# The Business of Art

You thought writing a screenplay was hard?

Yes, this is that article. The one that dives straight into the mystery that plagues all writers at some point on their creative journey ...

You are in business. Time to start learning business.

Look, you’re probably on your cellphone constantly anyway, so maybe it’s time to make more out of your time there.

First of all, let’s get clear on what ‘high-concept’ means.

Look, I understand that it’s called show business, not show art, but still, where is the show part in so many of these tin-eared studio exec’s equations?

OK isn’t good enough for me and shouldn’t be for you either. The idea is to send out your best work, and YOU need to be hard enough on yourself to be the ultimate judge of that.

What do you, as an author, promise your readers and customers? What are you promising a fan every time they pick up one of your books?

I’m all for pushing envelopes, but should cringe be a part of awards show comedy?

And there I was in the fancy office of a multi-million-dollar production house where I acted like a 10-year-old schoolboy sent to the principal’s office.

You don’t have to love the ride, but accepting it is freeing.

It may start with our mother’s heartbeat, but when we enter the brutal reality of the world, we hear the cascading rhythms of human voices, outside world noises … and, if we’re lucky … some form of musical notes.

Think like a salesman ... if you have a product you need to sell, which would you rather have? More potential buyers? Or fewer?

... you need to make us want you again.

There are only two types of feedback that matter.