| When you write a query letter, your first | | | | used to be one. |
| challenge is to summarize your 100+ page story | | | | The point is to let them know that you have this |
| to a paragraph or two. | | | | insider viewpoint. But this does not work with the |
| The second challenge is to establish enough | | | | kind of experience that too many people have. |
| credibility that the person reading the query letter | | | | For instance, if the main thrust of the story is |
| will feel like it's going to be worth the time it | | | | about growing up in the 60s, and that's when you |
| takes to read it. | | | | grew up, that is not enough relevancy to warrant |
| The whole purpose of writing a bio that is a | | | | mentioning. You would need to make it more |
| sentence or two long in your query letter is to | | | | specific for it to be to worth mentioning. |
| establish enough credibility to make them think | | | | But if you can take it a step further and mention |
| you can deliver on the story you're telling them | | | | something unique such as that your parents lived |
| about. | | | | in a commune in the 60s and that's where you |
| There are three possible things that can help your | | | | spent the first few years of your life, and that's |
| cause in this matter: | | | | what inspired the script. That makes it far more |
| 1. If You've Had Something Produced If you have | | | | interesting. |
| had a script produced legitimately, that should be | | | | 3. Mention something super interesting abbout |
| placed in the opening of the letter. | | | | your background even it if is only indirectly |
| This is where you can name-drop anything | | | | related. |
| associated with it to legitimize it. This does NOT | | | | Perhaps you are the granddaughter of a super |
| include a producer saying they thought it was | | | | famous person, or maybe Albert Einstein was |
| great but passed on it. (They obviously didn't like | | | | your uncle. Or maybe you invented some odd-ball |
| it enough!) However, if you had a different script | | | | item that you were able to sell to QVC -- it's |
| optioned by a legit producer (not the script you're | | | | could be any little fun fact! Somehow, then make |
| writing about in this letter, though), then you can | | | | a tie-in to the subject of your script. |
| mention that early on as part of your bio. | | | | These things would not be totally relevant to your |
| You should also be careful about mentioning | | | | script, however, they make you seem like an |
| where you placed in contests if you weren't in the | | | | interesting person. And since the script is by an |
| Top 10%. If you state that you made it to the | | | | interesting person like you, it could give you |
| quarter-finals and nothing more, that actually | | | | enough credibility for them to want to read your |
| detracts from your credibility because there were | | | | script if they like the idea to begin with. |
| a bunch more that were better. You would need | | | | And a final bonus tip: Do not put "I always wanted |
| to make it sound better by playing a game with | | | | to write a screenplay, and I know this is what I'm |
| the statistics somehow. | | | | meant to do." This does not give you credibility |
| For example, if you placed fourth in the Nicholl | | | | and in fact will work against you as it calls |
| Fellowship, you could say you placed fourth, but | | | | attention to the fact that you are an amateur. |
| this reminds us that there were 3 that were | | | | So there you have it -- three possible ways to |
| definitely better. Or you could say that you were | | | | enhance your credibility in your query letter |
| in the Top 2% out of 3000, for example. Play | | | | through your bio. |
| around with how to present the statistics to give | | | | Ultimately, your bio needs to move them forward |
| you the most credibility. | | | | in reading your script and, if possible, to even |
| 2. You have expertise In The Subject Matter. | | | | color their experience positively before they read |
| A second type of information that could be | | | | it. If you have told them that you won a top |
| relevant is your expertise in the subject matter. | | | | contest, they will already have their mind oriented |
| For example, it might be a medical thriller and you | | | | around the idea that it is a good script. If you |
| are an ER Nurse. Or perhaps, it's about an | | | | don't have anything that can give you credibility, |
| affliction that someone in your family has. Or it | | | | then don't put anything. It's better not to put |
| might be about a behind-the-scenes beauty queen | | | | anything than to put something boring. |
| story with some great catfights in it and you | | | | |