The submission period for The Quest Initiative runs from May 22-June 8. Each day I will provide an update.

Today: Marks the 1st day of submissions for The Quest Initiative. I have already received nearly 100 emails.

Question of the day: Is there an advantage or disadvantage to submitting loglines early in the submission period?

Answer: It makes no difference when you make your submission. Why? Because I do not read any loglines until after the submission period ends.

Tip of the day: When you are working on your loglines, zero in on the hook. That is identify your story’s core element which will grab a reader’s attention. If you need a touchstone, think K-9: Cop gets a new partner. A police dog.

Once you identify your story’s hook, ask yourself: Is this a compelling hook? Is it distinctive? Is it a movie?

If you can’t find the hook, then perhaps you don’t have a strong enough high concept. And since I have my antenna up searching for mainstream commercial stories, I put a premium on high concepts.

So as you generate and develop your ideas, always be asking, “What is the hook?”

Why The Quest Initiative: When I broke into screenwriting by selling the spec script K-9, I was a total outsider to Hollywood with just one contact nominally in the business. I had no formal training as a screenwriter, but a lifelong love for movies and unbridled passion for the craft I had recently discovered.

As a result, I have always been especially sensitive to the plight of writers who are outside the Hollywood system, have limited connections in the business, and have taken a non-traditional route in educating themselves about the craft.

So one reason I came up with the idea for The Quest Initiative, perhaps the most fundamental reason is to provide an alternate way into Hollywood for people who are like I was before I broke into the business.

Therefore if you love movies… if you have a passion for screenwriting… if you have talent as a writer… if you are willing to go through an intensive learning and writing process… if your goal is to be a Hollywood screenwriter… if you have a great commercial story idea…

Why not submit a logline for consideration to The Quest Initiative?

For specifics on how to submit loglines and general background, hit more.

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The submission period for The Quest Initiative begins tomorrow. Here are the essential bullet points you need to steer you through the process of submitting your loglines for consideration:

* What is the submission period? 12:01AM [Pacific / U.S.], Wednesday, May 22 – 11:59PM [Pacific / U.S.], Sunday, June 8.

* What is the email address? thequestinitiative at gmail dot com. This is the only email address at which I will accept submissions.

* How many loglines may I submit? A total of three [3].

* If I am submitting multiple loglines [2 or 3], how should I submit them? In the subject heading write QUEST LOGLINES and send them all in one email.

* What information should I provide with my submission? The following:

– Subject heading: QUEST LOGLINE / QUEST LOGLINES

Then in the body of the email:

– Story title [if you have one]

– Genre [if you know it]

– Logline

That is it. No biographies. No additional information about the story.

* What type of stories are you looking for? The following:

– Action, Comedy, Thriller [what I am most interested in]

– Drama, Family, Horror [what I am also interested in]

* What type of stories are you not looking for? The following:

– Huge big budget science fiction, fantasy or epic period pieces.

– Obscure independent movies [as much as I love them].

IN OTHER WORDS, I AM MOST INTERESTED IN LOW-TO-MEDIUM BUDGET MAINSTREAM COMMERCIAL MOVIES WITH STRONG MARKETABLE HIGH CONCEPTS.

* If I am a member of the Writers Guild of America or an international equivalent, may I submit a logline? No. I created The Quest Initiative with the goal of opening an alternate doorway into Hollywood for those outside the system.

* Do I have to have an extensive background in screenwriting to apply? No. While it is helpful if you have written at least 2 or 3 scripts, The Quest takes participants through a unique character-based approach to screenwriting that will transform whatever knowledge or practices you have re the craft.

* Is there any cost if I get selected for The Quest Initiative? No. The Quest Initiative is free.

Over the course of the next few weeks, I will be posting several items on loglines and story concepts to help your creative process.

For more background on The Quest Initiative, hit MORE.

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I’ll be honest. I have been so busy of late — and it looks to continue at least through the summer — I was thinking about scrapping The Quest Initiative for 2013. Then something happened this week: The very first writer I worked with in the prototype of The Quest landed representation with a major management company.

