SCREENWRITING
How to Sell Your Screenplay If You Don’t Have an Agent
Can it be done? Well, yes—but should you even try?
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Sell Your Script—By Yourself?
If you’ve been in the screenwriting game for any length of time, you’ve probably heard that in order to sell a screenplay, you first need an agent.
If you don’t have an agent — and don’t know how to get one — you think, how can I sell my script without an agent? That’s what we’ll tackle today.
I’ll tell you right now that I have an answer for you, but more importantly, you’re asking the wrong question. (To see what the real question you should ask — and it’s answer — stick around til the end.)
In fact, most working screenwriters sell scripts on spec less often than the past and instead get paid for OWAs, which means “Open Writing Assignment.” That means they’re hired liked a freelancer to write an idea the production company already has.
Screenwriting is a marathon, not a sprint.
Still, yes — you can actually sell a screenplay without an agent. It’s rare, but it does happen.
Example #1
For example, Mexican-American screenwriter Manfred Lopez Grem’s spec script Mad Rush placed in the top 25 of the Tracking Board Launch Pad, and then one of the judges liked the script so much that they optioned and then bought the script!
Example #2
Or take Ashley Scott Meyers. He sold his script Rushlights by sending a query letter in response to an ad in the trades. He says this about agents:
“Getting an agent isn’t the be-all-end-all in screenwriting. I’ve optioned dozens of scripts and sold a few and I’ve done so without…
