Hi Stage 32 creatives!
Recently I spoke to an author who pitched an unfinished manuscript to a major publisher and ended up getting a contract quite quickly. She had only written two chapters and only a couple of months to complete the manuscript to hand over to the publisher.
Personally - this is something I could not do. I would need the manuscript finished. And this for many reasons - what if the story changed? What if I didn't hit the suspected word count? So many questions!
Yet - this author just went for it. So I'm curious - who out there is comfortable doing this? Would love to know your answers!
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it doesn't happen like that. but if you have a lot of money, it does happen.
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How did that person pass the gatekeepers? Without a finished product? Something is weird in this business. An inside connection?
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As Arthur Charpentier and Jon Shallit pointed out, in selling/pushing any content, money and connections are the prime (and likely the only) factors leading to success. There's also fame: Stephen King might be able to shill an unfinished manuscript - but then again, that's connections.
Take a look at my bio-sister: she's a billionaire socialite with the talent of a houseplant, and she's sold books based on wishful thinking that no one will ever look at. Even landed an Emmy with narcissistic dreck featuring her latest, washed-up, celebrity lover.
Aye, count me in for wanting to know the rest of that 'success' story, Lauren Hackney - or was this a vanity publisher your author-acquaintance pitched to?
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Hi, Lauren Hackney. I'm not comfortable pitching anything that isn't ready. I want to be able to send the script right away/have it on my Stage 32 profile for download when I get interest from producers, directors, etc.
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I've heard many times of writer's pitching screenplays without having written them yet. But usually these are experienced writer's who have shown they have a track record of follow through.
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Never pitch to publishers directly. Acquire proper representation via a literary agent. Your agent will pitch legitimate publishers with the proper submission package.
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Arthur Charpentier Jon Shallit Morgan Aitken This was an Australian writer who attended a pitch session at an Australian writing conference. She is not a big name and the publisher is a traditional publisher. I interviewed her recently on my YouTube channel to hear her road to publication. I found her journey interesting so I had to ask the question.
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Thank you everyone for taking the time to give me your answers and letting me know what you think!
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You're welcome, Lauren Hackney.
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Lauren Hackney, In Russia, there are many writers who publish their books at their own expense and send the entire print run to libraries. All of this is done in order to become a member of the Writers' Union. By the way, this fake success is relatively inexpensive.
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Thank you Arthur Charpentier for letting me know what happens in Russia - it's always great to know how it's done around the world!