I will be posting more about this good news soon, but the combination of what he learned through The Quest, working with me to identify a strong high concept, putting together a treatment, writing a great script, then using my contacts and those of others to get his script into the hands of numerous managers and agents worked pretty much as I had imagined when I came up with the idea for The Quest in the first place.

So as crazy as my life is, I’m galvanized by the success of this writer to – once again – give the opportunity to a select group of talented writers to participate in The Quest for free.

NOTE: I WILL NOT BE ACCEPTING ANY LOGLINE SUBMISSIONS BEFORE TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2013. PLEASE RESPECT THIS SCHEDULE! IF YOU SEND ME A LOGLINE BEFORE MAY 20, IT WILL GO INTO MY TRASH!

For the latest information on The Quest Initiative, hit More.

(more…)

Last year in a true spirit of the spec act, I launched The Quest Initiative. From the original announcement:

I will be looking to work with up to four writers in a 24-week Screenwriting Master Class intensive [The Quest] in which they will learn my comprehensive theoretical approach to the craft, then put that knowledge to use prepping and writing a full-length screenplay.

The cost? Nothing.

That’s right, a 6-month deep immersion in screenwriting theory and scriptwriting workshop where you end up with an original screenplay with me as your mentor for the entire process, and you don’t have to spend even a dime.

And if at the end of the process you have written a great script… you will have direct access to industry insiders.

Over 1,500 writers submitted nearly 4,000 loglines for consideration. I ended up selecting 8, each of whom went through the Quest process with me, and I have moved forward with most of them into their script rewrites with a goal of getting them representation, selling their script and getting a movie made.

As I announced here back in January, I am going to do The Quest Initiative 2013. If you are interested, here are the key dates:

May 20-June 8: Logline submission period.

June 16: First cut announced.

June 20-27: Interviews with finalists.

June 30: The Quest Initiative participants announced.

July 14: We begin The Quest.

December 28: Delivery of first draft.

If you want to have the opportunity to participate with a select group of writers in The Quest for free with me as your mentor, start generating story concepts and working up loglines right now. Just like last year, I am only looking for the best high concepts, primarily in the Action, Comedy, Horror, Thriller genres. Not exclusively. If you have an absolute killer story idea in another genre, I will give it strong consideration. But the simple fact is I am looking for mainstream, commercial movie projects and that all starts with mainstream, commercial story concepts.

That means you have about 3 months to come up with an outstanding story concept and develop it into a kick-ass logline.

That means probably 4-6 of you will have a unique opportunity to seriously upgrade your grasp of the craft and end up with a strong first draft of an original screenplay.

That means once again, I am putting my faith in you, that there are writers outside Hollywood who have the ideas, talent, drive, personality and sheer force of will to become professional screenwriters.

So there you have it: The Quest Initiative 2013. If you have any questions, feel free to post in comments.

NOTE: I am not accepting any logline submissions until May 20. Do not send me loglines now or before then. Thank you!

I posted this yesterday, but clearly my sense of timing is way off from my days doing stand-up because I scheduled it to run just as all the pretty people were making their way up the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards. So for those of you who may have missed the formal announcement, here is a reprise:

Last year on May 16, I announced this:

I will be looking to work with up to four writers in a 24-week Screenwriting Master Class intensive [The Quest] in which they will learn my comprehensive theoretical approach to the craft, then put that knowledge to use prepping and writing a full-length screenplay.

The cost? Nothing.

That’s right, a 6-month deep immersion in screenwriting theory and scriptwriting workshop where you end up with an original screenplay with me as your mentor for the entire process, and you don’t have to spend even a dime.

And if at the end of the process you have written a great script… you will have direct access to industry insiders.

Little did I know how the inspiration for The Quest Initiative would shake things up around here:

* 1500 writers submitted nearly 4000 loglines as entries.

* 21 writers made the first cut.

* 8 writers participated in The Quest Initiative of whom 6 are moving forward into rewrites with me attached as an executive producer. I am still working with the two others on their first drafts.

