| There is one major question that you as a | | | | treatment or synopsis of your story. If you have |
| screenwriter must consider before you begin | | | | not done so prior to writing your screenplay, it is |
| writing a Query Letter. Is your screenplay ready | | | | always a good idea to do so before you sit down |
| to send out to literary agents, managers and | | | | and start a major rewrite. The treatment's |
| producers? The answer to this question is often | | | | purpose is to capture the true essence of your |
| times no. The truth of the matter is that most | | | | story and expose the missing links. The treatment |
| screenplays are simply not ready to be sent out | | | | is simply a narrative from start to finish and |
| when the screenwriter thinks it is. | | | | usually no more than three to ten pages in length. |
| There are a few questions that you as a | | | | Single-space within each paragraph and |
| screenwriter need to address before you can | | | | double-space between paragraphs is usually |
| move on and write that query letter. First and | | | | recommended. |
| foremost, is your screen play compelling? Do you | | | | Your treatment should include all of the elements |
| connect with your story? Does it affect you | | | | working together and flowing in a cohesive |
| emotionally? And can you relate to your | | | | manner. The treatment is the easiest place to |
| characters? | | | | work out your story issues and inconsistencies. It |
| You as a screen writer want the heart of your | | | | will save you an enormous amount of time once |
| screen play to be apparent. In order to make | | | | you are ready to begin rewriting your screen play. |
| that happen you need to weave your plot, | | | | It is always a good idea to have a professional |
| characters and theme into a cohesive story. | | | | review your treatment before you begin rewriting |
| Examine your characters' motivations and make | | | | your screenplay. They can give you a fresh |
| them distinguishable. Build your plot authentically | | | | perspective and help you to resolve any problems |
| through cause and effect. | | | | that still might exist within your story. By working |
| There is a lot of rewriting involved during the | | | | on a treatment and getting an analysis of that, |
| beginning stages of developing your screenplay. | | | | you will be ready to have a script analysis of your |
| Think of this process as a fine-tuning. You need | | | | entire screenplay, and that will be more effective |
| to resolve any inconsistencies and iron out all the | | | | and easier to deal with than if you wrote it all at |
| kinks and issues your story may have. | | | | once and got a script critique of that. |
| One of the best ways to do this is by creating a | | | | |