I'm interested in hearing from y'all aspiring writers and those of you on the receiving end of spec screenplays: do people still send Stamped Self Addressed Envelopes or postcards? My guess would be that they shouldn't be necessary -- if someone's not interested enough to shoot off a quick email saying "Yeah send it" then they probably are too busy to read your 110-page script.
Also, are people still sending queries by mail, or by email? Which is more likely to get a response?
If I were still in development, I'd just as soon get queries by email. (I'm not, so don't send me any.) But how do you feel?
Yeah, I send out all spec scripts and pitch documents via email.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had anyone ask me for hard copies in some time. Either the cost of paper and ink has come down or people prefer reading from their computer.
I get 8 to 12 email queries per month from folks wanting to send me their scripts for evaluation (in order to improve their craft or as a prerequisite to becoming a client). Only once have I received a phone query, none by snail mail. After asking them to send me their script, 9 out of 10 do so by email (my preference, SAVE THE TREES!). Those who send hard copies do not include SASEs or a postcard.
ReplyDeleteAs an aspiring novelist, I'm trained to always send query letters via snail mail and always include an SASE. If they like it, yeah they will e-mail or call, and that thin little envelope always contains a rejection when you find it in the mail box, but the SASE is a polite gesture, and many book agents will not read a letter that doesn't have one.
ReplyDeleteI've never submitted any screenplays or teleplays so don't have an opinion on that yet. I'll probably include an SASE.