* Free Core / Craft classes or lectures to over 500 entrants [the offer still stands for those who submitted loglines last year for The Quest Initiative].

* Hundreds of writers participated in Go On Your Own Quest, most of them involved in the Forums moderated by Shaula Evans, Debbie Moon and David Joyner.

* Dozens of Dispatches from The Quest, weekly journal entries from Quest participants describing their experiences in the creative process. You can read those here.

* 120 posts, 5 per week for 24 weeks to inspire and inform GOYOQ participants. You can read those here.

In other words, The Quest Initiative was incredibly successful. It also took a considerable amount of my time. As a result, I had to push back the launch of an eBook last year and set aside a writing project.

All of this has caused me to think a lot about a question I have been asked innumerable times from GITS readers: Will you do another version of The Quest Initiative?

After many hours of reflection, I am ready to make an announcement today:

Once again I will be offering a chance for a select group of writers to work with me for free in The Quest.

Call it The Quest Initiative 2013.

I will have more details soon, but here are the target dates:

May 20-June 8: Logline submission period.

June 16: First cut announced.

June 20-27: Interviews with finalists.

June 30: The Quest Initiative participants announced.

July 14: We begin The Quest.

December 28: Delivery of first draft.

Two more announcements:

* I have a great high-concept comedy I am going to write during The Quest. That’s right, I will be using the same 24-week structure to develop, prep, and write a first draft of my own original spec script. As part of that, I will be participating in the weekly Dispatch from The Quest series, shariing the ups and downs, ins and outs of my creative process.

* We will be continuing the currently named Go On Your Own Quest Forums, inviting people who do not get selected for The Quest Initiative to use the weeks between July 14 and December 28 to write their own original screenplay. Much more about the Forums in the very near future as things continue to expand there.

So what does this mean for you? If you want to have the opportunity to participate with a select group of writers in The Quest for free with me as your mentor, start generating story concepts and working up loglines right now. Just like last year, I am only looking for the best high concepts, primarily in the Action, Comedy, Thriller genres. Not exclusively. If you have an absolute killer story idea in another genre, I will give it strong consideration. But the simple fact is I am looking for mainstream, commercial movie projects and that all starts with mainstream, commercial story concepts.

That means you have six months to come up with a monster story concept and develop it into a kick-ass logline.

That means probably 4-6 of you will have a unique opportunity to seriously upgrade your grasp of the craft and end up with a strong first draft of an original screenplay.

That means once again, I am putting my faith in you, that there are writers outside Hollywood who have the ideas, talent, drive, personality and sheer force of will to become professional screenwriters.

So there you have it: The Quest Initiative 2013. If you have any questions, feel free to post in comments or email me. Also please let me know if you anticipate submitting one or more loglines. Curious to get an initial read on the level of enthusiasm for the initiative this time around.

Finally I have another couple of Quest-related announcements. Look for those in the next few weeks. Exciting things happening on GITS in 2013. Glad you’re here to be part of it!

Onward and upward!

NOTE: I am not accepting any logline submissions until May 20. Do not send me loglines now or before then. Thank you!

UPDATE: From Shaula Evans in comments:

Wonderful news. Hurray!

And brilliant that you’ll be Questing along at the same time, Scott.

And for anyone who wants to submit loglines this spring — the Go On Your Own Quest Forum has an Idea Factory for brainstorming premises and bouncing premise ideas off other writers, and a Logline Workshop (that’s only visible once you’re logged in) for helping each other improve our loglines. If you are trying to figure out how to come up with a killer idea, or how to make your logline as powerful as possible, you’re welcome to come on over for as much support as you’d like.

Great opportunity to work your story concept and logline muscles.

Last year on May 16, I announced this:

I will be looking to work with up to four writers in a 24-week Screenwriting Master Class intensive [The Quest] in which they will learn my comprehensive theoretical approach to the craft, then put that knowledge to use prepping and writing a full-length screenplay.

The cost? Nothing.

That’s right, a 6-month deep immersion in screenwriting theory and scriptwriting workshop where you end up with an original screenplay with me as your mentor for the entire process, and you don’t have to spend even a dime.

