Advice and those with same interest sought as to how to earn steady money freelance writing,print or online;and how to make transition from old school hand write/type to computer.electronic writing and submissions.

Here's a real start - of how the industry actually is (with a main slant on TV/Film:

1. Don't turn any writing gig down, no matter what it is. If you want to write, try all types of writing - even T-shirt slogans. And write every day, or you lose the art - quickly.

2. Never write for free - EVER (unless it's for a charity, but even if it is, make sure they print your name).

3. Study the market. See what the market wants. Do NOT write anything before doing this. If it's vanity you're writing for and you're not bothered about money, write for the theatre or poetry (e.g. full theatre script payment for something you've worked 1-2 years on: £7.5K). And remember: most novels written do not make enough capital return in their lifetime to even pay for a house extension to be built. If it's big, quick cash you're after, write TV cartoons (£50K). Middle-range cash: TV (£80K on Eastenders) and radio. Steady, low cash, but higher than theatre: journalism and copywriting (£14K+) and reporting (£8K+). Massive cash, but really difficult success, but possible - movies (£1.2M).

4. If you want to write scripts, READ scripts - not the one's off Amazon or in books, and not shooting scripts nor transcribes - read REAL bound scripts or download them as PDF's.

5. Attend as many talks by working professional writers as you can and take their advice - not from the person who has had one play on Radio 4, but from the people who write big budget movies, TV series, multiple radio plays/series, 10 novels, 5 professional theatre plays etc. Get the advice from the ones who've SUFFERED, not the hobbyists (unless you just want to write as a hobby) and prepare to hear blunt talking, swearing and some professionals appearing insane. It's the nature of the industry. You will change though what you will suffer - permanently.

6. Learn to take criticism. Be prepared to bin your work and idea and start right from scratch again, or at the very least, massively change it. This can mean months of work binned. Or, put it on one side, and use ideas from it further down the line. If your TV script gets bought, you will be treated like crap. If your radio script gets bought, you will be treated well. If your movie gets bought, you are non-existent - unless the director makes a turkey, then you will get blamed. Prepare to have your ideas stolen, have your work optioned (part-paid for) but then simply shelved for 2+ years and never made. Prepare for sharks and 'credit jumpers' (those who are called in to re-write your work, then have their name put in instead of yours). When you're on the verge of releasing your work, get an agent. A good one. And see note 9 (below) before you do anything in the UK regarding selling your work.

7. Prepare to spend 1000's of hours as a shut-in, nearly go insane, have it affect everything and everybody - even give you a curve in your spine and leave you mentally wrecked - eg writing soaps professionally, expect to spend 11 months working 12-15 hour days and the sheer hell of people wanting you to change things almost by the hour (even notes pushed through your letterbox). Writing is a retrospective art - write a bit, put it to one side for a few days whilst writing something else, then pick it back up and review it. Likewise, learn STRUCTURE. There is typically a set structure for whatever you write - the mechanics underneath the writing, the mechanics most of the general public do not know about and are not aware of when watching/reading/listening to works. Ignore structure at your peril.

8. Join several writing groups, not just one. Invite people to tear your work apart. Never be rigid nor complacent.

9. Join the Writer's Guild of Great Britain.

10. A degree or MA is not a passport to success at all. Virtually every successful professional TV/Film writer has no degree in anything and started from a bedsit, starving, and wrote from frustration, passion and a need to personally say something through their writing: i.e. their 'voice'. The same applies to the bulk of poets, novelists and creatives.

There... that should get you started.

Scriptwriter: Your honest,deep as well as amusing insights and tips on writing are much appreciated by this USA [New Mexico] 'gypsydream' Lady.It is true about writing regularly,no matter what,or lose it. I was a pro writer [radio and print] in the 'Hippie Era' then sidetracked by a trucking career,among other dabblings. I am now tring to write again. My head is bursting with ideas,but it's difficult to get going,especially as I never had a computer until recently,and I'm finding that most sources what submissions made electronically,which I'm unsure how to do. I can write on computer,but how to submit from there? Do I need a program to write in manuscript double-spaced format?Etc. Thanks again and best wishes from what's left of the 'Old West'!

