I Hate The Assumption of Stupidity.
Anyone Working In Traditional Publishing Thinks All Writers Are Stupid…
And honestly, I think most writers working in traditional publishing in the last 15 years sadly prove the belief system.
But over the last two days I was contacted by a “Hollywood” agent for a project of mine. At first I thought it was spam, but checked him out and he was real. So we cleared that up and he wanted some basic information on how I deal with rights for one of my books. No issue. I told him. Now, in Hollywood, agents are lower than doormats. I knew that, but my response to him took me two minutes to see what he wanted.
Then suddenly, even though I told him that I had been around for fifty years, had a ton of experience, and knew what I was doing, he came back assuming I was a stupid beginner. He wanted me to do a ton of work that others in Hollywood make good money to do for my projects.
He assumed I was stupid and the very idea of having a project in Hollywood with an “agent” would make me do a ton of stuff so he would not have to pay others to do it. And sadly beginning writers would do the work for no money.
Once again my belief system that all agents in the publishing world are scum has been reinforced.
I will ghost him, but if he does come back again, I will remind him that my work is registered and that I had better not see anything using it or him and his agency will be very sorry I didn’t just delete their first email.
God I hate stupidity and I hate even worse that so many writers just play into the myth that we are all stupid. Sigh…
10 Comments
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
It’s not just beginners. I know many long-time professionals, including one who has been bragging about his “deals” for years, who do all this crap. They never bothered to learn business, so it continually bites them in the butt. (Sigh)
Steve Perry
They aren’t like thee and me down there in LaLaLand — I like Larry McMurtry’s comment that going to Hollywood was like visiting a town of very powerful two-year-olds …
Martin L. Shoemaker
Any examples of what he expected? I’ve only had one Hollywood nibble (New Line briefly considered “Today I Am Paul”), but it good to be informed.
dwsmith
He wanted me to do an entire outlines and snynopsis of the series, a pitch deck, and even a trailer for the book. Not kidding. All for free.
Mangala McNamara
Thanks for the description.
I would have had no idea.
Stefon Mears
Not to mention that any writer who did all that work for him would also be granting a free shopping deal…
Joe D'Agnese
My fantasy is to email people who do this that famous video of Harlan Ellison ranting about paying the writer. It’s a great clip. Not all writers get it, though.
I find that I watch it about once a year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE
Joe
Desikan
Thanks Dean,
For sharing this. This helps in understanding how to stay on guard in business when people approach us as writers showing a carrot. I would have fallen for that. Always watch out for how people want to sample the pies from our magic bakery.
In this case, it is more like the agent asking me to take a picture and video of a whole rack of pies, make nice pitch decks, then go and present it in their office. For free.
Thanks for creating this awareness. Always grateful.
Mangala McNamara
Nice analogy
Sheila
I learned in the military to refuse to do work that isn’t my job. The correct answers were “It’s above my pay grade” and “I don’t have the necesszry clearance for that job”. Now I just say, nope, don’t work for free. I tell the lazy morons looking for the “secret” to being a successful writer that my fees are too high for them to pay, and if they ask for figures, $1K an hour, eight hour minimum. That shuts them up. 🙂 Yeah, I’m manifesting my inner Harlan! Love that guy.