How to find a great TV or film script writer.

By- Lisa Montalto

You have a great idea and want to hire a screenwriter to turn your thoughts into a movie, but how do you know where to look and if you’ve found the right writer? It can be tricky, but if you follow these guidelines, you’re sure to come out with the screenplay that you envisioned.

The first thing to get over is the fact that you’re not writing your own screenplay. This may sound like cheating, but many of your favorite films were written by a hired screenwriter. The reason for this is that people with great ideas are not always skilled at screenwriting. Writing a script requires specific knowledge that is industry standard and that makes for a successful film.

This is why it’s so important who you choose to write your script. One of the first areas of concern for some is retaining writing credit. Most hired screenwriters will ask for a credit or sole credit. If you’re trying to establish yourself as a screenwriter, you’ll want to retain the credit and for that reason, a ghostwriter is the way to go. Ghostwriters Central will recommend a writer who will do the job, while you keep all the credit.

Let’s pause for a moment for definitions. A screenwriter who is not a ghostwriter, writes screenplays (also known as scripts), and takes credit for the work. A screenwriter who is a ghostwriter writes screenplays but the client that hires the writer takes the credit.. Like a ghost, when the project is finished, the “ghost”…vanishes. Poof!

Not all ghostwriters are created equal. It’s important to vet them to find the right one that fits your project. A good idea is to use a ghostwriter services company such as Ghostwriters Central, Inc., which has a relationship with its writers. They fully vet their writers for you and receive consistent feedback on their work. They take care of contracts, billing, and any problems that may arise. In essence, they keep the ghostwriters accountable to you. That leaves you free to focus on the ideas.

The way it works is, Ghostwriters Central will help you find a writer who understands your project and your goals. You may want someone with a history of action films, or someone who specializes in romance. Ghostwriters Central has their writers categorized according to their strengths to help you find just the right person for the job. They will recommend the best writers suited for you.

Once you find a ghostwriter who looks good on paper, the next step is making sure you can work well together. You will begin by sharing your ideas and notes for them to absorb. Since you will be communicating with this person a lot, you’ll need to have a solid working relationship where communication is key. It’s up to you how much involvement you want during the writing process. You can choose to have weekly updates or let them run with it until the screenplay is completed.

Availability is an important aspect of the relationship with your ghostwriter. The client and the ghostwriter must make themselves available to each other via phone, email, or meeting in person. Another essential element of the client/ghostwriter relationship is a nondisclosure agreement, NDA, to ensure a client’s privacy. It is of the utmost importance that the ghostwriter maintains full confidentiality by not sharing anything about the project. Efficiency and the ability to meet tight deadlines are other top requirements for a ghostwriter, along with managing time effectively and prioritizing tasks.

Given the many types of screenplays, it’s important to outline your needs before setting out to find a ghostwriter. Deciding whether you want a writer who is experienced with fiction or nonfiction is just as important as the genre. Also, it’s important to know ahead of time whether you want a full feature script, a short film, or a television show as they are all structured differently. While all rely on character development, plot structure, and snappy dialogue, the story arc and pacing are not the same.

You can’t be too careful when hiring a screenwriter. Hollywood can be a very dirty business with many unscrupulous people looking to get one over on you and then disappear. One of the most common scams out there is simply stealing your ideas and running off with them. This is why you should always have a signed NDA and a property-vetted writer.

Another important aspect in choosing your screenwriter is asking for examples of their work to avoid working with ‘fake it till you make it” writers. They might tell you they have way more experience and credentials than they do. And it’s often too late once you hire them and their inabilities start to show such as not adhering to predetermined deadlines, shoddy writing, poor formatting, and lack of creativity. Their dialogue might be mind-numbing, their plot ideas could be absurd, or they just do not show any signs of a confident and competent screenwriter. It’s important to ask for their work in installments so that you don’t go through the entire process only to find at the end that it’s not at all what you wanted.

When it comes to film, a good screenwriter can make or break a film. Take a film like Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. It’s widely known that Stephen King did not like the changes Kubrick made to his novel when he wrote the screenplay. The thing is that Stephen King is an author of novels, not screenplays. He may not have been aware of all the nuances that lead to a successful film. Kubrick, being the cinematic genius that he was, knew there were certain things about a script that would play better on the screen. This is why you need an expert in that field. Someone who has a successful track record. While Kubrick was not a ghostwriter, he may have used one that we will never know about.

So, as you can see, even the pros can use the help of a ghostwriter. Get in touch with Ghostwriters Central and start the process. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to get that screenplay written by a professional who wants nothing else but to write. And you’ll feel safe knowing you’re in good hands with a writer that has a track record of producing screenplays that sell.