Hi.

If it’s movie scripts you want to write – for the US market – use 12pt Courier font, not Courier New – it HAS to be Courier. If you need to buy the font separately, get it. Or, use Final Draft scriptwriting software – even if it's second hand. All the formatting needed for layouts is in it.

Likewise, do NOT get sucked into paying for any: 'Write a movie in 7 days' - 'a month' - 'over night' etc. schemes. You will waste your money and you need that money to live off.

I met a ‘script reader’ from Los Angeles some months ago. If you’re submitting a movie script, it is first read by him and people exactly like him.

If you do not stick to the industry standards just on presentation alone, it gets binned. End of story.

Wrong pins holding pages together – binned.
One spelling error – binned.
Wrong font – binned.
Wrong grade paper – binned.
Colour – binned.
Cover sheet – binned.
Grammatical error (just one) – binned.
Singing its praises – binned.
Telling him what frame of mind to have when reading it – binned.
Beat points in wrong places – binned.
Wrong length – binned.
Any deviation from what is standard in the industry – BINNED.

And so on.

And that’s just how brutal and justifiably arrogant they are. All that counts to them is the revenue that can be generated from it. It’s business, and that’s that. They do not care about you, so accept it.

As an example: I had to pitch an idea to him I’d been working on for 4 months. He told me to follow him, so I did so – into the Gents toilets! I then had to pitch my idea to him whilst he was taking a leak into a p*ss pot! After 45 seconds he told me to stop, and to turn my idea into a novel. So there you go: four months work, shelved in just 45 seconds! I haven't the patience for a novel.

But what is worse is: he was right.

You have to make it through that person and people like him – at ground level – to even get your script read by the level above him. Then, if they think it is readable, it then goes to the level above them. There can be many levels - and one reader may like your idea; another in a level above may just have had a bad day and hates it, so... binned!

So no matter how good your ideas are - presentation is a KEY aspect. You mark yourself out as a professional writer who knows what is expected by adhering to it. This shows that you value THEM, and... that they ought to value YOU – as a professional - not as an amateur. And it's bloody hard to make yourself look like a professional when first starting out, but: DO IT.

Otherwise, forget it.

If anyone sends work to people like him with ordinary staples in it, they hit the roof! He made the comment:

“Some fool sent me a script recently with staples in it. I pricked my finger on a staple as I was taking it out of its packaging. Do you honestly think I want to read your script after it’s hurt me? It went straight in the bin.”

And I suppose on being given several 100+ scripts a year to read through - typically each of 100-120 pages (a truly awful job) - 'script readers' have to be respected or, guess what?

You're binned!

As for being on the road travelling, Jim Crotty and Michael Lane (otherwise known as ‘Monk’ in the US) used to live on the road - hosting ‘burning man’ rave festivals. They wrote travel guides and did Internet publishing via their mobile home to pay for their nomadic cyber-punk’ish lifestyle. It can defo' work as a lifestyle choice!

If it’s other scripts you’re looking to write i.e. Radio/TV etc, Final Draft software caters for most script layouts (decide what country you want to target your work at too). It's always best to ring the company you’re wanting to submit your work to first - to find out what their ‘house style’ is. Get examples of it sent to you, or, find out indirectly what it is but...

... FIND OUT!

I hope this helps.

Thank you 'yes' very helpful! Personally,too,I love your communication style. I wish you great success and appreciate your input! [By the way,scriptwriter,my emails direct returned to me 5x and now flirtbox says data base problem getting mail to your inbox today;waz up?hope all's well!] Lady,your tips ie screenwriting more useful than book I read! It's REAl and TRUE! I for one appreciate those things. Best Wishes from gypsydream in the usa 'wild west' ! [And my dream is to write while travelling,so,thanks for that,too! I did so years ago but things have changed greatly since then/trying again!]