Important Distinction #2: Free Water Rules!

Flaming unrealistic fantasy vs. Slogging through the process

Writing a good screenplay is haaaaaard. That's three syllables 'hard'.

So it makes absolute sense that everyone who's sitting down to do it on their own dime, on their own time, needs to visualize the endgame. Aspiring screenwriters need to envision the glory that's going to come from toiling at their computer until blood trickles out their ears.

They need to envision getting that agent, making that big sale, and carpooling with Diablo Cody.

They need the fantasy.

What they don't need (but I'm going to give you because, trust me, it's in your own best interest) is the reality.

What a talented aspiring screenwriter can hope to get if they work their ass off and catch some breaks is... water. And hopefully lots of it.

And an agent or manager.

The realistic goal (and I don't mean to undersell it, because it's a huge goal) is that this script will snag some representation who will get it read by people all over town. That's victory number one. Victory number two is that some of those people respond to it and want to get to know you.

Meetings.

And every meeting starts with someone offering you water. Hopefully you get so much freaking water that you find yourself stuck in Burbank traffic seriously considering doing something you haven't done since you were two.

The reality is that the script that gets you on the radar is not typically the script that makes you money.

Can the fantasy happen? Hey, people do win the lottery.

But if you want to prepare yourself for the long haul (and it can be 'long' with three syllables), then you need to plan on a series of victories. The first is free water. Which will probably lead to another spec, and more water.

If you're lucky.

Coming soon: What to expect from the free water meetings, and a little background on the script that got me hydrated.