Business Musings: Let’s Talk Real Business, Shall We?

Two weeks ago, I posted about agenting changes, and linked to a Hollywood Reporter piece about the new writer/agent relationship. Many of you had sent me that piece, because it is shocking in its happy talk about what is, essentially, a predatory scheme. I promised you all three posts inspired by this piece. The agenting piece is the expected one, along with last week’s post […]

Read Me 2 Comments

Business Musings: Agenting Changes

This past week I got one of those letters. Someone wrote to me to tell me how great his agent is and what a great deal his agent got him. Not for his novel, but for his movie option. I get “my agent is great” letters all the time, but usually they’re about book deals. If someone feels the need to write to me about […]

Read Me 8 Comments

Business Musings: Money (Hollywood Part 4)

About the time I started planning this series, I got an email from a writer friend. The writer friend is one of those people who think they know business, but have never really bothered to learn much about it. Or maybe they’re the kind of person who reads the how-to, remembers the details, but misses the overall point. The result is the same—complete cluelessness. I […]

Read Me 12 Comments

Business Musings: Writing Screenplays (Hollywood Part 3)

The short version of this post: Don’t. Just don’t. Don’t write screenplays, even if someone tells you “you’ll make more money if you do.” The medium version of this post: Write screenplays only if you want to work in Hollywood. Otherwise, write the next book. The long version of this post: Brace yourselves, and settle in for the read. Before I go any farther, let […]

Read Me 14 Comments

Business Musings: Content, Content, Content (Hollywood Part 2)

A few weeks ago, I got a survey from the Global Licensing Group, the people in charge of the Las Vegas Licensing Expo. They wanted to know my opinion (and probably hundreds of other people’s opinions) about content. Is it important? Why is it important? How should I/we/they handle it? Oh, and am I a content provider (licensor) or someone who licenses content (licensee)? I […]

Read Me 19 Comments

Business Musings: A Cautionary Tale (Hollywood Part 1)

I’m starting a tiny new series because of everything that’s been in the news of late. But first, let me give you a caveat. For decades, Dean and I have said “Hollywood” when we really mean the film and/or TV industry. That word wasn’t accurate 30 years ago; it’s less accurate now. The industry has mushroomed. It’s not even one industry anymore. You can do […]

Read Me 10 Comments

Business Musings: Tidbits And Rest (A Process Blog)

I’ve been running full-speed ahead since the beginning of November. I knew I was near the end of the very long Diving saga I’ve been writing. The book I’ve been writing most of the summer was nearing completion, and was turning out to be more than 300,000 words, which is ridiculous. Then there was my Spanish class, which really has been a godsend. I needed […]

Read Me 5 Comments

Recommended Reading List: December 2018

Fortunately, December started better than November in regards to the reading. Good nonfiction and fiction, some of which is listed below. (Some is just too…I don’t know. It doesn’t inspire me to share.) I also line edited a Fiction River and started line editing another, since I’m workshop heavy in my reading in January and February. Speaking of Fiction River, I failed to call attention […]

Read Me 5 Comments