#6 Book-to-Screen: How to Pitch Your Story
This week, we cover pitching for screen, earning as an author, and submitting to literary magazines
Hi there,
In 2015, as part of the Mumbai Film Festival, the ‘Word to Screen’ market was launched as a new addition to the festival to facilitate more streamlined interaction between publishers and producers.
As people consume more and more video content, producers and directors are now on the hunt for good stories and books that can be adapted to the screen. And they’re open to both published books and unpublished manuscripts.
If you have always dreamed of seeing your story on screen, this is the perfect time for you. So, how can you take advantage of this growing opportunity, and pitch your story for screen?
The first and the most important step is to write a strong pitch bible. This will help visualize what your story would appear like on the screen.
Your pitch bible will include - a synopsis, character details, visual references, and why you think your story has potential.
Once you’ve got all the details of your pitch sorted and organised, start reaching out to producers and agents with your pitch, and hope for the best!
However, before you do that, consider registering your story idea with the Screenwriters Association to protect your copyright.
If you need guidance on writing and perfecting your pitch bible, reach out to us!
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Editor’s Corner
Weekly insight, straight from the desk of a Bound editor.
Q: How should I submit my story/article/essay to a literary magazine?
A: From Michelle D’Costa, Head of Learning and Editing:
Submitting your work to journals or literary magazines cannot be random. It is a process one has to establish along with their writing routines. Here are some tips that I have curated over the years to make the process less tedious:
Read the magazine’s content and get a sense of the magazine editor’s choice to determine if your writing is a good fit for them.
Read the submission guidelines very carefully and send a clean copy which is formatted as per the specifications mentioned.
Personalize your cover letter and mention a piece that they have published that you like.
Submit your best and final work only. Being impatient doesn’t help, and sending a half-baked draft will only reflect badly on you.
If you’re submitting different magazines together, make sure to keep a track so that the moment one accepts it, you can withdraw it from others
Be patient but follow up. Many magazines mention their turnaround time in their guidelines, follow it. If they still don’t reply, then follow-up.
If you’re rejected, focus your energy on making your work better. If the magazine doesn’t tell you why they rejected your work, don’t give up. Only by reading more will you discover what your writing lacks
Want to sharpen your editorial skills or find the best editor for your work?
From The Book People Podcast
In the latest episode of our podcast, Aishwarya reveals ‘How Much Money Do Indian Authors Really Make?’ What exactly are the sources of revenue for Indian authors? How does the author get paid? What are ‘royalties’, ‘advances’ and ‘subsidiary rights’? Tune in to find out!
This video podcast is hosted by writer, book editor, and Bound’s Head of Originals, Aishwarya Javalgekar. Join her as she chats with content professionals, industry insiders and disruptors to bust myths and uncover the biggest opportunities and challenges for writers in India today.
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