Inspired by Taylor and Kay I will join in on the “Introduce your FAILS” weekend and share my biggest rejection:
As a novelist I had been pitching books at events for years. Some of the pitches got to be pretty costly with travel and event fees, and this one in particular cost over 2k to attend. We were going around the room doing practice pitches (what a nice supportive environment) and when it got to be my turn, I barely got my logline out when the Agent leading our group held UP HER HAND and said “STOP IT, STOP RIGHT THERE. DON’T WRITE THAT BOOK, IT WILL NEVER SELL.”
Of course, this was a pitch event…the book was already written because I was there to pitch it! She went off on some tangent of a rant about Multi-POV books and then skipped right over me to the person on my left to practice their pitch. Everyone got constructive feedback except me, who wasn’t even allowed to finish my pitch, not to mention I kept getting looks from the other writers like, “what are you still doing here?” I did participate in the pitch event later that day and got a welcoming response from a publisher, but being scolded in a room full of people by a stranger over creative difference definitely burnt my confidence for a bit.
On a positive note, that book was the one to get me my first agent and I’m currently writing a Mini Series adaptation for it.
Also, this is clearly another reason why I LOVE Stage32, phone calls or skype pitches with execs are ALWAYS a nurturing and creative environment. =-)
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Tessa Shaffer! WOW! What a story! I can see that being a scene in a movie. I always think it is a poorly constructed response when people say "it will NEVER sell/work/get made" - take "Queen's Gambit" - it took them THIRTY YEARS to get that show made, and when the time was right, it ended up being Netflix's most watched show ever. So keep pitching and learning! Your story has a time, a place, and an audience :) Thank you so much for sharing this story!
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Good story Tessa - and a good part of building one's perseverance muscles!
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My FAIL is quite ridiculous, but it happens. There was a scene of a man walking across a yard up to a house. The director wanted him stepping on a branch at a specific time, a leaf another time, and he didn't like the sound, so he didn't choose my work.
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That is very encouraging. My big Fail happened at a pitch summit in Atlanta some years ago. I went there to learn about pitching. I did a pitch, forgot about it, and about 6 weeks later was asked to send in the script. Trying to find someone to help me write the script proved impossible at the time. I do not have any confidence in my screenwriting but I love writing novels.
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Thank you Taylor C. Baker, you are exactly right! I've learned that both publishing and film/tv are subjective enough that just because one person says "it can't be done" usually means that THEY won't be the ones to do it or sell it. =)
Yes, Michael Mandaville, Perseverance muscles are key!
Kevin Gamble sorry to hear about your nature sound fail!
Amanda Grihm, I know what you mean about forgetting about pitches! As a novelist and a screenwriter myself, I would encourage you not to give up on screenwriting! There are many great articles on Stage32 to help and webinars as well. =) Once you learn your strengths in screenwriting you can lean into them and adapt your novels yourself! Best of luck!