And if at the end of the process you have written a great script… you will have direct access to industry insiders.

Little did I know how the inspiration for The Quest Initiative would shake things up around here:

* 1500 writers submitted nearly 4000 loglines as entries.

* 21 writers made the first cut.

* 8 writers participated in The Quest Initiative of whom 6 are moving forward into rewrites with me attached as an executive producer. I am still working with the two others on their first drafts.

* Free Core / Craft classes or lectures to over 500 entrants [the offer still stands for those who submitted loglines last year for The Quest Initiative].

* Hundreds of writers participated in Go On Your Own Quest, most of them involved in the Forums moderated by Shaula Evans, Debbie Moon and David Joyner.

* Dozens of Dispatches from The Quest, weekly journal entries from Quest participants describing their experiences in the creative process. You can read those here.

* 120 posts, 5 per week for 24 weeks to inspire and inform GOYOQ participants. You can read those here.

In other words, The Quest Initiative was incredibly successful. It also took a considerable amount of my time. As a result, I had to push back the launch of an eBook last year and set aside a writing project.

All of this has caused me to think a lot about a question I have been asked innumerable times from GITS readers: Will you do another version of The Quest Initiative?

After many hours of reflection, I am ready to make an announcement today:

Once again I will be offering a chance for a select group of writers to work with me for free in The Quest.

Call it The Quest Initiative 2013.

I will have more details soon, but here are the target dates:

May 20-June 8: Logline submission period.

June 16: First cut announced.

June 20-27: Interviews with finalists.

June 30: The Quest Initiative participants announced.

July 14: We begin The Quest.

December 28: Delivery of first draft.

Two more announcements:

* I have a great high-concept comedy I am going to write during The Quest. That’s right, I will be using the same 24-week structure to develop, prep, and write a first draft of my own original spec script. As part of that, I will be participating in the weekly Dispatch from The Quest series, shariing the ups and downs, ins and outs of my creative process.

* We will be continuing the currently named Go On Your Own Quest Forums, inviting people who do not get selected for The Quest Initiative to use the weeks between July 14 and December 28 to write their own original screenplay. Much more about the Forums in the very near future as things continue to expand there.

So what does this mean for you? If you want to have the opportunity to participate with a select group of writers in The Quest for free with me as your mentor, start generating story concepts and working up loglines right now. Just like last year, I am only looking for the best high concepts, primarily in the Action, Comedy, Thriller genres. Not exclusively. If you have an absolute killer story idea in another genre, I will give it strong consideration. But the simple fact is I am looking for mainstream, commercial movie projects and that all starts with mainstream, commercial story concepts.

That means you have six months to come up with a monster story concept and develop it into a kick-ass logline.

That means probably 4-6 of you will have a unique opportunity to seriously upgrade your grasp of the craft and end up with a strong first draft of an original screenplay.

That means once again, I am putting my faith in you, that there are writers outside Hollywood who have the ideas, talent, drive, personality and sheer force of will to become professional screenwriters.

So there you have it: The Quest Initiative 2013. If you have any questions, feel free to post in comments or email me. Also please let me know if you anticipate submitting one or more loglines. Curious to get an initial read on the level of enthusiasm for the initiative this time around.

Finally I have another couple of Quest-related announcements. Look for those in the next few weeks. Exciting things happening on GITS in 2013. Glad you’re here to be part of it!

Onward and upward!

NOTE: I am not accepting any logline submissions until May 20. Do not send me loglines now or before then. Thank you!

UPDATE: From Shaula Evans in comments:

Wonderful news. Hurray!

And brilliant that you’ll be Questing along at the same time, Scott.

And for anyone who wants to submit loglines this spring — the Go On Your Own Quest Forum has an Idea Factory for brainstorming premises and bouncing premise ideas off other writers, and a Logline Workshop (that’s only visible once you’re logged in) for helping each other improve our loglines. If you are trying to figure out how to come up with a killer idea, or how to make your logline as powerful as possible, you’re welcome to come on over for as much support as you’d like.

Great opportunity to work your story concept and logline muscles.