Towards the Finish Line

I'm in the final stretch of writing MR. MONK IS MISERABLE, which is due on April 30th...which is why I haven't been contributing much here lately. No sooner  do I turn in that book than I have to start thinking about MONK #8. All I know about that one, after two books mostly set in Europe, is that it will take place in and around San Francisco.  Beyond that, I've got nothing. I'm sure something will occur to me, probably while I am on my way to New York next week for the Edgar Awards, where I will be seeing my publisher, editor and agent.

But before I go, I've got a couple of meet-and-greets this week with two A-list production companies,  thanks  to a spec script I wrote that these execs really liked but, for whatever reason, wouldn't buy. They liked the writing and the sensibility enough to want to meet me, which is good, but the meetings are always a little awkward. There's no way to really prepare for them. They aren't structured, like a pitch, though I'll gladly share a few ideas if I'm asked what I'm working on. It's more casual and free-form, with no clear agenda. But make no mistake about it, you are pitching. You're pitching yourself as a person.

A meet-and-greet is an opportunity for the executives to put a face to your name, get a sense of how you think, and decide whether or not they'd like to work with you some day. Nothing may ever come of the meet-and-greet...or weeks, months or years from now it might occur to the exec to bring me in on particular project or rewrite that matches my "sensibility." I've had a few jobs come to me this way over the years...like writing the Dame Edna movie (which, sadly, was not produced), so I am always open to meet-and-greets.

If anything comes from one of them, I'll let you know. Okay, enough procrasatinating, back to MONK!

Comments

[Dan Williams]

I'm sure you'll do fine, Lee. They see your talent and are wondering if you and it can solve some of their problems, which, almost certainly, you can. I guess they'll outline what their needs are, maybe, and ask you, maybe, where you see yourself fitting in. A friend of mine always says that he's just a servant, and he's just trying to serve the client as much as he can (which takes the pressure off.) There's no doubt you can help these producers, and supply a generous amount of energy and warm good-humor. Am looking forward to hearing how it goes.

Dan

[Richard Cooper]

You probably shouldn't wear your WGA on Strike t-shirt to a meet and greet, I suppose.