After that, get professional coverage. I GET PROFESSIONAL COVERAGE before I submit any screenplay to my manager, lawyer, or producers. If only to clean up those pesky typos.

Check out my blog post: Top 5 Screenplay Coverage Services Ranked for in-depth analysis of the most popular Screenplay Coverage Services.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click on them and make a purchase. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support the running of this site. I only recommend products or services that I personally believe will add value to my readers.